וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־קֶֽדֶם׃

Although Jacob left Beersheba as a refugee, his mood improved after the vision he received in Beit El. Therefore, Jacob lifted his feet, as his travel felt light, and now he sensed he was accompanied, protected, and shielded by God. And he went to the land of the people of the east, specifically, the Arameans.

וַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר׃

Nearing Haran, he saw, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying alongside it , the well, since from that well they watered the flocks, and the great stone was on the mouth of the well. The opening of the well, which was designed to be used exclusively by the inhabitants of the city and their flocks, was blocked with a large stone to prevent strangers from drawing its water.

וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־הָעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃

All the flocks would gather there and they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well. Only all the shepherds together had the strength to roll the heavy stone. And therefore, when they would all arrive they would give the sheep to drink, and they would return the stone upon the mouth of the well to its place.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

Although Jacob knows the general direction in which he is headed, he is unsure of the precise place where he has arrived. Jacob said to them: My brethren, from where are you? They said: We are from Haran.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־נָח֑וֹר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ׃

He said to them: Do you know Laban son of Nahor, who lives in Haran? The attribution of Laban to Nahor his grandfather rather than to Betuel his father provides support for the theory that Betuel was not an important figure. They said: We know him.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם ל֑וֹ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־הַצֹּֽאן׃

He said to them: Is he well? They said: He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep. If you wish to know more, ask her. Apparently, these shepherds were not keen to speak with a stranger.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ׃

Jacob does not leave the shepherds alone, but addresses them a second time. He said: Behold, the day is still great, it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Since it is not yet dark, you should continue your work. Give the sheep to drink, and go and herd. Why are you waiting here?

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן׃

They said: We would like to water the sheep, but we cannot, as the stone is too heavy. Therefore, we must wait until all the flocks are gathered, and they, the shepherds of all the flocks, will together roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we give the sheep to drink.

עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם וְרָחֵ֣ל ׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

Earlier, the shepherds had told Jacob that Rachel was nearing the well. In the meantime, he was still speaking with them, and Rachel came, arriving with her father’s flock; for she was a shepherdess. This was her responsibility in the family.

וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃

It was when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, a close relative, and the flock of Laban his mother’s brother, a flock that belonged to his relative, that Jacob approached and unaided rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and gave the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother to drink. Jacob was so strong that he was able to lift a stone that three shepherds together could not budge.

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

Jacob kissed Rachel chastely, as one would a young family relation. And he raised his voice, and wept out of emotion. After a journey of hundreds of miles, which certainly took him several months, spending each night in a different place, he had finally met a member of his family.

וַיַּגֵּ֨ד יַעֲקֹ֜ב לְרָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י אֲחִ֤י אָבִ֙יהָ֙ ה֔וּא וְכִ֥י בֶן־רִבְקָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַתָּ֖רָץ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד לְאָבִֽיהָ׃

After this greeting, Jacob began to speak. Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, kinsman, and that he was Rebecca’s son. Rachel must have heard about her aunt who had traveled to a distant land, and now she had met her aunt’s son. The young girl was excited about the news, and therefore she ran and told her father.

וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ לָבָ֜ן אֶת־שֵׁ֣מַע ׀ יַעֲקֹ֣ב בֶּן־אֲחֹת֗וֹ וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ל֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לְלָבָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

It was when Laban heard the news of the arrival of Jacob, his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house, as befitting a family member. In light of Laban’s unsavory nature, as evident from the continuation of the story, some commentaries explain that he had ulterior motives for this friendly welcome. He, Jacob, related to Laban all these matters. He told him that he had arrived with the aim of establishing contact with his family, and perhaps also informed him of the circumstances of his flight from home.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לָבָ֔ן אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עִמּ֖וֹ חֹ֥דֶשׁ יָמִֽים׃

Laban said to him: Indeed, you are my bone and my flesh, a family relative. And so he lived with him a month’s time. While staying with Laban, Jacob began to help him, as he felt an obligation toward his family member.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב הֲכִי־אָחִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וַעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי חִנָּ֑ם הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מַה־מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ׃

Laban said to Jacob, after the passage of a month: Merely because you are my brother, kinsman, shall you work for me for nothing? Since you wish to labor, let us set up a formal arrangement. Tell me, what is your salary?

וּלְלָבָ֖ן שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הַגְּדֹלָה֙ לֵאָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה רָחֵֽל׃

Here the Torah notes: Laban had two daughters: The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

וְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֙ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃

Leah’s eyes were delicate, there was some problem with her eyes. Perhaps they were sensitive, not allowing her to shepherd outside. It is also possible that she had blue eyes, which were considered more sensitive to the rays of the sun. And Rachel was of fine form, and beautiful.

וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃

Jacob loved Rachel. Either he fell in love with her when he first saw her approach with the sheep, or his love had developed during the month he had lived in Laban’s home. And he said: I will work for you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter, in addition to my food and lodgings. Since Jacob had brought no money, dowry, or gifts, he had to pay with his service. Apparently, Laban considered seven years of work to be suitable payment for Rachel, and he accepted Jacob’s offer.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֗ן ט֚וֹב תִּתִּ֣י אֹתָ֣הּ לָ֔ךְ מִתִּתִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ לְאִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֑ר שְׁבָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃

Laban said: Better that I give her to you, than I give her to another man; live with me. Your suggestion and terms are acceptable to me.

