Jacob and Rachel
Genesis 29, verse 1. Now Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the east, to Laban. Genesis 29, verse 2. So 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; and a large stone was on the well's mouth. Genesis 29, verse 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. Genesis 29, verse 4. So Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” Genesis 29, verse 5. Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” Genesis 29, verse 6. So he said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well. Look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Genesis 29, verse 7. Then he said, “It is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” Genesis 29, verse 8. But they said, “We cannot, until all the shepherds are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well's mouth; then we will water the sheep.” Genesis 29, verse 9. Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Genesis 29, verse 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, Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother. Genesis 29, verse 11. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. Genesis 29, verse 12. So Jacob told Rachel he was her father's relative and Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father these words. Genesis 29, verse 13. Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob, 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. Genesis 29, verse 14. Now Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. Genesis 29, verse 15. Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” Genesis 29, verse 16. Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Genesis 29, verse 17. Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Genesis 29, verse 18. Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” Genesis 29, verse 19. So Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” Genesis 29, verse 20. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Genesis 29, verse 21. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” Genesis 29, verse 22. Now Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a wedding feast. Genesis 29, verse 23. Thus it came to pass in the evening, he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. Genesis 29, verse 24. So Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a handmaiden. Genesis 29, verse 25. Then it came to pass in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” Genesis 29, verse 26. Laban replied, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Genesis 29, verse 27. Fulfill her week, and I will give you this one also for the service you will render me still another seven years.” Genesis 29, verse 28. Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. Genesis 29, verse 29. Laban also gave his handmaiden Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a handmaiden. Genesis 29, verse 30. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served with Laban still another seven years.
Jacob's Children
Genesis 29, verse 31. But when the Lord saw Leah was hated, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Genesis 29, verse 32. So Leah conceived and bore Jacob a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my humiliation. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” Genesis 29, verse 33. Then she conceived again and bore Jacob a second son, and said, “Because the Lord heard I was hated, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she called his name Simeon. Genesis 29, verse 34. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be on my side, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore she called his name Levi. Genesis 29, verse 35. Now she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will give thanks to the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.