Zilpah

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.

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."