Jacob Goes to Find a Wife |
Genesis 29:1-35 The First Book of Moses Called Genesis |
Then, Jacob went on his journey & came to the land of the people in the east. And he looked & [saw] a well in a field with a [large] stone on the top of the well's mouth lying by it, that watered 3 flocks of sheep. [After] the flocks were gathered, they rolled the stone [off] from the well's mouth & watered the sheep. [Afterward, they] put the stone in [its] place upon the well's mouth again. |
Jacob [asked the men, Where are] you [from?] And they [told] him, We are [from] Haran. [Jacob asked,] [Do] you know Laban, the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. [Jacob asked them,] Is he well? And they said, He is well. [Look,] Rachel, Laban’s daughter, comes with the sheep. |
And [Jacob] said, [Look,] it's [still the middle of the] day. It's [not] time to water the cattle should be gathered together, [you should] go water the sheep & then go feed them. And they said, We can’t do it until the flocks [are] gathered together & [until] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then, we water the sheep. While [Jacob] was [still talking] with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. |
When Jacob saw Rachel, [Laban's] daughter, his mother's brother & [his] sheep Jacob went [close] & rolled the stone from the well’s mouth & watered Laban’s [his mother’s brother’s] flock. [Then,] Jacob kissed Rachel & lifted up his voice & wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s [relative] & Rebekah’s son. So she ran & told her father. |
It [happened] when Laban heard the [news] about Jacob, his sister's son, Laban ran to meet him & embraced & kissed him & brought him to his house. And [Jacob] told Laban all these things. And Laban said, Surely you are my flesh & bone. [Jacob stayed] with him for a month. Then Laban said to [Jacob,] Because you are my [relative,] should you serve me for nothing? Tell me what your wages [should] be? |
And Laban had 2 daughters, Leah [the eldest who was delicate] & Rachel the younger who was beautiful & well-favored]. Jacob loved Rachel & said, I will serve you for 7 years for Rachel, your younger daughter. |
Laban said, It is better to give her to you, than to another man: stay with me. Jacob served [Laban] 7 years for Rachel, [which] seemed to him [like] a few days, [because of] the love he had for her. Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, so that I may [be intimate with her]. |
Laban gathered all the men of his [area] together & made a feast & it was in the evening & Laban took his [older] daughter Leah to Jacob [instead, unbeknownst to Jacob] & he was [intimate] with [Leah.] Laban gave Leah’s maid, Zilpah, to his daughter as a handmaid. |
It [happened] in the morning, [Jacob saw,] it was Leah [instead of Rachel] & he [asked] Laban, What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve you for Rachel? [Why] have you [deceived] me? Laban said, In our country, [they can’t] give the younger [daughter] before the firstborn. |
[Leban told Jacob,] Fulfill [Leah’s] week & we will give [Rachel] also & for [your] service with me [still another] 7 years. And Jacob did so & fulfilled [Leah's] week. [Laban] gave his daughter, Rachel, [as a] wife also [to Jacob.] Laban gave her handmaid, Bilhah, to Rachel to be her maid. [Jacob was also intimate] with Rachel & he loved her more than Leah. |
[Jacob] served with [Laban another] 7 years. When the Lord saw that Leah was [unloved,] He opened her womb, but Rachel was [childless.] Leah [became pregnant & delivered] a son & named him Reuben. [Leah] said, Surely the Lord hath looked on my affliction & now my husband will love me. |
[Leah became pregnant] again & had a [2nd] son & named him Simeon & said, Because the Lord has heard I was hated, therefore, He hath given me this son, also. [Leah became pregnant] again & had a [3rd] son & said, Now this time, my husband will be joined with me, because I have [given birth to] 3 sons. Therefore his name was called Levi. [Leah got pregnant] again & had a [4th] son & she said, Now I will praise the Lord: therefore she [named] him Judah & [stopped bearing children]. |