Women in the Bible & Beyond: Rachel & Leah

(10) And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Lavan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. (11) And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

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(15) And Lavan said unto Jacob: ‘Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?’ (16) Now Lavn had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. (17) And Leah’s eyes were soft (weak); and (but) Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. (18) And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: ‘I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.’

(19) And Lavan said: ‘It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.’ (20) And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. (21) And Jacob said to Lavan: ‘Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may come unto her.’ (22) And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. (23) And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he came unto her. (24) And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. (25) And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Lavan: ‘What is this you have done me? Did not I serve with you for Rachel? Why have you then tricked me?’

(26) And Lavan said: ‘It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. (27) Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me yet seven other years.’ (28) And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.

(30) And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. (31) And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

(32) And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuven; for she said: ‘Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.’ (33) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: ‘Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, He has therefore given me this son also.’ And she called his name Shimon. (34) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: ‘Now this time will my husband accompany me, because I have borne him three sons.’ Therefore was his name called Levi. (35) And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: ‘This time will I thank (praise) the LORD.’ Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing [children].

(1) And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob: ‘Give me children, or else I die.’ (2) And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said: ‘Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?’

(3) And she said: ‘Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may be built up through her.’ (4) And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife; and Jacob went in unto her. (5) And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. (6) And Rachel said: ‘God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.’ Therefore called she his name Dan. (7) And Bilhah Rachel’s handmaid conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son. (8) And Rachel said: ‘With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed.’ And she called his name Naphtali.

(9) When Leah saw that she had left off bearing, she took Zilpah her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife. (10) And Zilpah Leah’s handmaid bore Jacob a son. (11) And Leah said: ‘Fortune is come! ’ And she called his name Gad. (12) And Zilpah Leah’s handmaid bore Jacob a second son. (13) And Leah said: ‘Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy.’ And she called his name Asher.

(14) And Reuven went in the days of wheat harvest, and found Duda'im in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah: ‘Give me, I pray you, of your son’s Duda'im.’ (15) And she said unto her: ‘Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? and would you take away my son’s Duda'im as well?’ And Rachel said: ‘Therefore he shall lie with you tonight for your son’s Duda'im.’ (16) And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said: ‘You must come in unto me; for I have surely hired you with my son’s Duda'im.’ And he lay with her that night.

(17) And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. (18) And Leah said: ‘God hath given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar. (19) And Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob. (20) And Leah said: ‘God has endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.’ And she called his name Zebulun.

(21) And afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

(22) And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. (23) And she conceived, and bore a son, and said: ‘God has taken away my reproach.’ (24) And she called his name Joseph, saying: ‘The LORD added to me another son.’ (25) And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Lavan: ‘Send me away, that I may go unto my own place, and to my country.