The Holy Ivri Heritage Bible

1And Ya’akov started and went to the land of the east to Lavan, the son of Bethuel the Aramean [Arami / Syrian], and the brother of Rivkah, mother of Ya’akov and Esav. 2And he looked, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but a great stone was upon the mouth of the well. 3And all the flocks were gathered there, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place upon the mouth of the well. 4And Ya’akov said to them, “Brothers, whence are you?” And they said, “We are of Haran.” 5And he said to them, “Do you know Lavan son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6And he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.” 7And Ya’akov said, “It is yet high day, it is not time that the flocks be gathered together; water the sheep, and go feed them.” 8And they said, “We cannot, until all the shepherds are gathered together, and they roll away the stone from the mouth of the well; then we will water the flocks.” 9While he was yet speaking with them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Lavan came with her father’s sheep, for she was shepherding them. 10And it came to pass when Ya’akov saw Rachel the daughter of Lavan, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan, his mother’s brother, that Ya’akov came near and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Lavan, his mother’s brother. 11And Ya’akov kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12And Ya’akov told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was the son of Rivkah; and she ran and told her father. 13And it came to pass when Lavan heard the name of Ya’akov, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him into his house; and Ya’akov told Lavan all these words. 14And Lavan said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a full month. 15And Lavan said to Ya’akov, “Because you are my kinsman, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16Now Lavan had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18And Ya’akov loved Rachel, and said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19And Lavan said, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” 20And Ya’akov served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days, because of the love he had for her. 21And Ya’akov said to Lavan, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22And Lavan gathered all the men of the place and made a mishteh [feast/banquet]. 23In the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Ya’akov, and he went in to her. 24And Lavan gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid. 25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Ya’akov said to Lavan, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you mirmah [deceit/deception] against me?” 26And Lavan said, “It is not done in our place to give the younger before the firstborn. 27Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me yet another seven years.” 28And Ya’akov did so and fulfilled her week. And Lavan gave him Rachel his daughter as wife also. 29And Lavan gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30And Ya’akov went in also to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Lavan another seven years. 31When Yahuah saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuven [Behold, a Son!], saying, “Because Yahuah has looked upon my affliction, now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahuah has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son also.” She called his name Shimon [Simeon]. 34She 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 [Joined/Attached]. 35She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise Yahuah.” Therefore she called his name Yehudah [Judah Praise /Thanksgiving].Then she ceased bearing.