1.297
Now Laban promised to treat him with great humanity, both on account
of his ancestors, and particularly for the sake of his mother, towards
whom, he said, he would show his kindness, even though she were absent,
by taking care of him; for he assured him he would make him the head shepherd
of his flock, and give him authority sufficient for that purpose; and when
he should have a mind to return to his parents, he would send him back
with presents, and this in as honorable a manner as the nearness of their
relation should require. This Jacob heard gladly; and said he would willingly,
and with pleasure, undergo any sort of pains while he tarried with him,
but desired Rachel to wife, as the reward of those pains, who was not only
on other accounts esteemed by him, but also because she was the means of
his coming to him; for he said he was forced by the love of the damsel
to make this proposal. Laban was well pleased with this agreement, and
consented to give the damsel to him, as not desirous to meet with any better
son-in-law; and said he would do this, if he would stay with him some time,
for he was not willing to send his daughter to be among the Canaanites,
for he repented of the alliance he had made already by marrying his sister
there. And when Jacob had given his consent to this, he agreed to stay
seven years; for so many years he had resolved to serve his father-in-law,
that, having given a specimen of his virtue, it might be better known what
sort of a man he was. And Jacob, accepting of his terms, after the time
was over, he made the wedding-feast; and when it was night, without Jacob's
perceiving it, he put his other daughter into bed to him, who was both
elder than Rachel, and of no comely countenance: Jacob lay with her that
night, as being both in drink and in the dark. However, when it was day,
he knew what had been done to him; and he reproached Laban for his unfair
proceeding with him; who asked pardon for that necessity which forced him
to do what he did; for he did not give him Lea out of any ill design, but
as overcome by another greater necessity: that, notwithstanding this, nothing
should hinder him from marrying Rachel; but that when he had served another
seven years, he would give him her whom he loved. Jacob submitted to this
condition, for his love to the damsel did not permit him to do otherwise;
and when another seven years were gone, he took Rachel to wife.
1.303
Now each of these had handmaids, by their father's donation. Zilpha
was handmaid to Lea, and Bilha to Rachel; by no means slaves, note
but however subject to their mistresses. Now Lea was sorely troubled at
her husband's love to her sister; and she expected she should be better
esteemed if she bare him children: so she entreated God perpetually; and
when she had borne a son, and her husband was on that account better reconciled
to her, she named her son Reubel, because God had had mercy upon her,
in giving her a son, for that is the signification of this name. After
some time she bare three more sons; Simeon, which
name signifies that God had hearkened to her prayer. Then she
bare Levi, the confirmer of their friendship. After him was born
Judah, which denotes thanksgiving. But Rachel, fearing lest the
fruitfulness of her sister should make herself enjoy a lesser share of
Jacob's affections, put to bed to him her handmaid Bilha; by whom Jacob
had Dan: one may interpret that name into the Greek tongue, a divine
judgment. And after him Nephthalim, as it were, unconquerable in
stratagems, since Rachel tried to conquer the fruitfulness of her sister
by this stratagem. Accordingly, Lea took the same method, and used a counter-stratagem
to that of her sister; for she put to bed to him her own handmaid. Jacob
therefore had by Zilpha a son, whose name was Gad, which may be interpreted
fortune; and after him Asher, which may be called a happy man,
because he added glory to Lea. Now Reubel, the eldest son of Lea, brought
apples of mandrakes note
to his mother. When Rachel saw them, she desired that she would give her
the apples, for she longed to eat them; but when she refused, and bid her
be content that she had deprived her of the benevolence she ought to have
had from her husband, Rachel, in order to mitigate her sister's anger,
said she would yield her husband to her; and he should lie with her that
evening. She accepted of the favor, and Jacob slept with Lea, by the favor
of Rachel. She bare then these sons: Issachar, denoting one born by
hire: and Zabulon, one born as a pledge of benevolence towards
her; and a daughter, Dina. After some time Rachel had a son, named
Joseph, which signified there should be another added to him.
1.309
Now Jacob fed the flocks of Laban his father-in-law all this time,
being twenty years, after which he desired leave of his father-in-law to
take his wives and go home; but when his father-in-law would not give him
leave, he contrived to do it secretly. He made trial therefore of the disposition
of his wives what they thought of this journey; - when they appeared glad,
and approved of it. Rachel took along with her the images of the gods,
which, according to their laws, they used to worship in their own country,
and ran away together with her sister. The children also of them both,
and the handmaids, and what possessions they had, went along with them.
Jacob also drove away half the cattle, without letting Laban know of it
beforehand But the reason why Rachel took the images of the gods, although
Jacob had taught her to despise such worship of those gods, was this, That
in case they were pursued, and taken by her father, she might have recourse
to these images, in order obtain his pardon.