Genesis 29 · Parashat Vayetze

Then Ya῾aqov lifted up his feet, and went to the land of the people of the east.

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.

And there were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well’s mouth in its place.

And Ya῾aqov said to them, My brethren, where are you from? And they said, Of Ḥaran are we.

And he said to them, Do you know Lavan the son of Naĥor? And they said, We know him.

And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Raĥel his daughter comes with the sheep.

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

And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we may water the sheep.

And while he was still speaking with them, Raĥel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

And it came to pass, when Ya῾aqov saw Raĥel the daughter of Lavan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother’s brother, that Ya῾aqov went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Lavan his mother’s brother.

And Ya῾aqov kissed Raĥel, and raised his voice, and wept.

And Ya῾aqov told Raĥel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rivqa’s son: and she ran and told her father.

And it came to pass, when Lavan heard the tidings of Ya῾aqov 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 Lavan all these things.

And Lavan said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he stayed with him a month.

And Lavan said to Ya῾aqov, Because thou art my brother, shouldst thou therefore serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

And Lavan had two daughters: the name of the elder was Le᾽a, and the name of the younger was Raĥel.

And Le᾽a’s eyes were weak; but Raĥel was beautiful and well favoured.

And Ya῾aqov loved Raĥel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Raĥel thy younger daughter.

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

And Ya῾aqov served seven years for Raĥel and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

And Ya῾aqov said to Lavan, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.

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

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Le᾽a his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her.

And Lavan gave to his daughter Le᾽a Zilpa his maid for a handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Le᾽a: and he said to Lavan, What is this thou hast done to me? did not I serve with thee for Raĥel? why then hast thou beguiled me?

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

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

And Ya῾aqov did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Raĥel his daughter to wife also.

And Lavan gave to Raĥel his daughter Bilha his maid to be her handmaid.

And he went in also to Raĥel, and moreover he loved Raĥel more than Le᾽a, and served with him yet another seven years.

And when the Lord saw that Le᾽a was hated, He opened her womb: but Raĥel was barren.

And Le᾽a conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Re᾽uven: for she said, Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, He has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Shim῾on.

And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have born him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi.

And she conceived again, and bore a son and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Yehuda, and she left off bearing.