Study Desk

He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him.

Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"

Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?"

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.

Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides.

When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"

So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman.

Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran.

When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

"Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture."

While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherd.

Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,

Laban said to him, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?"

Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."

Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.