Chapter 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey , and came to the land of the children of the east .
2 He looked , and saw a well in the field , and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it . For out of that well they watered the flocks . The stone on the well’s mouth was large .
3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth , and watered the sheep , and put the stone back on the well’s mouth 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 it well with him ?" They said, " It is well . See , Rachel , his daughter , is coming with the sheep ."
7 He said, " Behold , 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 mouth . Then we will water the sheep ."
9 While he was yet 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 , his mother’s brother, Jacob went near , and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth , and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel , and lifted up his voice , and wept .
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father ’s relative, and that he was Rebekah ’s son . 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 .
14 Laban said to him , "Surely you are my bone and my flesh ." 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 weak , 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, for my days are fulfilled , that I may go in to her ."
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place , and made a feast .
23 In the evening , he took Leah his daughter , and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her .
24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant .
25 In the morning , behold , it was Leah ! He said to Laban , " What is this you have done to me ? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel ? Why then have you deceived me ?"
26 Laban said , " It is not done so in our place , to give the younger before the firstborn .
27 Fulfil the week of this one , and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years ."
28 Jacob did so , and fulfilled her week . He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 Laban gave Bilhah , his servant , to his daughter Rachel to be her servant .
30 He went in also to Rachel , and he loved also Rachel more than Leah , and served with him seven more years .
31 The LORD saw that Leah was hated , 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 hated , 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 joined to me , because I have borne him three sons ." Therefore his name 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 .