Rachel

He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock.

And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.

And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept.

And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel.

But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.

And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?

He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:

To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant.

And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.

And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

And Rachel seeing herself without children, envied her sister, and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die.

And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb?

And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan.

And again Bala conceived, and bore another,

For whom Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called him Nephthali.

And Ruben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the field, found mandrakes: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel said: Give me part of thy son's mandrakes.

She answered: Dost thou think it a small matter, that thou hast taken my husband from me, unless thou take also my son's mandrakes? Rachel said: He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's mandrakes.

The Lord also remembering Rachel, heard her, and opened her womb.

And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law: Send me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land.

He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed the flocks,

And Rachel and Lia answered: Have we any thing left among the goods and inheritance of our father's house?