Study Desk

Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister’s son was come, ran forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.

And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,

Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Lia.

And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?

He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:

And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.

And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan.

She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad.

And Ruben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the field, found mandrakes: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel said: Give me part of thy son’s mandrakes.

And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.

And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and therefore she called his name Zabulon.

And she called his name Joseph: saying: The Lord give me also another son.

And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father in law: Send me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land.

And he separated the same day the she goats, and the sheep, and the he goats, and the rams of divers colours, and spotted; and all the flock of one colour, that is, of white and black fleece, he delivered into the hands of his sons.

And he set the space of three days journey betwixt himself and his son in law, who fed the rest of his flock.

But after that he had heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying: Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s, and being enriched by his substance is become great.