Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

Ya'akov took this vow: "If God will be with me and will guard me on this road that I am traveling, giving me bread to eat and clothes to wear,

so that I return to my father's house in peace, then ADONAI will be my God;

and this stone, which I have set up as a standing-stone, will be God's house; and of everything you give me, I will faithfully return one-tenth to you."

Continuing his journey, Ya'akov came to the land of the people of the east.

As he looked, he saw a well in a field; and there were three flocks of sheep lying there next to it; because they watered the sheep from that well. The stone on the well's mouth was large,

and only when all the flocks had gathered there would they roll the stone away from the opening of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place on the well's opening.

Ya'akov said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They answered, "We're from Haran."

He asked them, "Do you know Lavan the [grand]son of Nachor?" They said, "We do."

He asked them, "Are things going well with him?""Yes," they answered, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

He said, "Look, there's still plenty of daylight left; and it isn't time to bring the animals home; so water the sheep; then go, and put them out to pasture."

They answered, "We can't, not until all the flocks have been gathered together, and they roll the stone away from the opening of the well. That's when we water the sheep."

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, because she took care of them.

When Ya'akov saw Rachel the daughter of Lavan his mother's brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother's brother, Ya'akov went up and rolled the stone away from the opening of the well and watered the flock of Lavan his mother's brother.

Ya'akov kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

Ya'akov told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rivkah's son; and she ran and told her father.

When Lavan heard the news of Ya'akov his sister's son, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ya'akov told Lavan all that had happened.

Lavan said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." After Ya'akov had stayed with him for a whole month,

Lavan said to him, "Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you."

Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le'ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Le'ah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.

Ya'akov had fallen in love with Rachel and said, "I will work for you seven years in exchange for Rachel your younger daughter."

Lavan answered, "Better that I give her to you than to someone else; stay with me."

So Ya'akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.

Ya'akov said to Lavan, "Give me my wife, since my time is finished, so that I can start living with her."

Lavan gathered all the men of the place and gave a banquet.