Barashyt(Genesis) — 29

1 Now Ya'aqub went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. 

2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 

3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.

4 And Ya'aqub said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”

5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahur?” And they said, “We know him.”

6 So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rach'al is coming with the sheep.”

7 Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”

9 Now while Ya'aqub was still speaking with them, Rach'al came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 

10 And it came to pass, when Ya'aqub saw Rach'al the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Ya'aqub went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 

11 Then Ya'aqub kissed Rach'al, and lifted up his voice and wept. 

12 And Ya'aqub told Rach'al that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rabakah’s son. So she ran and told her father.

13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Ya'aqub his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 

14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.

15 Then Laban said to Ya'aqub, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” 

16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was La'ah, and the name of the younger was Rach'al. 

17 La'ah’s eyes were delicate, but Rach'al was beautiful of form and appearance.

18 Now Ya'aqub loved Rach'al; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rach'al your younger daughter.”

19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 

20 So Ya'aqub served seven years for Rach'al, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

21 Then Ya'aqub said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 

23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took La'ah his daughter and brought her to Ya'aqub; and he went in to her. 

24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter La'ah as a maid. 

25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was La'ah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rach'al that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 

27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

28 Then Ya'aqub did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rach'al as wife also. 

29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rach'al as a maid. 

30 Then Ya'aqub also went in to Rach'al, and he also loved Rach'al more than La'ah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

31 When the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH saw that La'ah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rach'al was barren.

32 So La'ah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Rauban; for she said, “𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 

33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Shimun. 

34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Lauy. 

35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will Yadah 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.” Therefore she called his name Yahudah. Then she stopped bearing.