Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.1 messageHe looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, 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.1 messageThere all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well’s mouth in its place.1 messageJacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”1 messageHe said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”1 messageHe said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”1 messageHe 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.”1 messageThey said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we water the sheep.”1 messageWhile he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.1 messageWhen 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.1 messageJacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.1 messageJacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.1 messageWhen 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.1 messageLaban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” He lived with him for a month.1 messageLaban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”2 messagesLaban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.2 messagesLeah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.2 messagesJacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”2 messagesLaban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”2 messagesJacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.2 messagesJacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”2 messagesLaban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.2 messagesIn the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.2 messagesLaban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.2 messagesIn 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?”2 messagesLaban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.2 messagesFulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years.”2 messagesJacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.2 messagesLaban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid.2 messagesHe went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.2 messagesYahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.3 messagesLeah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me.”3 messagesShe conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.3 messagesShe conceived again, and bore a son. Said, “Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.3 messagesShe conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time will I praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.3 messages