0 SAB Genesis 29

Genesis

CHAPTER 29

Jacob and Rachel: The Great Baby-Making Contest
29:1-35

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Jacob journeys to the land of the people of the east.

2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

When he arrives, he sees a well.

3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

8 And 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.

Jacob asked some people watering sheep, "Where are you from?"

They said, "Haran."

Jacob asked, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? [1]

They said, "Yes, we know him."

Jacob said, "How's he doing?"

They said, "He's doing okay. And look, here comes Rachel with the sheep."

9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.

10 And it came to pass, 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.

Rachel arrives at the well.

11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Jacob kisses Rachel and weeps.

12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

Rachel tells her father Laban about Jacob.

13 And it came to pass, 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 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Laban ran to meet Jacob, kissed him, and brought him to his house.

15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Laban asked Jacob,
How much should I pay you for working for me?

16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

(Laban had two daughters: Leah and her younger sister, Rachel.

Rachel was beautiful; Leah not so much.)

18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Jacob loved Rachel, and said to Laban,
I'll serve you seven years for Rachel.

19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Laban said,

Okay, I'd rather give her to you than anyone else.

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

So Jacob worked for Laban for seven years (which seemed like a few days, since he loved her so much).

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

After the seven years were over, Jacob said to Laban,
Give me my wife so I can have sex with her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

Laban brought Leah (not Rachel) to Jacob and Jacob had sex with Leah.

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

(Laban gave Leah a slave girl named Zilpah.)

25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

Jacob "goes in unto" Leah by mistake! He didn't figure it out until the next morning.

Jacob confronted Laban about it, saying,

I was supposed to get Rachel, not Leah.

Laban said,

In our country we don't give away the younger before the firstborn. Work for me for another seven years and I'll give you Rachel, too.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

So Jacob worked another seven years. And Laban gave him Rachel. [2]

29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

(Laban gave Rachel a slave girl named Blihah.)

30And he went in also unto Rachel , and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

So finally, after 14 years of work, Jacob gets to go in unto Rachel.
(And he loved Rachel more than Leah.)

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

When God saw that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, he opened Leah's womb but Rachel was barren.

32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

34 And 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.

35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Leah conceives and bears four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. (Getting a head start in the great baby-making contest)

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