(BA) Genesis 29

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1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field, and there were three flocks of sheep lying there by it, because from that well they watered the flocks. And the stone on the well's mouth was great. 3 And there all the flocks would be gathered, and they would roll the stone from the well's mouth, and water the sheep, and put the stone back on the well's mouth in its place.

4 And Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are you from?

And they said, We are from Haran.

5 And he said to them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?

And they said, We know him.

6 And he said, Is he well?

And they said, He is well, and here comes Rachel his daughter with the sheep.

7 And he said, It is still high noon, and it is not yet time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go feed them.

8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep.

9 While he was still speaking to them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, because she tended them. 10 Now, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.

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. 13 And then when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, 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 you are my bone and my flesh. And he stayed with him for a month.

15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?

16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and fair to look upon. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.

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

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him only a few days, because of the love he had for her. 21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, because my days are completed, so that I may go to bed with her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And then, in the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went to bed with her. 24 And Laban gave Zilpah his female slave to his daughter Leah to be her slave. 25 Then, in the morning, there was Leah. And he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?

26 And Laban said, It is not done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Finish the week for this one, and we will give you the other also for the work which you will do for me another seven years. 28 And Jacob did so, and finished her week, and he gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his female slave to be her slave. 30 And he went to bed also with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him still another seven years.

31 And Y' saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, because she said, Because Y' has looked upon my affliction, for now my husband will love me.

33 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, Because Y' has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also. And she called his name Simeon.

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

35 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and she said, This time I will praise Y'. Therefore she called his name Judah, and she ceased bearing.

(29:32) "looked upon my affliction". The JPS notes point out that this is raʔah ... beʕonyi in Hebrew, which is evidently a pun on "Reuben" (Hebrew reʔuben).

(29:33) "has heard". The JPS notes point out that this is šamaʕ in Hebrew, which is evidently a pun on "Simeon" (Hebrew šimʕon).

(29:34) "joined". The JPS notes point out that this word comes from the Hebrew root lawah, which is evidently a pun on "Levi".

(29:35) "praise". The JPS notes point out that this word comes from the Hebrew root hodah, which is evidently a pun on "Judah" (Hebrew Yehudah).

JPS. The Jewish Publication Society Bible of 1917.

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