Study Desk

And Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take for himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,"

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. And I will bring you back to this land; for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have promised you."

And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they gave water to the flocks to drink. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

And he said, "Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Give water to the sheep to drink, and go, pasture them."

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"

Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they were in his sight but a few days because of his love for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."

Now it happened in the morning that, 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 with you? Why then have you deceived me?"

Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years."

So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

So Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, "Because Yahweh has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

Then Leah said, "Happy am I! For women will call me happy." So she named him Asher.

But she said to her, "Is it a small matter for you to take my husband? And would you take my son's mandrakes also?" So Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight in return for your son's mandrakes."

Then Jacob came in from the field in the evening. And Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night.

Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you."

For you had little before I came, but it has spread out to a multitude, and Yahweh has blessed you at every step of mine. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?"

So he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock:

So my righteousness will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen."