Jakob hos Laban
1Jakob fortsatte sin rejse og ankom til landet mod øst. 2Der fik han øje på tre fåreflokke, der lå ved en brønd på en mark og ventede på noget vand at drikke. Stenen, som lå over brøndåbningen, var meget stor. 3Når alle fåreflokkene var samlet, ville hyrderne rulle stenen væk fra brøndåbningen og give fårene vand og derefter lægge stenen tilbage over brønden igen.
4„Hvor kommer I fra?” spurgte Jakob hyrderne.
„Fra Karan,” svarede de.
5„Kender I Laban, Nakors sønnesøn?”
„Ja, ham kender vi godt.”
6„Hvordan har han det?”
„Han har det godt. Det er for øvrigt hans datter Rakel, der kommer derovre med fårene.”
7„Hvorfor giver I ikke fårene noget vand, så de kan vende tilbage til deres græsgang?” spurgte Jakob. „Solen står jo endnu højt på himlen, så det er da for tidligt at samle dem.”
8„Vi må vente, til alle hyrderne er her, før vi kan rulle stenen til side og give dem vand.”
9Mens Jakob stod og snakkede med hyrderne, kom Rakel med sin fars får, som hun passede. 10Da Jakob så Rakel, sin morbrors datter, og fårene, gik han hen og væltede stenen til side og hentede vand til sin onkels får. 11-12Derefter gav han Rakel et kindkys og fortalte med tårer i øjnene, at han var søn af hendes faster, Rebekka. Hun løb straks hjem for at fortælle sin far det. 13Så snart Laban hørte, at hans søstersøn Jakob var kommet, løb han ud for at møde ham. Han omfavnede ham, kyssede ham på kinden som hilsen og tog ham med hjem. Dér fortalte Jakob ham hele sin historie. 14Og Laban udbrød: „Tænk engang, det er min egen slægtning, der er kommet.”
Laban bedrager Jakob
Da Jakob havde boet hos sin onkel en måneds tid, 15sagde Laban: „Selv om vi er i familie, er det ikke meningen, at du skal arbejde gratis for mig. Sig mig, hvor meget du vil have i løn.” 16Laban havde to døtre, den ældste hed Lea og den yngste Rakel. 17Lea havde kønne øjne, men Rakel var helt igennem smuk og dejlig. 18Jakob var allerede forelsket i Rakel, så han sagde til Laban: „Jeg vil arbejde for dig i syv år, hvis du vil give mig din yngste datter, Rakel, til kone.”
19„Det er i orden!” sagde Laban. „Jeg vil hellere have, at hun gifter sig med dig end med nogen uden for slægten.”
20Så arbejdede Jakob for Laban i syv år for at få Rakel. Årene fløj af sted, som var de dage—så forelsket var han. 21Da dagen kom, sagde Jakob til Laban: „De syv år er gået, så jeg vil gerne giftes med Rakel nu.”
22Så indbød Laban alle naboerne til en stor bryllupsfest. 23Men da det blev aften, tog han sin datter Lea og gav hende til Jakob, og Jakob lå hos hende. 24Laban gav Lea sin slave Zilpa til tjenestepige. 25Først næste morgen opdagede Jakob, at det var Lea! „Hvor kunne du dog gøre sådan noget imod mig?” råbte han rasende. „Jeg har tjent dig i syv år for Rakel, har jeg ikke? Hvorfor har du så bedraget mig?”
26„Tag det roligt,” forsvarede Laban sig. „Her til lands plejer vi ikke at bortgifte den yngste før den ældste. 27Vent til bryllupsugen med Lea er forbi, så skal jeg nok give dig Rakel—hvis du altså vil arbejde syv år mere for mig!”
28Det gik Jakob så med til. Han fejrede bryllupsugen sammen med Lea, og bagefter gav Laban ham også Rakel til kone. 29Rakel fik Labans slave Bilha til tjenestepige. 30Så lå Jakob hos Rakel, og han elskede hende højere end Lea. Han arbejdede derefter for Laban syv år mere.
Jakobs børn
31Da Herren så, at Lea ikke blev elsket, lod han hende blive gravid, men Rakel kunne ingen børn få. 32Lea fødte en søn, som hun kaldte Ruben.29,32 Et ordspil med „Gud har set min ulykke”. „Herren har set, hvor ulykkelig jeg er,” sagde hun. „Men nu vil min mand sikkert elske mig!” 33Snart efter blev hun igen gravid og fødte en søn til, som hun kaldte Simeon.29,33 Et ordspil med „Herren har hørt”. „Herren har hørt, at jeg blev tilsidesat, og derfor gav han mig en søn mere,” sagde hun. 34Senere blev hun igen gravid og fødte nok en søn, som hun kaldte Levi.29,34 Et ordspil med „hengivenhed”. „Siden jeg nu har født tre sønner,” sagde hun, „må min mand da føle hengivenhed for mig.” 35Så blev hun igen gravid og fødte en søn, som hun kaldte Juda.29,35 Et ordspil med „lovprisning”. „Nu vil jeg prise Herren!” sagde hun. Så fik hun ikke flere børn i nogen tid.
1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.29.1 went…: Heb. lift up his feet29.1 people: Heb. children 2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. 3And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place. 4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.29.6 Is he…: Heb. Is there peace to him? 7And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.29.7 it is…: Heb. yet the day is great 8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9¶ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. 10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. 13And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.29.13 tidings: Heb. hearing 14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.29.14 the space…: Heb. a month of days
15¶ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21¶ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25And 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? 26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.29.26 country: Heb. place 27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.29.32 Reuben: that is, See a son 33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.29.33 Simeon: that is, Hearing 34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.29.34 Levi: that is, Joined 35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.29.35 Judah: that is, Praise29.35 left…: Heb. stood from bearing
