29:1 And Jacob started and went to the land
of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of
Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.
29:2 And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there
three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the
flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.
29:3 And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the
stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone
again in its place on the mouth of the well.
29:4 And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are ye? and they said, We are
of Charrhan.
29:5 And he said to them, Know ye Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said,
We do know [him].
29:6 And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold
Rachel his daughter came with the sheep.
29:7 And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks
be gathered together; water ye the flocks, and depart and feed them.
29:8 And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be
gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the
well, then we will water the flocks.
29:9 While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban
came with her father's sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father.
29:10 And 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
came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the
sheep of Laban, his mother's brother.
29:11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and cried with a loud voice and wept.
29:12 And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and
the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to
these words.
29:13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister's
son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him, and brought him into
his house; and he told Laban all these sayings.
29:14 And Laban said to him, Thou art of my bones and of my flesh; and he
was with him a full month.
29:15 And Laban said to Jacob, Surely thou shalt not serve me for nothing,
because thou art my brother; tell me what thy reward is to be.
29:16 Now Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lea, and the
name of the younger, Rachel.
29:17 And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance,
and exceedingly fair in countenance.
29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for
thy younger daughter Rachel.
29:19 And Laban said to him, [It is] better that I should give her to thee,
than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.
29:20 And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a
few days, by reason of his loving her.
29:21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled,
that I may go in to her.
29:22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a
marriage-feast.
29:23 And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to
Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.
29:24 And Laban gave to his daughter Lea, Zelpha his handmaid, as a handmaid
for her.
29:25 And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban,
What is this that thou hast done to me? did I not serve thee for Rachel? and
wherefore hast thou deceived me?
29:26 And Laban answered, It is not don thus in our country, to give the
younger before the elder.
29:27 Fulfil then her sevens, and I will give to thee her also in return for
thy labour, which thou labourest with me, yet seven other years.
29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her sevens; and Laban gave him his
daughter Rachel to wife.
29:29 And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to
her.
29:30 And he went in to Rachel; and he loved Rachel more than Lea; and he
served him seven other years.
29:31 And when Yehovah Elohim saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but
Rachel was barren.
29:32 And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name,
Ruben; saying, Because Yehovah has looked on my humiliation, and has given
me a son, now then my husband will love me.
29:33 And she conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob; and she said,
Because Yehovah has heard that I am hated, he has given to me this one
also; and she called his name, Simeon.
29:34 And she conceived yet again, and bore a son, and said, In the present
time my husband will be with me, for I have born him three sons; therefore
she called his name, Levi.
29:35 And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet
again this time will I give thanks to Yehovah; therefore she called his
name, Judah; and ceased bearing. |
29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and
came into the land of the people of the east.
29:2 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 well's mouth.
29:3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone
from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon
the well's mouth in his place.
29:4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of
Haran are we.
29:5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said,
We know him.
29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and,
behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
29:7 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.
29:8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together,
and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
29:9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep;
for she kept them.
29:10 And 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.
29:11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
29:12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he
was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
29:13 And 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.
29:14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he
abode with him the space of a month.
29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou
therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the
name of the younger was Rachel.
29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for
Rachel thy younger daughter.
29:19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I
should give her to another man: abide with me.
29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but
a few days, for the love he had to her.
29:21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled,
that I may go in unto her.
29:22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a
feast.
29:23 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.
29:24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
29:25 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?
29:26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the
younger before the firstborn.
29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which
thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his
daughter to wife also.
29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her
maid.
29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than
Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
29:31 And when Yehovah saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but
Rachel was barren.
29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben:
for she said, Surely Yehovah hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore
my husband will love me.
29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because Yehovah
hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she
called his name Simeon.
29:34 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.
29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I
praise Yehovah: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. |