Study Desk

Le'ah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy." She named him Asher.

She said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's dudaim, also?" Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's dudaim."

Ya`akov came from the field in the evening, and Le'ah went out to meet him, and said, "You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son's dudaim." He lay with her that night.

Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go: for you know my service with which I have served you."

Lavan said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that the LORD has blessed me for your sake."

For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. The LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?"

He said, "What shall I give you?" Ya`akov said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it.

So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be counted stolen."

He said, 'Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Lavan does to you.

Rachel and Le'ah answered him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

Aren't we accounted by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money.

For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do."

Ya`akov answered Lavan, "Because I was afraid, for I said, 'Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.'

With whoever you find your gods, he shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it." For Ya`akov didn't know that Rachel had stolen them.

She said to her father, "Don't let my lord be angry that I can't rise up before you; for the manner of women is on me." He searched, but didn't find the terafim.

These twenty years have I been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.

Now come, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be for a witness between me and you."

Ya`akov took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

and Mitzpah, for he said, "The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.