Study Desk

So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. "The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's," Isaac said.

But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob's hands felt hairy just like Esau's. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob.

"But are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "Yes, I am," Jacob replied.

But Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" Esau replied, "It's your son, your firstborn son, Esau."

But Isaac said, "Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing."

Esau pleaded, "But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!" Then Esau broke down and wept.

You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck."

But Rebekah heard about Esau's plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, "Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.

But he was also afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!"

He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face.

So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.

But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her.

But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! "What have you done to me?" Jacob raged at Laban. "I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?"

"But wait until the bridal week is over; then we'll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me."

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive.

But Leah angrily replied, "Wasn't it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son's mandrakes, too?" Rachel answered, "I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes."

You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I've done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?"

But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons,

But he didn't do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob's.