Jacob Meets Rachel

1Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country. 2And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone. 3And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.

4And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran. 5And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him. 6He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock. 7And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed. 8They 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.

9They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock. 10And 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. 11And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept. 12And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

13Who, 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,

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

14He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,

15He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have. 16Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel. 17But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance. 18And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. 19Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me. 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

21And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage. 23And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him, 24Giving 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. 25And 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? 26Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first. 27Make 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. 28He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel: 29To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant. 30And 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.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

31And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren. 32And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me. 33And 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. 34And 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. 35The 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.