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Chapter 29 |
| 1 | Then Jacob
went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
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| 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. |
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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.
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| 4 | And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of
Haran are we. |
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5 | And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of
Nahor? And they said, We know him. |
| 6 | And he said unto them, Is he
well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with
the sheep. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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9 | And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with
her father's sheep; for she kept them. |
| 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. |
| 11 |
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 14 | And 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 my brother, shouldest thou therefore
serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? |
| 16 | And Laban
had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger
was Rachel. |
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17 | Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and
well favored. |
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18 | And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee
seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. |
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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. |
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20 | And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they
seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. |
| 21 | And
Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may
go in unto her. |
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22 | And Laban gathered together all the men of the
place, and made a feast. |
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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. |
| 24 |
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an
handmaid. |
| 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? |
| 26 |
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger
before the firstborn. |
| 27 | Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this
also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other
years. |
| 28
| And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him
Rachel his daughter to wife also. |
| 29 | And Laban gave to Rachel his
daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. |
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30 | And he went in also
unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet
seven other years. |
| 31 | And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated,
he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. |
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32 | And Leah conceived, and
bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath
looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. |
| 33 |
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard
I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name
Simeon. |
| 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. |
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35 | And she conceived again,
and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called
his name Judah; and left bearing. |
