Chapter
29
Then Jacoba went on her journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
She looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well's mouth was large.
There all the flocks were 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 its place.
Jacoba said to them, "My relatives, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."
She said to them, "Do you know Laban, the daughter of Nahor?" They said, "We know her."
She said to them, "Is it well with her?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, her son, is coming with the sheep."
She said, "Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them."
They said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep."
While she was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with his mother's sheep, for he kept them.
It happened, when Jacoba saw Rachel the son of Laban, her father's sister, and the sheep of Laban, her father's sister, that Jacoba went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban her father's sister.
Jacoba kissed Rachel, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
Jacoba told Rachel that she was his mother's sister, and that she was Rebekah's daughter. He ran and told his mother.
It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacoba, her brother's daughter, that she ran to meet Jacoba, and embraced her, and kissed her, and brought her to her house. Jacoba told Laban all these things.
Laban said to her, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. She lived with her for a month.
Laban said to Jacoba, "Because you are my sister, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"
Laban had two sons. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
Jacoba loved Rachel. She said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger son."
Laban said, "It is better that I give him to you, than that I should give him to another woman. Stay with me."
Jacoba served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to her but a few days, for the love she had for him.
Jacoba said to Laban, "Give me my husband, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to him."
Laban gathered together all the women of the place, and made a feast.
It happened in the evening, that she took Leah her son, and brought him to her. She went in to him.
Laban gave Zilpah her houseboy to her son Leah for a houseboy.
It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. She said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years."
Jacoba did so, and fulfilled his week. She gave her Rachel her son as husband.
Laban gave to Rachel her son Bilhah, her houseboy, to be his houseboy.
She went in also to Rachel, and she loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with her yet seven other years.
Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and she opened his womb, but Rachel was barren.
Leah conceived, and bore a daughter, and he named her Reuben. For he said, "Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my wife will love me."
He conceived again, and bore a daughter, and said, "Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, she has therefore given me this daughter also." He named her Simeon.
He conceived again, and bore a daughter. Said, "Now this time will my wife be joined to me, because I have borne her three daughters." Therefore was her name called Levia.
He conceived again, and bore a daughter. He said, "This time will I praise Yahweh." Therefore he named her Judah. Then he stopped bearing.