Jacob went away from home, and when the sun was set he lighted upon a
certain place and tarried there all night; and he took a stone, and put
it under his head and slept. And he dreamed that a ladder was set up on
the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and the angels of God
were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood above it and
said: I am the God of Abraham and of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest,
to thee will I give it and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the
dust of the earth; and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth
be blessed. And I will be with thee and bring thee again into this land.
When Jacob awoke he said: How dreadful is this place! This is the house
of God, this is the gate of heaven!
Jacob journeyed eastward and came to Laban, his mother’s brother, and he
abode with him the space of a month. Then Laban said to him: What shall
thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel; and Rachel
was beautiful. Therefore Jacob said: I will serve thee seven years for
Rachel. And the seven years seemed unto him but a few days, for he loved
her. When the seven years were finished Laban gave Leah to him: Jacob
said: Did I not serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou
beguiled me? Laban said: It is not customary with us to give away the
younger before the firstborn. Fulfil the week of this one, and we will
give thee the other also. Jacob did so, and then Laban gave him Rachel
to wife. Then Jacob had to serve seven other years for Rachel. Afterward
he served six years for wages, and God blessed him, so he became very
rich. When he saw that Laban became envious of this he went away with
his wives and children and all that he had. (Gen. 28-29.)