Rachel

1Then Jacob went on his way. He came to the land of the people of the east.

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

NoteThe people of the east lived far away, past the desert. Jacob had left home and walked for many days.

2He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying near it. The sheep drank water from that well. A big stone lay over the opening of the well.

And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

NoteA well is a deep hole dug down to water under the ground. A flock is a group of sheep kept together. The heavy stone kept dirt out and kept strangers from taking the water.

3All the flocks were brought together there. Then they rolled the stone off the well. They gave the sheep water. Then they put the stone back over the well.

And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

4Jacob said to the men, "My brothers, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

NoteHaran was a town far away. Jacob's mother had grown up there. Her family still lived there.

5He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."

And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

NoteNahor was really Laban's grandfather. In those days people said "son" for a grandson too.

6He said, "Is he well?" They said, "He is well. Look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep."

And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Note"Is he well?" means "Is he healthy and doing all right?"

7He said, "Look, the sun is still high. It is not time to bring the animals in. Give the sheep water. Then go and let them eat grass."

And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

NoteSheep were brought home at the end of the day. The sun was still high, so there was more time to eat grass.

8They said, "We cannot. We wait until all the flocks are here. Then the stone is rolled off the well. Then we give the sheep water."

And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep. She took care of them.

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

NoteGirls and young women often looked after the family sheep. It was a real job, out in the fields all day.

10Laban was the brother of Jacob's mother. Jacob saw Rachel, Laban's daughter, and Laban's sheep. So Jacob went over and rolled the stone off the well. He gave water to Laban's flock.

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban 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.

NoteLaban was Jacob's uncle. The stone was so heavy that it usually took several men to move it.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel. He cried out loud and wept.

And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

NoteA kiss on the cheek was the normal way to greet family. It was like a big hug today. People also cried out loud when they were happy.

12Jacob told Rachel that he belonged to her father's family. He told her he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.

And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

NoteThe old words say Jacob was her father's "brother." Back then that word could mean any relative. Jacob was really Laban's nephew.

13Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son. He ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him and brought him home. Jacob told Laban all that had happened.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

14Laban said to him, "You are truly my own flesh and blood." Jacob stayed with him for a month.

And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Note"My own flesh and blood" means "you are part of my family."

15Then Laban said to Jacob, "You are my relative. Should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your pay should be."

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

NotePay was not always money. A worker might be paid with food, animals, or clothes.

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.

1Rachel saw that she had no children for Jacob. She was jealous of her sister Leah. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

NoteLong ago, having children was the most important thing for a family. A woman with no children often felt very sad and ashamed.

2Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said, "Am I in God's place? He is the one who has kept you from having children."

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?

NoteJacob means that he is not God. Only God can decide when a baby is born.

3Rachel said, "Here is my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She will give birth on my knees. Then I can have children through her too."

And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

NoteHolding a new baby on your knees was a sign. It meant, "This baby counts as mine."

4So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah to be his wife. Jacob slept with her.

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

NoteIn those days a man could have more than one wife. Bilhah was Rachel's servant, so her baby would count as Rachel's baby.

5Bilhah was going to have a baby. She had a son for Jacob.

And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6Rachel said, "God has judged for me. He heard me and gave me a son." So she named him Dan.

And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

NoteIn Hebrew, the old language of this story, "Dan" sounds like the word for "he judged." Judged here means God gave Rachel what was fair.

7Bilhah, Rachel's servant, was going to have another baby. She had a second son for Jacob.

And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8Rachel said, "I have fought hard with my sister, and I have won." She named him Naphtali.

And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Note"Naphtali" sounds like the Hebrew word for "my fight." People often picked names that sounded like something that had happened.

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.

22Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and let her have a baby.

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Note"God remembered" does not mean God had forgotten her. It means God now did something to help her.

23She was going to have a baby, and she had a son. She said, "God has taken away my shame."

And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

NoteOther people had looked down on Rachel for having no children. That is the shame she means.

24She named him Joseph. She said, "May the LORD give me another son."

And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Note"Joseph" sounds like the Hebrew word for "may he add another."

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.

17Then Jacob got up. He put his sons and his wives on camels.

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

NoteCamels are big animals that carry people and bags. They can walk a long way in dry land.

18He took away all his animals and everything he owned. He had gotten it all in Padanaram. He set out for the land of Canaan, to go to his father Isaac.

And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

NotePadanaram was the faraway land where Laban lived. Canaan was the land Jacob's family came from.

19Laban had gone to cut the wool off his sheep. Rachel had stolen the little statues of gods that belonged to her father.

And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

NoteSheep grow thick wool. Once a year people cut it off to make cloth. It took many days of work. The little statues were small gods people kept at home. Some people thought they brought good luck. Some thought they showed who owned the family land.

20Jacob also tricked Laban the Syrian. He did not tell him that he was running away.

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

NoteLaban lived in a land far to the north. The King James calls him "the Syrian" because of that.

21So he ran away with everything he had. He got up and crossed the river. He headed toward the hills of Gilead.

So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

NoteThe river was the Euphrates, a very wide river. Gilead was a hilly place many days away.

22Three days later, someone told Laban that Jacob had run away.

And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

23Laban took his relatives with him. He chased Jacob for seven days. They caught up with him in the hills of Gilead.

And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24That night God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream. God said, "Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad."

And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

25Then Laban caught up with Jacob. Jacob had put up his tent in the hills. Laban and his relatives camped in the hills of Gilead too.

Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You tricked me and slipped away. You carried off my daughters like prisoners taken in war.

And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

NotePrisoners are people carried off by soldiers after a fight. Laban is saying Jacob treated the women that way.

27Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn't you tell me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with drums and harps.

Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

NoteDrums and harps were for a happy goodbye party. Laban says he never got the chance.

28You did not even let me kiss my sons and my daughters goodbye. What you have done was foolish.

And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

NoteThese were really Laban's grandchildren. Back then people often said "sons" for grandsons too.

29I have the power to hurt you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad.'

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30Now you have gone away, because you missed your father's house so much. But why did you steal my gods?"

And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you might take your daughters away from me by force.

And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32If you find your gods with anyone here, that person must not live. Look in front of our relatives. If anything here is yours, take it." Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

NoteJacob was sure nobody had taken them. So he promised a very hard punishment.

33Laban went into Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, then the tents of the two servant women. He did not find them. Then he came out of Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent.

And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.

34Rachel had taken the little statues. She had put them inside her camel's saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent, but he did not find them.

Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

NoteA camel saddle is a big padded seat. It sits on the camel's back and holds bags.

35She said to her father, "Sir, please do not be upset with me. I cannot stand up in front of you. I am having my monthly bleeding." He searched, but he did not find the statues.

And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

NoteGrown women bleed a few days each month. Back then people did not touch the place such a woman sat. So Laban did not look under her.

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.

16They left Bethel and traveled on. They were still a little way from the town of Ephrath. Then Rachel began to have her baby, and it was very hard for her.

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17While she was working so hard, the midwife spoke to her. She said, "Do not be afraid. You are having another son."

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

NoteA midwife is a woman who helps babies be born.

18Rachel was dying, and with her last breath she named the baby Benoni. But his father named him Benjamin.

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

NoteBenoni means "son of my sadness." Benjamin means "son of my right hand." The right hand was the strong, happy side.

19So Rachel died. They buried her beside the road to Ephrath, the town also called Bethlehem.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

NoteBethlehem is a small town. Many stories in the Bible happen there later.

20Jacob set up a tall stone over her grave. That stone still marks Rachel's grave today.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.