29:1
The Well of Haran and the Years of Refining
Then Ya’aqob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
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Barashiyt 29
Barashiyt chapter 29 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.
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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.
29:3
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.
29:4
And Ya’aqob said unto them, "My brethren, whence be ye?" And they said, "Of Haran are we."
29:5
And he said unto them, "Know ye Laban the son of Nachur?" And they said, "We know him."
29:6
And he said unto them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well: and, behold, Rachal his daughter cometh with the sheep."
29:7
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."
29:8
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."
29:9
The Recognition of Rachal and the Reception of Laban
And while he yet spake with them, Rachal came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.
29:10
And it came to pass, when Ya’aqob saw Rachal the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Ya’aqob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
29:11
And Ya’aqob kissed Rachal, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
29:12
And Ya’aqob told Rachal that he was her father's brother, and that he was Ribqah's son: and she ran and told her father.
29:13
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Ya’aqob 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.
29:14
And Laban said to him, "Surely thou art my bone and my flesh." And he abode with him the space of a month.
29:15
The Seven Years of Service for the Beloved
And Laban said unto Ya’aqob, "Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?"
29:16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was La'ah, and the name of the younger was Rachal.
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La'ah was tender eyed; but Rachal was beautiful and well favoured.
29:18
And Ya’aqob loved Rachal; and said, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachal thy younger daughter."
29:19
And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me."
29:20
And Ya’aqob served seven years for Rachal; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
29:21
The Deception of Laban and the Substitution of La'ah
And Ya’aqob said unto Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her."
29:22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
29:23
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took La'ah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
29:24
And Laban gave unto his daughter La'ah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
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And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was La'ah: and he said to Laban, "What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachal? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?"
29:26
And Laban said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
29:27
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."
29:28
The Union with Rachal and the Two Seven-Year Cycles
And Ya’aqob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachal his daughter to wife also.
29:29
And Laban gave to his daughter Rachal Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
29:30
And he went in also unto Rachal, and he loved also Rachal more than La'ah, and served with him yet seven other years.
29:31
The Opening of La'ah’s Womb and the Four Pillars of Yashar’el
And when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 saw that La'ah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachal was barren.
29:32
And La'ah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Ra'uban: for she said, "Surely 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me."
29:33
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, "Because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also": and she called his name Sham'un.
29:34
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 Lawiy.
29:35
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, "Now will I praise 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄": therefore she called his name Yahudah; and left bearing.