Jacob Meets Rachel
1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the descendants of the east. 2 He looked, and there was a well in the field, and he saw three flocks of sheep lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s opening was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s opening and watered the sheep and put the stone back on the well’s opening in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?”
They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?”
They said, “We know him.”
6 He said to them, “Is all well with him?”
They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7 He said, “It is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep and go and feed them.”
8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s opening. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, he went near and rolled the stone from the well’s opening and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 He kissed Rachel and raised his voice and wept. 12 He told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed with him for a month. 15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may sleep with her, for my commitment is fulfilled.”
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place and gave a feast. 23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah as a servant. 25 Then morning came and behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 Laban said, “It is not the custom of this place to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the wedding week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will provide me with for seven more years.”
28 Jacob agreed, and completed Leah’s week, and Laban gave Jacob his daughter, Rachel, as his wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban seven more years.
Reuben, Simon, Levi, and Judah
31 The Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked at my affliction, for now my husband will love me.”
33 She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was called Levi. 35 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.