| Chapter
29 |
| 1 | Then
Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the
east. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 4 | And Jacob
said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 17 | Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was
beautiful and well favored. |
| 18
| And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for
Rachel thy younger daughter. |
| 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. |
|
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. |
| 22 | And Laban gathered together all the
men of the place, and made a feast. |
|
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
