Catholic liturgical translation

1Jakub se vydal na cestu a šel do východní země. 2V pusté krajině uviděl studnu. Při ní ležela tři stáda ovcí, protože je z této studny pastevci napájeli. Otvor studny byl přikryt velkým kamenem. 3Když se všechna stáda shromáždila kolem, pastevci odvalili ze studny kámen, napojili ovce a pak vrátili kámen zpátky na místo. 4Jakub je oslovil: „Odkud jste, bratři?“ Řekli: „Jsme z Charanu.“ 5„Znáte Nachorova syna Labana?“ zeptal se jich. Řekli: „Známe.“ 6„Daří se mu dobře?“ vyptával se. Řekli: „Dobře. Zrovna sem jde jeho dcera Ráchel s ovcemi.“ 7„Den je ještě jasný,“ mínil Jakub. „Není čas svolávat stáda. Napojte ovce a jděte ještě pást.“ 8„To nejde,“ odpověděli. „Musíme počkat, až se všechna stáda sejdou, pak se odvalí kámen ze studny a napojíme ovce.“ 9Když s nimi ještě mluvil, přišla Ráchel s ovcemi svého otce – byla to pastýřka. 10Sotva Jakub uviděl Ráchel, dceru Labana, bratra své matky, a jeho ovce, hned přistoupil, odvalil kámen ze studny a napojil stádo svého strýce Labana. 11Pak Jakub políbil Ráchel a hlasitě zaplakal. 12Sdělil jí, že je příbuzný jejího otce, syn Rebeky. Ona to běžela povědět otci. 13Jakmile Laban uslyšel zprávu o svém synovci Jakubovi, běžel mu naproti, objal jej, políbil a přivedl do domu. Jakub pak vyprávěl Labanovi všechno, co se stalo. 14Laban mu řekl: „Jsi přece z mé krve!“ A Jakub u něho zůstal celý měsíc. 15Potom řekl Laban Jakubovi: „Máš mi sloužit zadarmo jen proto, že jsi můj příbuzný? Řekni, jakou chceš odměnu?“ 16Laban měl dvě dcery. Starší se jmenovala Lea, mladší byla Ráchel. 17Lea měla matný zrak, ale Ráchel byla krásného vzhledu, hezká napohled. 18Jakub si zamiloval Ráchel, a proto řekl: „Budu ti sloužit sedm let za tvou mladší dceru Ráchel.“ 19„Lépe když ji dám tobě, než kdybych ji měl dát někomu jinému,“ odpověděl Laban. „Zůstaň u mě.“ 20Jakub tedy sloužil sedm let za Ráchel a připadalo mu to jen jako pár dní, protože ji miloval. 21Po nějakém čase Jakub řekl Labanovi: „Dej mi mou ženu. Už přišel čas, abych k ní vešel. 22Laban tedy svolal všechny sousedy a uspořádal hostinu. 23Ale večer vzal svou dceru Leu a přivedl ji k němu. Jakub k ní vešel. 24Laban dal Lei i služebnici – svou otrokyni Zilpu. 25Ráno Jakub vidí – je to Lea! „Co jsi mi to udělal?“ stěžoval si. „Sloužil jsem ti přece kvůli Ráchel! Proč jsi mě podvedl?“ 26Laban mu řekl: „U nás není zvykem vdávat mladší dceru dřív než prvorozenou. 27Zůstaň s touhle do konce týdne a dáme ti i tu druhou za službu, kterou mi odvedeš ještě sedm let.“ 28Jakub s ní tedy zůstal do konce týdne a Laban mu dal za manželku i svou dceru Ráchel. 29I jí dal služebnici – svou otrokyni Bilhu. 30Jakub vešel také k Ráchel. Miloval Ráchel víc než Leu a sloužil u něho dalších sedm let. 31Hospodin viděl, že Lea je nemilovaná, a otevřel její lůno, zatímco Ráchel zůstala neplodná. 32Lea počala a porodila syna. Dala mu jméno Ruben, neboť řekla: „Hospodin viděl mé ponížení. Teď mě můj muž bude mít rád.“ 33A znovu počala a porodila syna. Řekla: „Hospodin slyšel, že nejsem milována, a dal mi ještě tohoto syna. Proto dostal jméno Simeon.“ 34Znovu počala a porodila syna. Řekla: „Teď už ke mně můj muž jistě přilne, když jsem mu porodila tři syny. Proto mu dala jméno Levi. 35Znovu počala a porodila syna a řekla: „Teď budu chválit Hospodina!“ A dala mu jméno Juda. Pak přestala rodit.


Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   THE WELL OF HARAN. (Gen. 29:1-35)
Then Jacob went, &c.--Hebrew, "lifted up his feet." He resumed his way next morning with a light heart and elastic step after the vision of the ladder; for tokens of the divine favor tend to quicken the discharge of duty (Neh 8:10).
and came into the land, &c.--Mesopotamia and the whole region beyond the Euphrates are by the sacred writers designated "the East" (Judg 6:3; 1Kgs 4:30; Job 1:3). Between the first and the second clause of this verse is included a journey of four hundred miles.

 2   And he looked, &c.--As he approached the place of his destination, he, according to custom, repaired to the well adjoining the town where he would obtain an easy introduction to his relatives.

 3   thither were all the flocks gathered; and a stone, &c.--In Arabia, owing to the shifting sands and in other places, owing to the strong evaporation, the mouth of a well is generally covered, especially when it is private property. Over many is laid a broad, thick, flat stone, with a round hole cut in the middle, forming the mouth of the cistern. This hole is covered with a heavy stone which it would require two or three men to roll away. Such was the description of the well at Haran.

 4   Jacob said, My brethren--Finding from the shepherds who were reposing there with flocks and who all belonged to Haran, that his relatives in Haran were well and that one of the family was shortly expected, he enquired why they were idling the best part of the day there instead of watering their flocks and sending them back to pasture.

 8   They said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered--In order to prevent the consequences of too frequent exposure in places where water is scarce, the well is not only covered, but it is customary to have all the flocks collected round it before the covering is removed in presence of the owner or one of his representatives; and it was for this reason that those who were reposing at the well of Haran with the three flocks were waiting the arrival of Rachel.

 9   While he yet spake with them, Rachel came--Among the pastoral tribes the young unmarried daughters of the greatest sheiks tend the flocks, going out at sunrise and continuing to watch their fleecy charges till sunset. Watering them, which is done twice a day, is a work of time and labor, and Jacob rendered no small service in volunteering his aid to the young shepherdess. The interview was affecting, the reception welcome, and Jacob forgot all his toils in the society of his Mesopotamian relatives. Can we doubt that he returned thanks to God for His goodness by the way?

 12   Jacob told Rachel, &c.--According to the practice of the East, the term "brother" is extended to remote degrees of relationship, as uncle, cousin, or nephew.

 14   he abode a month--Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.

 17   Leah tender-eyed--that is, soft blue eyes--thought a blemish.
Rachel beautiful and well-favored--that is, comely and handsome in form. The latter was Jacob's choice.

 18   I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy daughter--A proposal of marriage is made to the father without the daughter being consulted, and the match is effected by the suitor either bestowing costly presents on the family, or by giving cattle to the value the father sets upon his daughter, or else by giving personal services for a specified period. The last was the course necessity imposed on Jacob; and there for seven years he submitted to the drudgery of a hired shepherd, with the view of obtaining Rachel. The time went rapidly away; for even severe and difficult duties become light when love is the spring of action.

 21   Jacob said, Give me my wife--At the expiry of the stipulated term the marriage festivities were held. But an infamous fraud was practised on Jacob, and on his showing a righteous indignation, the usage of the country was pleaded in excuse. No plea of kindred should ever be allowed to come in opposition to the claim of justice. But this is often overlooked by the selfish mind of man, and fashion or custom rules instead of the will of God. This was what Laban did, as he said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born." But, then, if that were the prevailing custom of society at Haran, he should have apprized his nephew of it at an early period in an honorable manner. This, however, is too much the way with the people of the East still. The duty of marrying an elder daughter before a younger, the tricks which parents take to get off an elder daughter that is plain or deformed and in which they are favored by the long bridal veil that entirely conceals her features all the wedding day, and the prolongation for a week of the marriage festivities among the greater sheiks, are accordant with the habits of the people in Arabia and Armenia in the present day.

 28   gave him Rachel also--It is evident that the marriage of both sisters took place nearly about the same time, and that such a connection was then allowed, though afterwards prohibited (Lev 18:18).

 29   gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah to be her maid--A father in good circumstances still gives his daughter from his household a female slave, over whom the young wife, independently of her husband, has the absolute control.

 31   Leah . . . hated--that is, not loved so much as she ought to have been. Her becoming a mother ensured her rising in the estimation both of her husband and of society.

 32   son . . . his name Reuben--Names were also significant; and those which Leah gave to her sons were expressive of her varying feelings of thankfulness or joy, or allusive to circumstances in the history of the family. There was piety and wisdom in attaching a signification to names, as it tended to keep the bearer in remembrance of his duty and the claims of God.