Isaac Sends Jacob Away

Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him, “You are not to marry any of the Canaanite women.

Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan Aram. Jacob went to live with Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah. She was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him away to Paddan Aram to get a wife from there. He learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had commanded him not to marry any of the Canaanite women.

He also learned that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had left for Paddan Aram.

Jacob’s First Encounter with God

Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran.

Then Jacob woke up from his sleep and exclaimed, “Certainly, the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t know it!”

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured olive oil on top of it.

Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,

Jacob’s Arrival in Haran

Jacob continued on his trip and came to the land in the east.

Jacob asked some people, “My friends, where are you from?” “We’re from Haran,” they replied.

“How is he doing?” Jacob asked them. “He’s fine,” they answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban’s sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and sobbed loudly.

When Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s nephew and that he was Rebekah’s son, she ran and told her father.

As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He hugged and kissed him and brought him into his home. Then Jacob told Laban all that had happened.

Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”

Jacob Obtains Wives

Jacob stayed with him for a whole month.

Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, “I’ll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Jacob worked seven years in return for Rachel, but the years seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her.

⌞At the end of the seven years⌟ Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; give me my wife! I want to sleep with her.”

In the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her. When morning came, he realized it was Leah.

“What have you done to me?” Jacob asked Laban. “Didn’t I work for you in return for Rachel? Why did you cheat me?”

That’s what Jacob did. He finished the week with Leah. Then Laban gave his daughter Rachel to him as his wife.

Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

Leah and Rachel Compete for Jacob’s Love

When the Lord saw Leah was unloved, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel had none.

Rachel saw that she could not have children for Jacob, and she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”