Genesis 30:1-16 ▼

1 Rachel when she sawe that she bare Iacob no children, she enuied her sister, and sayde vnto Iacob: Geue me children, or els I am but dead.

2 And Iacobs anger was kyndled agaynst Rachel, and sayde: Am I in Gods steade, whiche kepeth from thee the fruite of thy wombe?

3 Then she sayde: Here is my mayde Bilha, go in vnto her, & she shall beare vpon my knees, that I also may haue chyldren by her.

4 And she gaue him Bilha her handmayde to wyfe: and Iacob went in vnto her.

5 And Bilha conceaued, and bare Iacob a sonne.

6 Then saide Rachel: God hath geuen sentence on my side, and hath also heard my voyce, and hath geuen me a sonne: therfore called she hym Dan.

7 And Bilha Rachels seruant conceaued againe, & bare Iacob another sonne.

8 And Rachel said: With godly wrastlynges haue I wrastled with my sister, & haue gotten the vpper hande: and she called his name Nephthali.

9 When Lea sawe that she had left bearyng chyldren she toke Zilpha her mayde, and gaue her Iacob to wyfe.

10 And Zilpha Leas mayde bare Iacob a sonne.

11 Then sayde Lea, Good lucke: and called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpha Leas seruaunt bare Iacob an other sonne.

13 Then saide Lea: happy am I, for the daughters wyll call me blessed: and called his name Aser.

14 And Ruben went out in the dayes of the wheate haruest, & founde Mandragoras in the fielde, and brought them vnto his mother Lea. Then said Rachel to Lea: Geue me I praye thee of thy sonnes Mandragoras.

15 To whom Lea aunswered: Is it not enough that thou hast taken away my husband, but wouldest take away my sonnes Mandragoras also? Then saide Rachel: well, let hym sleepe with thee this night for thy sonnes Mandragoras.

16 And Iacob came from the fielde at euen, and Lea went out to meete hym, and sayde: thou shalt come in to me, for I haue bought thee in deede with my sonne Mandragoras. And he slept with her that same nyght.