Study Desk

Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know for sure if you are my son Esau or not."

Isaac answered Esau, "See, I have made him to rule over you. I have given him all his brothers as servants. I have given him grain and new wine to keep him alive and well. What then can I do for you, my son?"

Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one prayer for good to come, my father? Pray that good will come to me also, O my father." And Esau gave out a loud cry.

Esau hated Jacob because his father had prayed that good would come to Jacob. Esau said to himself, "The days when I will have sorrow for the loss of my father are soon. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Stay with him for a few days, until your brother's anger goes away.

When your brother's anger against you is gone and he forgets what you did to him, then I will send for you and have you return from there. Why should I have sorrow for both of you in one day?"

Get ready, and go to the house of your mother's father Bethuel in Paddan-aram. Take a wife for yourself from the daughters of your mother's brother Laban.

Now Esau saw that Isaac had prayed for good to come to Jacob and that he had sent him away to Paddan-aram to find a wife. Esau knew that his father had prayed for good to come to Jacob and said, "Do not marry one of the daughters of Canaan,"

He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow.

See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you."

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it."

Jacob said, "See, the sun is still high. It is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Give water to the sheep, and return them to their field."

He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she cared for them.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry for joy.

Laban said to him, "For sure you are my bone and my flesh." And Jacob stayed with him a month.

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are one of my family, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what do you want to be paid?"

Jacob loved Rachel. So he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. It was only like a few days to him, because of his love for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife so I may go in to her. For my time is finished."

When the morning came, Jacob saw that it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Did I not work for you for Rachel? Why have you fooled me?"