Genesis 29
1 Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
3 When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
4 “My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 “Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.
And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 “Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7 “Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
8 But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
13 When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
14 Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21 Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
22 So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.
giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
33 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
35 And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.
