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father…in…law； that； having given a specimen of his virtue； it
might be better known what sort of a man he was。 And Jacob；
accepting of his terms； after the time was over； he made the
wedding…feast； and when it was night； without Jacob's perceiving
it； he put his other daughter into bed to him； who was both elder
than Rachel； and of no comely countenance： Jacob lay with her
that night； as being both in drink and in the dark。 However； when
it was day； he knew what had been done to him； and he reproached
Laban for his unfair proceeding with him； who asked pardon for
that necessity which forced him to do what he did； for he did not
give him Lea out of any ill design； but as overcome by another
greater necessity： that； notwithstanding this； nothing should
hinder him from marrying Rachel； but that when he had served
another seven years； he would give him her whom he loved。 Jacob
submitted to this condition； for his love to the damsel did not
permit him to do otherwise； and when another seven years were
gone； he took Rachel to wife。
8。 Now each of these had handmaids； by their father's donation。
Zilpha was handmaid to Lea； and Bilha to Rachel； by no means
slaves； （35） but however subject to their mistresses。 Now Lea was
sorely troubled at her husband's love to her sister； and she
expected she should be better esteemed if she bare him children：
so she entreated God perpetually； and when she had borne a son；
and her husband was on that account better reconciled to her； she
named her son Reubel； because God had had mercy upon her； in
giving her a son； for that is the signification of this name。
After some time she bare three more sons； Simeon； which
name signifies that God had hearkened to her prayer。 Then she
bare Levi； the confirmer of their friendship。 After him was born
Judah； which denotes thanksgiving。 But Rachel； fearing lest the
fruitfulness of her sister should make herself enjoy a lesser
share of Jacob's affections； put to bed to him her handmaid
Bilha； by whom Jacob had Dan： one may interpret that name into
the Greek tongue； a divine judgment。 And after him Nephthalim； as
it were； unconquerable in stratagems； since Rachel tried to
conquer the fruitfulness of her sister by this stratagem。
Accordingly； Lea took the same method； and used a
counter…stratagem to that of her sister； for she put to bed to
him her own handmaid。 Jacob therefore had by Zilpha a son； whose
name was Gad； which may be interpreted fortune； and after him
Asher； which may be called a happy man； because he added glory to
Lea。 Now Reubel； the eldest son of Lea； brought apples of
mandrakes （36） to his mother。 When Rachel saw them； she desired
that she would give her the apples； for she longed to eat them；
but when she refused； and bid her be content that she had
deprived her of the benevolence she ought to have had from her
husband； Rachel； in order to mitigate her sister's anger； said
she would yield her husband to her； and he should lie with her
that evening。 She accepted of the favor； and Jacob slept with
Lea； by the favor of Rachel。 She bare then these sons： Issachar；
denoting one born by hire： and Zabulon； one born as a pledge of
benevolence towards her； and a daughter； Dina。 After some time
Rachel had a son； named Joseph； which signified there should be
another added to him。
9。 Now Jacob fed the flocks of Laban his father…in…law all this
time； being twenty years； after which he desired leave of his
father…in…law to take his wives and go home； but when his
father…in…law would not give him leave； he contrived to do it
secretly。 He made trial therefore of the disposition of his wives
what they thought of this journey； … when they appeared glad； and
approved of it。 Rachel took along with her the images of the
gods； which； according to their laws； they used to worship in
their own country； and ran away together with her sister。 The
children also of them both； and the handmaids； and what
possessions they had； went along with them。 Jacob also drove away
half the cattle； without letting Laban know of it beforehand But
the reason why Rachel took the images of the gods； although Jacob
had taught her to despise such worship of those gods； was this；
That in case they were pursued； and taken by her father； she
might have recourse to these images； in order obtain his pardon。
10。 But Laban； after one day's time； being acquainted with
Jacob's and his daughters' departure； was much troubled； and
pursued after them； leading a band of men with him； and on the
seventh day overtook them； and found them resting on a certain
hill； and then indeed he did not meddle with them； for it was
even…tide； but God stood by him in a dream； and warned him to
receive his son…in…law and his daughters in a peaceable manner；
and not to venture upon any thing rashly； or in wrath to but to
make a league with Jacob。 And he him； that if he despised their
small number； attacked them in a hostile manner； he would assist
them。 When Laban had been thus forewarned by God； he called Jacob
to him the next day； in order to treat with him； and showed him
what dream he had； in dependence whereupon he came confidently to
him； and began to accuse him； alleging that he had entertained
him when he was poor； and in want of all things； and had given
him plenty of all things which he had。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃I have
joined my daughters to thee in marriage； and supposed that thy
kindness to me be greater than before； but thou hast had no
regard to either thy mother's relations to me； nor to the
affinity now newly contracted between us； nor to those wives whom
thou hast married； nor to those children； of whom I am the
grandfather。 Thou hast treated me as an enemy； driving away my
cattle； and by persuading my daughters to run away from their
father； and by carrying home those sacred paternal images which
were worshipped by my forefathers； and have been honored with the
like worship which they paid them by myself。 In short； thou hast
done this whilst thou art my kinsman； and my sister's son； and
the husband of my daughters； and was hospiably treated by me； and
didst eat at my table。〃 When Laban had said this； Jacob made his
defense … That he was not the only person in whom God had
implanted the love of his native country； but that he had made it
natural to all men； and that therefore it was but reasonable
that； after so long time； he should go back to it。 〃But as to the
prey； of whose driving away thou accusest me； if any other person
were the arbitrator； thou wouldst be found in the wrong； for
instead of those thanks I ought to have had from thee； for both
keeping thy cattle； and increasing them； how is it that thou art
unjustly angry at me because I have taken； and have with me； a
small portion of them？ But then； as to thy daughters； take
notice； that it is not through any evil practices of mine that
they follow me in my return home； but from that just affection
which wives naturally have to their husbands。 They follow
therefore not so properly myself as their own children。〃 And thus
far of his apology was made； in order to clear himself of having
acted unjustly。 To which he added his own complaint and
a