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:
Laban’s daughter Rachel came with the sheep.
7 It is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water the sheep, and go feed them.
8 We cannot do that until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we can water the sheep.
9 Rachel then came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel and her sheep, he went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 He told Rachel that:
- he was her father’s brother
- he was Rebekah’s son
She ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard news of Jacob, he ran to meet him.
He embraced and kissed Jacob and brought him to his house.
14 You are my bone and my flesh
Jacob lived with Laban for 1 month.
15 Because you are my brother. Should you serve me for nothing? How much are your wages?
16 Laban had 2 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 to another man: live with us.
20 Jacob served 7 years for Rachel. It seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for Rachel.
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 Zilpah his maid as a handmaid to his daughter Leah.
25 In the morning, it was Leah. He said to Laban:
What have you done to me? Did I not serve you so I could make a baby with Rachel? Why have you beguiled me?
26 In our country, we do not give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Make a baby with Leah. We will give you Rachel also for the service which you shall serve with me yet 7 other years.
28 Jacob did so, and had sex with Leah. Laban gave him Rachel his daughter to be his wife also.
29 Laban gave Bilhah his handmaid to Rachel to be her maid.
30 Jacob had sex with Rachel. He loved Rachel more than Leah.
So he served with him yet 7 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.
She called his name Simeon.
34 She conceived again, and bare a son:
This time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him 3 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.
She left bearing the stone from the well’s mouth. Then they water the sheep.