Genesis 29
THEN Jacob went on his journey. He traveled for a great many days. At last he came to a place where there was a great deal of grass. In that place there was a well, and there was a great stone upon the top of the well. A great many sheep were round the well; and some men were with the sheep. These men were shepherds. There was very little water in that country where Jacob was. He must have been glad to have seen a well.
Jacob said to the shepherds, "Do you know a, man called Laban?"—(that was the name of Jacob's uncle).
"Yes," said they, "we do.”
Then Jacob said, "Is he well?”
The shepherds answered, "He is well; and here is his daughter. Rachel coming with the sheep.”
Jacob was very glad to hear this, for Rachel was Jacob's cousin. He ran to her and kissed her, and he sobbed and wept.
Why did Jacob cry?
I think he cried for joy; for people sometimes cry for joy. Jacob had not seen a friend a long while, and he was glad to see his cousin.
Rachel did not know who Jacob was, till he said, "I am your cousin, and am come from a great way off.”
Then Rachel ran, and said to her father Laban, "My cousin Jacob is come; I found him sitting by a well.”
Then Laban was glad, and ran out to meet Jacob, and kissed him, and said, "You must come home to my house; I am your uncle.”
Jacob told Laban that he would take care of his sheep; and so Jacob was Laban's servant. Jacob was a good shepherd, and sat up to guard the sheep at night from lions and bears. He cared not for the heat by day, nor the cold by night.
Laban had two daughters; one was called Leah, arid the other Rachel; and Laban gave them to Jacob to be his wives. So Jacob had two wives. People must not have two wives now; but then they might have two wives, and even more than two.
God gave Jacob a great many little children. I will not tell you their names, because they were so many. Jacob lived a long while in some tents with his wives and his little children. He took care of Laban's sheep; but Laban gave him some sheep and goats of his own. Jacob had plenty of bread to eat, and raiment to wear, as God had promised; for God always keeps His promises.
But Jacob could not forget his father and mother, and Canaan, where he had lived when he was a little boy. He knew that God had promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham's, and Isaac's, and to his own children; and he wished to live there again.
I will now write down the names of the good men who first lived in Canaan; and I will write down the names of their wives.
Abraham-Sarah.
Isaac-Rebekah.
Jacob-Leah and Rachel.
Hymn 8
The Lord has been poor Jacob's guide
Across the pathless desert wide,
And led him where his kindred dwell;
Lo! now he rests beside a well;
Its mouth is covered by a stone:
Around, the flocks are lying down.
For other flocks the shepherds stay,
Before they roll the stone away:
Jacob inquires their country's name;
It is the land whence Abraham came;
Behold fair Rachel leads her sheep—
Why does the wanderer rise and weep?
In stranger lands his feet have strayed;
And now he weeps to see the maid,
Who of his mother's race is sprung,
Who speaks his own dear native tongue,
Who knows the God that he reveres;
From gladness flow the wanderer's tears.
Now wipe those tears, and weep no more,
For thee rich blessings lie in store:
The Lord his with thee, as He said,
Raiment provides and daily bread;
With flocks and herds thy fields abound,
And lovely children sport around.
Nor will the Lord His promise break;
He ne'er will leave thee nor forsake,
His power from harm will guard thy head,
And Canaan's land thy feet shall tread;
O Jacob's God I the faithful, true,
Be Thou my God, and bless me too.