Leah

16Laban had two daughters. The older one was named Leah. The younger one was named Rachel.

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah's eyes were weak. Rachel was beautiful and lovely to look at.

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will work for you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

NoteA man usually gave the bride's family a gift before a wedding. Jacob had no money or animals with him. So he offered seven years of hard work instead.

19Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay here with me."

And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

20So Jacob worked seven years to get Rachel. It felt like only a few days to him, because he loved her.

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is finished. I want to sleep with her."

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22So Laban called together all the men of that place. He made a big meal for them.

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

NoteA wedding meal was a big party. It lasted a whole week, with many guests.

23That evening Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

NoteThe bride wore a thick veil over her face. It was dark at night, so Jacob could not see who she was.

24Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her helper.

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

NoteA servant girl worked for the family. She went with the bride to her new home to help her.

25In the morning, there was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Did I not work for you to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?"

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26Laban said, "In our land we do not do that. The younger daughter is not married before the older one."

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

NoteIn that land the oldest daughter had to marry first. That was their rule for families.

27"Finish this wedding week with Leah. Then we will give you Rachel too. For her you will work seven more years for me."

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

NoteThe wedding party lasted seven days. Jacob had to stay with Leah for all of it.

28Jacob did that. He finished the wedding week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife too.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her helper.

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

NoteIn those days a man sometimes had more than one wife. That is why Jacob was married to both sisters.

31The LORD saw that Leah was not loved. So he let her have children. But Rachel could not have children.

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

NoteThe old words say Leah was "hated." It means Jacob loved her less than he loved Rachel.

32Leah was going to have a baby, and she had a son. She named him Reuben. She said, "The LORD has seen my trouble. Now my husband will love me."

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

NoteIn their language, Reuben sounds like "look, a son." Leah chose the name because God had looked at her sadness.

33She had another son. She said, "The LORD heard that I was not loved. So he gave me this son too." She named him Simeon.

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

NoteIn their language, Simeon sounds like the word for "heard."

34She had another son. She said, "Now my husband will hold close to me. I have given him three sons." So he was named Levi.

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

NoteIn their language, Levi sounds like the word for "joined" or "held close."

35She had another son. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

NoteIn their language, Judah sounds like the word for "praise."

9Leah saw that she had stopped having children. So she took her servant Zilpah. She gave her to Jacob to be his wife.

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10Zilpah, Leah's servant, had a son for Jacob.

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

11Leah said, "Good fortune has come!" She named him Gad.

And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

Note"Gad" sounds like the Hebrew word for good luck. Leah is saying that something good has come to her.

12Zilpah, Leah's servant, had a second son for Jacob.

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

13Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." She named him Asher.

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Note"Asher" sounds like the Hebrew word for "happy."

14During the wheat harvest, Reuben went out. He found some mandrake plants in a field. He brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

NoteMandrakes are plants with a strong smell and small yellow fruit. Back then people believed they helped a woman have a baby. Wheat harvest is early summer, when people cut the ripe wheat.

15Leah said to her, "Is it a small thing that you took my husband? Now will you take my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "Then Jacob may sleep with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

16That evening Jacob came in from the field. Leah went out to meet him. She said, "You must come to me. I have paid for you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night.

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17God listened to Leah. She was going to have a baby, and she had a fifth son for Jacob.

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18Leah said, "God has paid me, because I gave my servant to my husband." She named him Issachar.

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

Note"Issachar" sounds like the Hebrew word for pay or reward.

19Leah was going to have another baby. She had a sixth son for Jacob.

And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

20Leah said, "God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will live with me, because I have given him six sons." She named him Zebulun.

And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

Note"Zebulun" sounds like a Hebrew word for living together with someone.

21After that she had a daughter. She named her Dinah.

And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He called them out to the field where his flock was.

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

5He said to them, "I see your father's face. He does not look at me the way he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.

And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

6You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength.

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

7Your father has tricked me. He has changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him hurt me.

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

NoteJacob's pay was not money. Laban paid him with animals from the flock.

8When he said, 'The spotted ones will be your pay,' all the flock had spotted babies. When he said, 'The striped ones will be your pay,' all the flock had striped babies.

If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

NoteMost sheep and goats are one plain color. Spotted and striped ones are rarer. Laban thought Jacob would end up with very few.

9In this way God has taken your father's animals and given them to me.

Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10When the animals were mating, I looked up and saw something in a dream. The male goats mating with the flock were striped and spotted and speckled.

And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

NoteWhen animals mate, they make babies together.

11In the dream the angel of God spoke to me. He said, 'Jacob.' I said, 'Here I am.'

And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

12He said, 'Look up and see. All the males mating with the flock are striped and spotted and speckled. I have seen everything Laban is doing to you.

And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

13I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a stone pillar. That is where you made a promise to me. Now get up. Leave this land and go back to the land of your family.'"

