For seven long, weary years he must work like a slave, given courage only by the hope of some day having Ra'chel as his wife. As we read in the Bible: "And Ja'cob served seven years for Ra'chel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had for her."
When the seven years had passed, La'ban made Ja'cob the victim of one of the most selfish plots in history. In place of Ra'chel, for whom Ja'cob had toiled so long and earnestly, La'ban gave him Le'ah, the elder daughter of little charm. When Ja'cob complained of the deception he was told by La'ban that a custom of that country required an elder daughter to be given in marriage before her younger sister. In order to keep the services of one who had proved himself so useful, La'ban promised to give Ra'chel to Ja'cob in marriage if he would serve another seven years.
The shrewd plan of La'ban to bind Ja'cob for a longer term of service succeeded. The crafty Ja'cob who had taken advantage of his brother to gain the rights of the first-born was now overcome by a shrewdness more clever than his own. Ja'cob had not hesitated to turn his father's blindness to his own advantage, but now he was deceived into taking another for the bride whom he desired. Ja'cob was paid in his own coin; having deceived others, he was now himself deceived.
Ja'cob accepted his lot in patience and humility, and agreed to the suggestion of La'ban. After a week had passed he was given Ra'chel in marriage, though he must still serve her father for seven years. The fact that he had two wives was not to his discredit, for in those days men took as many wives as they could afford to keep. It is said that he loved Ra'chel and hated Le'ah, but this only means that he loved Ra'chel much more than her sister. Both of the daughters of La'ban were good wives to Ja'cob, sharing with him all the joys and sorrows of life.
During the next few years Le'ah became the mother of four sons, who were called in turn Reu'ben, Sim'e-on, Le'vi, Ju'dah; Ra'chel, meanwhile, had no children. For this reason Ra'chel followed a custom of the times in giving Ja'cob her maid Bil'hah to bear children for her. Bil'hah became the mother of two sons, Dan and Naph'ta-li. Then Le'ah gave Ja'cob her maid Zil'pah, and she bore him two sons, who were called Gad and Ash'er. Later two more sons and a daughter were born to Le'ah, and their names were Is'sa-char, Zeb'ul-un, and Di'nah. In the course of years God answered the earnest prayers of Ra'chel, and she became the mother of a son who was called Jo'seph.
