Genesis 29:14-35

Genesis 29:14-35 NCV

Then Laban said, “You are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed there a month. Then Laban said to Jacob, “You are my relative, but it is not right for you to work for me without pay. What would you like me to pay you?” Now Laban had two daughters. The older was Leah, and the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was very beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel, so he said to Laban, “Let me marry your younger daughter Rachel. If you will, I will work seven years for you.” Laban said, “It would be better for her to marry you than someone else, so stay here with me.” So Jacob worked for Laban seven years so he could marry Rachel. But they seemed like just a few days to him because he loved Rachel very much. After seven years Jacob said to Laban, “Give me Rachel so that I may marry her. The time I promised to work for you is over.” So Laban gave a feast for all the people there. That evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and they had sexual relations. (Laban gave his slave girl Zilpah to his daughter to be her servant.) In the morning when Jacob saw that he had had sexual relations with Leah, he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? I worked hard for you so that I could marry Rachel! Why did you trick me?” Laban said, “In our country we do not allow the younger daughter to marry before the older daughter. But complete the full week of the marriage ceremony with Leah, and I will give you Rachel to marry also. But you must serve me another seven years.” So Jacob did this, and when he had completed the week with Leah, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. (Laban gave his slave girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) So Jacob had sexual relations with Rachel also, and Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Jacob worked for Laban for another seven years. When the LORD saw that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, he made it possible for Leah to have children, but not Rachel. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said, “The LORD has seen my troubles. Surely now my husband will love me.” Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon and said, “The LORD has heard that I am not loved, so he has given me this son.” Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Levi and said, “Now, surely my husband will be close to me, because I have given him three sons.” Then Leah gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, because she said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” Then Leah stopped having children.

Read Genesis 29