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direct thee what thou art to do in the time present； and still
much more in the time to come。〃
3。 Such were the predictions which God made to Jacob； whereupon
he became very joyful at what he had seen and heard； and he
poured oil on the stones； because on them the prediction of such
great benefits was made。 He also vowed a vow； that he would offer
sacrifices upon them； if he lived and returned safe； and if he
came again in such a condition； he would give the tithe of what
he had gotten to God。 He also judged the place to be honorable
and gave it the name of Bethel； which； in the Greek； is
interpreted； The House of God。
4。 So he proceeded on his journey to Mesopotamia； and at length
came to Haran； and meeting with shepherds in the suburbs； with
boys grown up； and maidens sitting about a certain well； he staid
with them； as wanting water to drink； and beginning to discourse
with them； he asked them whether they knew such a one as Laban；
and whether he was still alive。 Now they all said they knew him；
for he was not so inconsiderable a person as to be unknown to any
of them； and that his daughter fed her father's flock together
with them； and that indeed they wondered that she was not yet
come； for by her means thou mightest learn more exactly whatever
thou desirest to know about that family。 While they were saying
this the damsel came； and the other shepherds that came down
along with her。 Then they showed her Jacob； and told her that he
was a stranger； who came to inquire about her father's affairs。
But she； as pleased； after the custom of children； with Jacob's
coming； asked him who he was； and whence he came to them； and
what it was he lacked that he came thither。 She also wished it
might he in their power to supply the wants he came about。
5。 But Jacob was quite overcome； not so much by their kindred；
nor by that affection which might arise thence； as by his love to
the damsel； and his surprise at her beauty； which was so
flourishing； as few of the women of that age could vie with。 He
said then； 〃There is a relation between thee and me； elder than
either thy or my birth； if thou be the daughter of Laban； for
Abraham was the son of Terah； as well as Haran and Nahor。 Of the
last of whom （Nahor） Bethuel thy grandfather was the son。 Isaac
my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah； who was the
daughter of Haran。 But there is a nearer and later cement of
mutual kindred which we bear to one another； for my mother Rebeka
was sister to Laban thy father； both by the same father and
mother； I therefore and thou are cousin…germans。 And I am now
come to salute you； and to renew that affinity which is proper
between us。〃 Upon this the damsel； at the mention of Rebeka； as
usually happens to young persons； wept； and that out of the
kindness she had for her father； and embraced Jacob； she having
learned an account of Rebeka from her father； and knew that her
parents loved to hear her named； and when she had saluted him；
she said that 〃he brought the most desirable and greatest
pleasures to her father； with all their family； who was always
mentioning his mother； and always thinking of her； and her alone；
and that this will make thee equal in his eyes to any
advantageous circumstances whatsoever。〃 Then she bid him go to
her father； and follow her while she conducted him to him； and
not to deprive him of such a pleasure； by staying any longer away
from him。
6。 When she had said thus； she brought him to Laban； and being
owned by his uncle； he was secure himself； as being among his
friends； and he brought a great deal of pleasure to them by his
unexpected coning。 But a little while afterward； Laban told him
that he could not express in words the joy he had at his coming；
but still he inquired of him the occasion of his coming； and why
he left his aged mother and father； when they wanted to be taken
care of by him； and that he would afford him all the assistance
he wanted。 Then Jacob gave him an account of the whole occasion
of his journey； and told him； 〃that Isaac had two sons that were
twins； himself and Esau； who； because he failed of his father's
prayers； which by his mother's wisdom were put up for him； sought
to kill him； as deprived of the kingdom （34） which was to be
given him of God； and of the blessings for which their father
prayed； and that this was the occasion of his coming hither； as
his mother had commanded him to do： for we are all （says he）
brethren one to another； but our mother esteems an alliance with
your family more than she does one with the families of the
country； so I look upon yourself and God to be the supporters of
my travels； and think myself safe in my present circumstances。〃
7。 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。
8。 Now each of these had handmaids； by their father's donation。
Zilpha was handmaid to Lea； and Bilha to Rachel； by no means
slaves； （35） 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 （36） 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