Jacob Reaches the East
29 1 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it. From that well the flocks were watered, and the stone over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We are from Haran," they replied.
5 He asked them, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?" "We know him," they answered.
6 Then he asked, "Is he well?" "He is well," they said. "Look — here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."
7 "Look," Jacob said, "the sun is still high; it is not yet time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture."
8 "We cannot," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."
9 While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went up, rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative and that he was the son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. And Jacob told Laban all that had happened.
A Month in Laban's House
14 Then Laban said to him, "You are indeed my own bone and my own flesh." And Jacob stayed with him a full month. 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Just because you are my relative, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me — what shall your wages be?"
16 Now Laban had two daughters. The older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were dull, but Rachel was lovely in form and beautiful to look at. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, and he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19 Laban said, "Better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay here with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, and I want to go in to her."
22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob was intimate with her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her servant. 25 When morning came — it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?"
26 Laban replied, "It's not the custom here to give the younger before the firstborn." 27 Complete the bridal week for this one, and we will give you the other as well — in return for another seven years of service. a a v27 A wedding was customarily celebrated for a full seven days.
28 So Jacob did this. He completed her week, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 And Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant. 30 So Jacob was intimate with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served Laban yet another seven years.
Our Father Sees Leah
31 When our Father saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, "Our Father has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me." b b v32 Each of Jacob's sons is named for a play on his mother's words at his birth — her struggle, joy, or hope spoken into the child's name. 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and she said, "Because our Father has heard that I am unloved, he has given me this one also." So she named him Simeon. c c v33 The name Simeon means "one who hears." 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, "Now at last my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi. d d v34 The name Levi means "joined." 35 She conceived yet again and bore a son, and she said, "This time I will praise our Father." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children. e e v35 Judah's name means "praise." From Judah's tribe came King David — and from David's line, Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).