I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

NoteBethel was a place where Jacob once slept and dreamed about God. He poured oil on a stone there to show the spot was special.

14Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any share left for us in our father's house? Will we get anything he owns?

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

NoteLong ago a father left his things to his children. Rachel and Leah say they will get nothing from theirs.

15Does he not treat us like strangers? He sold us. He has also used up all the money paid for us.

Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

NoteBack then a man gave gifts to his bride's father. Jacob paid with many years of work. Laban kept it all for himself.

16All the riches God took from our father belong to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you."

For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming. Four hundred men were with him. Jacob split the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servant women.

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

NoteEsau was Jacob's twin brother. Years before, Jacob had tricked him and then run away. Jacob had not seen him since. That is why four hundred men coming felt scary.

2He put the servant women and their children in front. Leah and her children came next. Rachel and Joseph came last.

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

NoteThe servant women were Bilhah and Zilpah. They worked for Rachel and Leah. Jacob had children with all four women.

3Jacob went on ahead of them. He bowed down to the ground seven times as he came near his brother.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

NoteBowing to the ground meant kneeling and touching your head to the dirt. People did this to show great respect. Doing it seven times showed the most respect of all.

4Esau ran to meet him. He hugged him and put his arms around his neck and kissed him. They both cried.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5Esau looked up and saw the women and the children. He asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "These are the children God has kindly given me, your servant."

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

NoteJacob calls himself "your servant" on purpose. Long ago that was a polite way to talk to someone important.

6Then the servant women came near with their children, and they bowed down.

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

7Leah came near with her children too, and they bowed down. After that Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

1Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. She went out to see the young women of that land.

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

NoteJacob's family were shepherds who moved from place to place. They were living near a city that was not their home. The young women there were strangers to Dinah.

2Shechem was the son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that land. Shechem saw Dinah. He took her and forced her to lie with him. He shamed her.

And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

NoteA Hivite was one of the groups of people living in that land. Shechem's father was the ruler, so his family was powerful. "He shamed her" means he hurt her and took her against her will.

3His heart was tied to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He loved the girl, and he spoke kindly to her.

And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

Note"His heart was tied to Dinah" means he could not stop thinking about her. The King James says his soul "clave" unto her, which means stuck fast.

4Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl to be my wife."

And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

NoteLong ago a father often arranged a marriage for his son. The son would ask, and the father would speak to the girl's family.

5Jacob heard that Shechem had shamed his daughter Dinah. His sons were out in the fields with his animals. Jacob stayed quiet until they came home.

And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

NoteJacob's sons were far away caring for the sheep and goats. That work often kept them out in the fields for days.

6Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out to talk with Jacob.

And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

7Jacob's sons heard about it and came in from the fields. They were full of sadness, and they were very angry. Shechem had done a shameful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter. Such a thing should not be done.

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

NoteIsrael was another name God gave to Jacob. Here it means Jacob and his whole family.

29Then he told them what to do. He said, "I am going to join my people who died before me. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite."

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

NoteFamilies were buried together in one place. Jacob wanted to rest with his father and grandfather.

30"The cave is in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought that field from Ephron the Hittite to own a burial place."

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

NoteCanaan was the land God promised to Abraham. A cave was used as a family grave.

31"They buried Abraham and his wife Sarah there. They buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah there. And I buried Leah there."

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

NoteAbraham and Sarah were Jacob's grandparents. Isaac and Rebekah were his father and mother. Leah was his wife.

32"The field and the cave in it were bought from the children of Heth."

The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

NoteThe children of Heth were also called Hittites. They lived in that land and sold Abraham the field.

33Jacob finished telling his sons what to do. He pulled his feet up into the bed. He took his last breath and died. He joined his people who died before him.

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

NoteThe old words here are "yielded up the ghost." Ghost meant a person's breath or life. So the words simply mean he died.

9Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You all saw this today. I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

Note"You all saw this" means the people were witnesses. Their eyes and memories were the proof the deal really happened.

10I have also taken Ruth to be my wife. She came from Moab, and her husband Mahlon died. Her son will carry Mahlon's name and keep his land. So Mahlon's name will not be forgotten in his town. You all saw this today."

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

NotePeople wanted their family name to keep going after they died. A son carried that name on. Boaz promised that Mahlon's name would keep going.

11All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We saw it. May the LORD make this woman like Rachel and Leah. Those two mothers built up the families of Israel. May you do well in Ephratah and be known in Bethlehem.

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

NoteThe word LORD in capital letters is God's own name in this book. Rachel and Leah were two sisters long before this. Their children grew into the families of Israel. Ephratah was another name for the area around Bethlehem.

12Long ago Tamar had a son named Pharez, and Judah was his father. May your family grow strong like that family. May the LORD give you children by this young woman."

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

NoteJudah was one of the sons of Israel long ago. Tamar was in his family, and their son was named Pharez. Pharez's family grew very large and strong.