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
wells mouth.
3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and
they rolled the stone from the wells mouth, and watered the sheep, and
put the stone again upon the wells 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 wells
mouth; then we water the sheep.
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came
with her fathers sheep: for she kept them.
10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the
daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheep of Laban his
mothers brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the
wells mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his
voice, and wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her
fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs son: and she ran
and told her father.
13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the
tidings of Jacob his sisters 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.