Study Desk

As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother Laban, with Laban's sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.

When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran out to meet him, and he embraced him and kissed him. Then he took him to his home, and Jacob told him all that had happened.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

And Jacob did just that. He finished the week's celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as his wife, and he slept with her,

Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

That very day Laban removed all the streaked or spotted male goats and every speckled or spotted female goat-every one that had any white on it-and every dark-colored lamb, and he placed them under the care of his sons.

Jacob set apart the young, but made the rest face the streaked dark-colored sheep in Laban's flocks. Then he set his own stock apart and did not put them with Laban's animals.

And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

and he told them, "I can see from your father's face that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.

So Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols.

So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

So he took his kinsmen with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him at Mount Gilead.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, and when Laban overtook him, he and his brothers camped there as well.