“1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the
people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field,
and, lo, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that
well they watered the flocks: and a great stone [was] upon the well’s
mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the
stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone
again upon the well’s mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My
brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we. 5 And he
said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know
[him]. 6 And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is]
well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7 And he
said, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle
should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go [and] feed
[them]. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered
together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we
water the sheep.”
“9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s
sheep: for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel
the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his
mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the
well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And Jacob
told Rachel that he [was] her father’s brother, and that he [was]
Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass,
when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to
meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his
house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him,
Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space
of a month.”
“15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother,
shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what [shall] thy
wages [be]? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was]
Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. 17 Leah [was] tender
eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved
Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger
daughter. 19 And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee,
than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob
served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few
days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give
[me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter,
and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto
his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid. 25 And it came to
pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban,
What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for
Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must
not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service
which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did
so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife
also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be
her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel
more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.”
“31 And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb:
but Rachel [was] barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she
called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon
my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she
conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard
that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: and she
called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and
said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have
born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she
conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the
LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Ge
29:1-35 AV)
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