Jacob's Marriage to Leah and Rachel
Jacob works seven years for Rachel, but Laban substitutes Leah; a week later he marries Rachel too, undertaking another seven years of labour.
Jacob reaches Haran in 2185 and at the well sees Rachel shepherding her father's sheep. Alone he rolls away the stone that normally took all the shepherds together, kisses her and weeps aloud. He asks Laban for Rachel and pledges seven years of work, and the Torah says they seemed to him "but a few days, for the love he had for her." On the wedding night Laban substitutes his elder daughter Leah. In the morning Jacob protests, and Laban answers coolly, "It is not done in our place to give the younger before the firstborn." The sages add a detail that transforms the scene: knowing whom he was dealing with, Jacob had arranged secret signs with Rachel — and when she saw her sister being led to the canopy, Rachel handed the signs over so that Leah would not be shamed. A week later Jacob marries Rachel and serves another seven years. From this household come the four mothers of the tribes and all twelve sons.