And Jacob lifted his feet and went to the land of the sons of the east.
And he looked — and look, a well in the field, and look, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for from that well the flocks were watered. And the stone on the mouth of the well was large.
And when all the flocks were gathered there, they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and return the stone to its place on the mouth of the well.
And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”
And he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well — and look, Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”
And he said, “Look, the day is still high; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”
And they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well — then we water the sheep.”
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
And it happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. And she ran and told her father.
And it happened, when Laban heard the news 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 recounted to Laban all these things.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month of days.
And Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my relative, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me — what shall your wages be?”
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
And Leah’s eyes were soft; but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful to look at.
And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
And Laban said, “Better that I give her to you than that I give her to another man. Stay with me.”
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel — and they were in his eyes like a few days, because of his love for her.
And Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, and let me go in to her.”
And Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.
And it happened in the evening that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him — and he went in to her.
And Laban gave her Zilpah his servant — to Leah his daughter as a servant.
And it happened in the morning — look, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why have you deceived me?”
And Laban said, “It is not done this way in our place — giving the younger before the firstborn.
Complete this one’s bridal week, and we will give you the other one too — for the service you will serve with me another seven years.”
And Jacob did so, and completed her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife.
And Laban gave Rachel his daughter Bilhah his servant — to her as a servant.
And he went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel also — more than Leah. And he served with him another seven years.
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah
And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben — for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this one also.” And she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now, this time, my husband will be joined to me, for I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
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