29
Genesis 29
1¶ Then Jacob walked on and came into the land of the people of the east.
2And he looked and saw a well in the field, and, behold, 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.
3And all the flocks gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth and water the sheep and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in its place.
4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, where are you from? And they said, We are from Haran.
5And he said unto them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well, and, behold, Rachel, his daughter, comes with the sheep.
7And he said, behold, it is yet high day; neither is it time that the livestock should be gathered together; water the sheep and go and feed them.
8And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and until they roll the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the sheep.
9¶ And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was the pastor.
10And 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.
11And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was of her father’s brethren, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.
13And 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.
14And 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 of my brethren, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.
19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.
20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her.
22So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet.
23And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her.
24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for a handmaid.
25And 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? Why then hast thou beguiled me?
26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee the other also for another seven years of service which thou shalt serve with me.
28And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.
30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet another seven years.
31¶ And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also; and she called his name Simeon.
34And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me because I have born him three sons; therefore his name was called Levi.
35And she conceived again and gave birth a son; and she said, Now I will praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah and stopped bearing children.