Genesis 29:8-1964 bbe — And they said, We are not able to do so till all the flocks have come together and the stone has been rolled away from…

““We can’t,” they said,“until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.” While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them. When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly. When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him. Then Laban said to him,“You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” So Jacob stayed with him for a month. Then Laban said to Jacob,“Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.” (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said,“I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban replied,“I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great. Finally Jacob said to Laban,“Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. And I want to sleep with her.” So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban,“What in the world have you done to me! Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?” “It is not our custom here,” Laban replied,“to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.” Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah’s bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) Jacob slept with Rachel as well. He also loved Rachel more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban for seven more years. The Family of Jacob When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless. So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said,“The LORD has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.” She became pregnant again and had another son. She said,“Because the LORD heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. She became pregnant again and had another son. She said,“Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi. She became pregnant again and had another son. She said,“This time I will praise the LORD.”That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.”

“They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks. They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock. And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed. And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept. And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father. Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey, He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired, He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have. Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel. But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance. And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love. And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage. And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him, Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Lia. And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me? Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first. Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years. He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel: To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant. And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years. And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren. And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me. And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi. The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing. ”