Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,

Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Lia.

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?

Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.

Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.

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 she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.

The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.

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?

But she said: I have here my servant Bala: go in unto her, that she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her.

And she gave him Bala in marriage: who,

When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son.

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.

Lia perceiving that she had left of bearing, gave Zelpha, her handmaid, to her husband.

And when she had conceived, and brought forth a son,

She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad.

Zelpha also bore another.