Listening A1: Genesis Chapter 1 - Genesis 29

Jacob went on his trip.

He came to the land of the children of the east.

He saw a well in the field.

Three groups of sheep lay there.

They used the well to give water to the sheep.

The rock on the top of the well was big.

All the sheep were near the well.

They moved the rock.

They gave water to the sheep.

They put the rock back.

Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where do you come from?"

They said, "We come from Haran."

Jacob asked, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?"

They said, "Yes, we know him."

Jacob asked, "Is he well?"

They said, "Yes, he is well."

They said, "Look, Rachel, his daughter, comes with the sheep."

Jacob said, "It is still day.

It is not time to bring the animals together.

Give water to the sheep and go feed them."

They said, "We cannot yet.

We must wait until all the sheep are here.

Then we move the rock and give water."

While Jacob talked with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep.

Rachel took care of the sheep.

Jacob saw Rachel, Laban's daughter.

He also saw Laban's sheep.

Jacob went near.

He moved the stone from the well.

He gave water to Laban's sheep.

Jacob kissed Rachel.

He cried loudly.

Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother.

He said he was Rebekah's son.

Rachel ran and told her father.

Laban heard that Jacob, his sister's son, had come.

He ran to meet him.

He held him.

He kissed him.

He took him to his house.

Jacob told Laban everything.

Laban said, "You are my bone and my flesh."

Jacob stayed with him for one month.

Laban said to Jacob, "You are my brother.

Should you work for me for nothing?

Tell me, what will you earn?"

Laban had two daughters.

The older was Leah.

The younger was Rachel.

Leah had soft eyes.

Rachel was beautiful.

Jacob loved Rachel.

He said, "I will work seven years for you for Rachel."

Laban said, "It is better for me to give her to you than to another man.

Stay with me."

Jacob worked seven years for Rachel.

The days seemed short because he loved her.

Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife.

My days are done.

Let me live with her."

Laban called all the men of the place.

He made a feast.

At night he brought Leah to Jacob.

Jacob went to her.

Laban gave Zilpah to Leah as her maid.

In the morning Jacob saw it was Leah.

He said to Laban, "What did you do to me?

Did I not work for Rachel?

Why did you trick me?"

Laban said, "We do not give the younger before the firstborn here.

Finish this girl's week.

Then I will give you the other girl if you work seven more years."

Jacob did so.

He finished her week.

Then Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as his wife.

Laban gave Bilhah to Rachel as her maid.

Jacob went to Rachel too.

He loved Rachel more than Leah.

He worked seven more years for Laban.

The Lord saw that Leah was sad.

He opened her womb.

Rachel could not have children.

Leah had a son.

She called him Reuben.

She said, "The Lord saw my pain.

Now my husband will love me."

She had another son.

She called him Simeon.

She said, "The Lord heard that I am hated.

He gave me this son."

She had another son.

She said, "Now my husband will stay with me.

I have given him three sons."

She named him Levi.

She had another son.

She said, "This time I will thank the Lord."

She named him Judah.

Then she stopped having babies.