The Story of Rachel and Leah

The story begins in Canaan. Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, is instructed by his father to leave Beer-Sheva and “go to Paddan-aram … to take a wife there from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother” (Genesis 28:2). Jacob sets out for the region of Haran as he was told and “he came upon a certain place and stopped there for the night” (Genesis 28:11).

There he dreams that “a stairway was set on the ground and its top reached to the sky, and angels of God were going up and down on it. And the Lord was standing beside him” (Genesis 28:12–13). In the dream, God promises Jacob that his descendents “shall be as the dust of the earth” and that God will protect Jacob wherever he goes and “will bring you back to this land” (Genesis 28:14–15).

When Jacob awakens he sets up a stone to mark the place—Bethel—where God appeared to him. Resuming his journey he comes to a well in Haran where shepherds water their flocks.

Rachel, Laban’s daughter, arrives at the well with her father’s flocks. After Jacob helps her water her flocks he reveals to Rachel that he is her father’s nephew. Rachel returns with Jacob and Laban takes Jacob into his home. After a month passes Laban asks Jacob, “What shall your wages be?” (Genesis 29:15). The text immediately informs us:

“Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel” (Genesis 29:15–17).

Jacob then answers Laban: