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

2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there werethree 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.

3And 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.

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

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

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

7And 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.

8And 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.

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

10And 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.

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

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

13And 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.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

26And 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.

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

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

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

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

32And 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.

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

34And 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.

1Then Iacob went on his iourney, and came into the land of the people of the East.

2And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and loe, there were three flocks of sheepe lying by it: for out of that wel they watered the flocks: and a great stone was vpon the welles mouth.

3And thither were all the flockes gathered, and they rolled the stone from the wels mouth, & watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the wels mouth in his place.

4And Iacob said vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? and they saide, Of Haran are we.

5And he said vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? And they sayde, We knowe him.

6And he said vnto them, Is hee well? and they said, He is well: and behold, Rachel his daughter commeth with the sheepe.

7And hee said, Loe, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattell should be gathered together: water yee the sheepe, and goe and feed them.

8And they said, We cannot, vntill all the flockes bee gathered together, and till they rolle the stone from the welles mouth: then wee water the sheepe.

9 And while hee yet spake with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she kept them.

10And it came to passe, when Iacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother; that Iacob went neere, and rolled the stone from the wels mouth, and watered the flocke of Laban his mothers brother.

11And Iacob kissed Rachel, and lifted vp his voyce, and wept.

12And Iacob told Rachel, that hee was her fathers brother, and that hee was Rebekahs sonne: and she ranne, and told her father.

13And it came to passe, when Laban heard the tidings of Iacob his sisters sonne, that he ranne to meete him, and imbraced him, and kissed him, & brought him to his house: and hee tolde Laban all these things.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh: and he abode with him the space of a moneth.

15 And Laban said vnto Iacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serue me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

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

17Leah was tender eyed: but Rachel was beautiful and well fauoured.

18And Iacob loued Rachel, and said, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rachel thy yonger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better that I giue her to thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with mee.

20And Iacob serued seuen yeeres for Rachel: and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, for the loue hee had to her.

21 And Iacob said vnto Laban, Giue me my wife (for my dayes are fulfilled) that I may goe in vnto her.

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

23And it came to passe in the euening, that he tooke Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.

24And Laban gaue vnto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his mayde, for a handmayd.

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

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our countrey, to giue the yonger, before the first borne.

27Fulfill her weeke, and wee will giue thee this also, for the seruice which thou shalt serue with mee, yet seuen other yeeres.

28And Iacob did so, and fulfilled her weeke: and he gaue him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29And Laban gaue to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmayd, to be her mayd.

30And hee went in also vnto Rachel, and he loued also Rachel more then Leah, and serued with him yet seuen other yeeres.

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

32And Leah conceiued and bare a sonne, and shee called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely, the LORD hath looked vpon my affliction; now therefore my husband will loue me.

33And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne, and saide, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, hee hath therefore giuen mee this sonne also, and she called his name Simeon.

34And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne, and said, Now this time will my husband be ioyned vnto me, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.

35And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne: and she said, Now wil I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Iudah, and left bearing.

I == Num 23:7 ; Hos 12:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Gen 43:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Ex 2:16

 

 

X == Ex 2:17

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Gen 33:4 ; 45: 14-15

XII == Gen 13:8 ; 14:14 , 16 ; 24:28

 

XIII == Gen 24:29

 

 

 

XIV == Gen 2:23 ; Judg 9:2 ; 2nd Sam 5:1 ; 19:12-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == Gen 31:41 ; 2nd Sam 3:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Gen 30:26 ; Hos 12:12

 

 

XXI == Judg 15:1

 

XXII == Judg 14:10 ; John 2:1-2

 

XXVII == Judg 14:12

 

XXX == Gen 29:20; 30z:26 ; 31:41 ; Deut 21:15 ; Hos 12:12

XXXI == Gen 30:1 ; Ps 25:18

 

XXXII == Ex 3:7 ; 4:31 ; Deut 26:7 : Ps 25:18 ; 106:44

 

XXXIV ==Num 18:2 , 4

XXXV == Matt 1:2

1 After Jacob resumed his journey, he came to the land of the Easterners.

2 Looking about, he saw a well in the open country, with three droves of sheep huddled near it, for droves were watered from that well. A large stone covered the mouth of the well.

3 Only when all the shepherds were assembled there could they roll the stone away from the mouth of the well and water the flocks. Then they would put the stone back again over the mouth of the well.

4 Jacob said to them, "Friends, where are you from?" "We are from Haran," they replied.

5 Then he asked them, "Do you know Laban, son of Nahor?" "We do," they answered.

6 He inquired further, "Is he well?" "He is," they answered; "and here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock."

7 Then he said: "There is still much daylight left; it is hardly the time to bring the animals home. Why don't you water the flocks now, and then continue pasturing them?"

8 "We cannot," they replied, "until all the shepherds are here to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well; only then can we water the flocks."

9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep; she was the one who tended them.

10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, with the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went up, rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered his uncle's sheep.

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears.

12 He told her that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son, and she ran to tell her father.

13 When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he hurried out to meet him. After embracing and kissing him, he brought him to his house. Jacob then recounted to Laban all that had happened,

14 and Laban said to him, "You are indeed my flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a full month,

15 Laban said to him: "Should you serve me for nothing just because you are a relative of mine? Tell me what your wages should be."

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was called Leah, the younger Rachel.

17 Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was well formed and beautiful.

18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he answered Laban, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

19 Laban replied, "I prefer to give her to you rather than to an outsider. Stay with me."

20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, that I may consummate my marriage with her, for my term is now completed."

