Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Jacob travelled on and came to the land of the eastern people. In a field he saw a well with a large stone over it and flocks lying nearby. He asked the men there where they were from, and they said, “Haran.” When Jacob asked about Laban, they said he was well, and that Rachel was coming with the sheep.

While Jacob was still speaking, Rachel arrived because she kept her father’s sheep. Jacob went to the well, rolled the stone away, and watered Laban’s flock. Then he kissed Rachel and wept aloud. He told her he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and Rachel ran to tell Laban.

Laban ran to meet Jacob, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him into his house. Jacob stayed with him for a month. Then Laban asked what wages Jacob wanted. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel, so he offered to serve seven years for Rachel, the younger daughter. Laban agreed, and the years seemed short to Jacob because he loved her.

When the seven years were over, Jacob asked for his wife. Laban gathered the men of the place and made a feast. But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, not Rachel, and Jacob went in to her. Laban also gave his servant Zilpah to Leah. In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah and asked Laban why he had deceived him.

Laban said it was not the custom there to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. He told Jacob to complete Leah’s wedding week, and then Rachel would also be given to him if he served seven more years. Jacob did so. Laban gave Rachel to him, gave Bilhah to Rachel as her servant, and Jacob served Laban for another seven years. He loved Rachel more than Leah.