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ׃

Jacob worked seven years for Rachel; they were in his eyes but a few days, in his love of her. Since Jacob loved Rachel, seven years of work seemed to him a fair price for her hand in marriage.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב אֶל־לָבָן֙ הָבָ֣ה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּ֔י כִּ֥י מָלְא֖וּ יָמָ֑י וְאָב֖וֹאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

Jacob said to Laban: Give me my wife, in accordance with our agreement, as my time is fulfilled; I have performed the amount of work we stipulated. And I will consort with her. Throughout that entire period Rachel was designated for Jacob, even engaged to him in a certain sense. Now Jacob sought to consummate this through marriage.

וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

Laban gathered all the people of the place, and made a wedding feast.

וַיְהִ֣י בָעֶ֔רֶב וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־לֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אֵלָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

It was in the evening, and he, Laban, took Leah his older daughter and brought her to him, Jacob; and he consorted with her, assuming that she was Rachel.

וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לָ֔הּ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה׃

Laban gave Zilpa, his maidservant, to his daughter Leah as a maidservant, as one of his wedding gifts.

וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּה־הִ֖וא לֵאָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־לָבָ֗ן מַה־זֹּאת֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לִּ֔י הֲלֹ֤א בְרָחֵל֙ עָבַ֣דְתִּי עִמָּ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה רִמִּיתָֽנִי׃

It was in the morning and Jacob discovered: Behold, she was Leah. He said to Laban: What is this that you did to me? Didn’t I work with you for Rachel, and why did you deceive me?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן לֹא־יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ לָתֵ֥ת הַצְּעִירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַבְּכִירָֽה׃

Laban said: It is not done thus in our place, to give the younger before the elder. According to our custom, the elder must be married before her younger sister.

מַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וְנִתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ גַּם־אֶת־זֹ֗את בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמָּדִ֔י ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

I offer a package deal: Complete the wedding week for this one bride, and we will give you that one too, the other sister, in exchange for the work that you will work with me another seven additional years. My daughters are equally dear to me, and each of them is separately worth seven years of work. While you thought you were laboring for Rachel, you were actually working for Leah. If Leah is not enough for you, you must work another seven years.

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יַעֲקֹב֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיְמַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־רָחֵ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

Jacob, an isolated stranger with no other recourse, did so, as he had no choice but to accept Laban’s terms. And he completed that week, the week of celebration for the marriage of Leah, and he, Laban, gave him Rachel his daughter for a wife. Laban did not want Rachel to wait another seven years. Apparently, she had already come of age.

וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃

Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, Bilha his maidservant as a maidservant.

וַיָּבֹא֙ גַּ֣ם אֶל־רָחֵ֔ל וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב גַּֽם־אֶת־רָחֵ֖ל מִלֵּאָ֑ה וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ד עִמּ֔וֹ ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת׃

He also consorted with Rachel, he also loved Rachel more than Leah, even though she was not his first wife. And Jacob worked with him another seven additional years, as he had agreed.

וַיַּ֤רְא יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה׃

The Lord saw that Leah was hated, and therefore He came to her aid and immediately opened her womb, and she conceived. And Rachel, however, was barren. Since they married Jacob within seven days of each other, it was conspicuous that while Leah was pregnant, Rachel was left without children.

וַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־רָאָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּעָנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי׃

Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; she said: Because the Lord saw [ ra’a ] my affliction; for now my husband will love me, for I am the mother of his son.

וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה אָנֹ֔כִי וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֖י גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֑ה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃

Not long afterward, she conceived again and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard [ shama ] that I am hated, He gave me this son as well. She called his name Simeon [Shimon]. Leah’s statement here is more explicit than at the birth of Reuben, perhaps because by now the family dynamic had become even clearer. The birth of Reuben did not change Jacob’s attitude toward Leah in any substantial manner, and therefore the name of her second son does not express her hope to become his beloved, but confirms her status as unloved.

וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֤ה הַפַּ֙עַם֙ יִלָּוֶ֤ה אִישִׁי֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי ל֖וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמ֖וֹ לֵוִֽי׃

She conceived again and bore a son, and said: Now, this time, my husband will certainly accompany [ yillaveh ] and become close to me, as I have borne him three sons. Jacob will be pleased that I have given him three sons, as these are important steps in the fulfillment of his destiny. The more sons he has, the quicker his family will become a nation. Therefore, he, Jacob, called his name Levi, as he too was pleased with the addition of a third son to the family.

וַתַּ֨הַר ע֜וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֗ן וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַפַּ֙עַם֙ אוֹדֶ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֛ן קָרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד מִלֶּֽדֶת׃

She conceived again and bore a son, and said: This time I will thank [ odeh ] the Lord for the joy in bearing so many sons and in the experience of motherhood. Therefore, she called his name Judah. And after giving birth to one child a year she ceased bearing. For a time she remained the mother of four sons, and did not continue bearing children at the same pace.