Jacob's Travel
Table of Contents
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2 He looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were 3 flocks of sheep lying by it. Out of that well they watered the flocks. A great stone was on the well’s mouth.
3 There were all the flocks 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 his place.
4 Jacob said to them:
My brethren, where are you from?
We are from Haran
5 Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?
Yes, we know him
6 Is] he well?
[He is] well:
Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7 He said:
It is yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together: water you the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 They said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9 Rachel then came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he [was] her father’s brother, and that he [was] Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14 Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 Laban said to Jacob:
Because you are my brother. Shouldest you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
16 Laban had two daughters:
- the elder was Leah
- the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed. But Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18 Jacob loved Rachel and said:
I will serve you 7 years for Rachel your younger daughter.
19 It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20 Jacob served 7 years for Rachel. They seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 [To Laban:] Give me my wife for my days are fulfilled, that I may have sex with her.
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter and had sex with her.
24 Laban gave to his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid as a handmaid.
25 In the morning, it was Leah. He said to Laban:
What have you done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you beguiled me?
26 It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give you this also for the service which you shalt serve with me yet 7 other years.
28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. Laban gave him Rachel his daughter to be his wife also.
29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 He had sex with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he served with him yet seven other years.
31 When Enki saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.
32 Leah conceived, and bare a son she named Reuben.
Surely Enki had looked on my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33 She conceived again, and bare a son and said:
Because Enki had heard that I [was] hated, he had therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Simeon.
34 She conceived again, and bare a son; and said:
Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35 She conceived again, and bare a son.
Now will I praise Enki: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.