Study Desk

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram.

So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father,

Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.

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

So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.

Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!"

Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,

But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me."

She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.

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

And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord ." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.