22 So Laban invited all the local inhabitants and gave a feast.

23 At nightfall he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob consummated the marriage with her.

24 (Laban assigned his slave girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.)

25 In the morning Jacob was amazed: it was Leah! So he cried out to Laban: "How could you do this to me! Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why did you dupe me?"

26 "It is not the custom in our country," Laban replied, "to marry off a younger daughter before an older one.

27 Finish the bridal week for this one, and then I will give you the other too, in return for another seven years of service with me."

28 Jacob agreed. He finished the bridal week for Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel in marriage

29 (Laban assigned his slave girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.)

30 Jacob then consummated his marriage with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Thus he remained in Laban's service another seven years.

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he made her fruitful, while Rachel remained barren.

32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "It means, 'The LORD saw my misery; now my husband will love me.'"

33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "It means, 'The LORD heard that I was unloved,' and therefore he has given me this one also"; so she named him Simeon.

34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, since I have now borne him three sons"; that is why she named him Levi.

35 Once more she conceived and bore a son, and she said, "This time I will give grateful praise to the LORD"; therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.

 

V 1. This properly reads, “He lifted up his feet”. This indicates he was truly on foot, and is also light hearted. Now with the joy of the Lord, he completes the remaining 400 miles, and by the providence of God, it is the same well to which God led Abraham’s servant.

v 2,3. The stone over a well, to keep anything out, was usually not removed except in the presence of the owner or his representative, and Rachel would represent Laban.

v 4-6. Jacob now identifies the proper location and the approach of a relative.

v 7,8. Accustomed to his own wells, the waiting around seemed wasteful to him. Naphtali “Wrestling” Her jealous wrestling with Leah had been satisfied. Bilhah

v 9,10. Jacob’s helpfulness may have been partly a macho act to impress Rachel. He may have enlisted some unnamed shepherds to help move the stone. But probably the flocks close to town were cared for by young boys and Rachel, so they could not remove the cover.v 11,12. This was a proper kiss & tears of joy upon meeting a relative. Gad “A troop” No longer bearing, Leah resorted to the same scheme to Zilpah

v 13. Like Abraham’s servant, Jacob waited at the well for a proper invitation. He may have related somewhat of the circumstances of his leaving home, and perhaps he told Laban about the dream of the ladder and his faith that God would lead. Asher “Happy” She would be happy because women would envy her. Zilpah

v 14,15. Laban accepted him as a relative. It was common for a person to be a guest for three days, but on the fourth day they should state their purpose. To remain further, they should work, which Jacob no doubt continued to do as he did at the well. . After a month, Laban knew he was obligated to pay wages, even to a relative.

v 16-18. Jacob probably loved the beautiful Rachel from the start, even though she might have been quite young, certainly not the unpleasant appearing Leah.

Issachar “Hire” Leah first gave her handmaid, then hired her husband. Leah

v 19,. Jacob chose 7 years since he had no dowry. At least Laban accepted it as a fair deal and Jacob served the time cheerfully.

v 20. Zebulun “Dwelling”. Surely her husband would dwell with her after seeing she had produced so many sons. Leah

v 21-25. Laban celebrated the marriage with a feast, but gave Jacob Leah. Jacob did not remove her veil until they were in the dark, and may have had his senses somewhat dulled by wine. Leah played the part of an adulterous by not telling him who she was. She and Laban both knew that with her looks, she might not find a husband. Jacob is rightly angry at being deceived, but comes to accept it as he realizes God allowed him to be repaid for his own deception. v 21. Dinah “Judgment” Similar to Dan, she felt God had now vindicated her. Leah

v 22-24. Joseph “Adding” Rachel acknowledged it was God, not the mandrakes, who gave her a child and finally took away her shame and expressed faith that God would add another son. Rachel
35:17,18. Benjamin. Rachel lived long enough to know she had a son and named him Benoni, “son of my sorrow”. Jacob called him Benjamin, “son of my right hand”.

v 26-29. Laban lied, there was no such custom. Even if there was he would have been obligated to tell Jacob. (It is true that this was done by others sometimes, and it is sometimes done yet today, but not a general custom.) It was right for Leah to be allowed the usual week of celebration and “honeymoon” with her husband. When those seven days were up, Jacob was allowed to start living with Rachel also, but he continued to work for her for seven more years. Plural marriage had not yet been forbidden, but neither was it God’s ordained plan. Some ask, “Where does the Bible say i can’t dance, smoke, go to certain movies etc.?” In many of these cases the Bible just lays down a principal. Jacob was in a position where he could not reject Rachel because he was betrothed to her, and could not reject Leah because he was married to her. Laban, Jacob, Leah and Rachel were all in the wrong in this situation. God later gave the priesthood and kingdom through Leah, but Rachel’s son to preserve Israel.

v 30,31. The law of Ex 21:10 that a man must give both wives equal treatment had not yet been given, but Jacob should have known and practiced that principle. He certainly paid by the jealousy and wrangling among his wives and concubines.v 32. Reuben “Behold, a son.” Surely the Lord hath looked on my affliction. She thought to capture Isaac’s love for her. Leah v 32. Reuben “Behold, a son.” She thought to capture Isaac’s love for her.

v 33. Simeon “Heard” The Lord had heard she was loved less than Rachel.

v 34. Levi “Joined to” Surely Jacob would be attached to her now.

v 35. Judah “Praise” She praised the Lord for her fertility compared to Rachel, though she ceased bearing for a time now.
Summary of Jacob’s children 30:6. Dan “A judge”. Or, God is my judge, because he heard and answered. Bilhah