After his dream about the ladder, Jacob went on his way to the land of his uncle Laban. After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form and beautiful.
Jacob was in love with Rachel and said to Laban, “I’ll work for you for seven years in return for your younger daughter, Rachel.”
Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her.” So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. . . When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also in return for another seven years of work.”
And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. . . Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
There was lots of jealousy between Leah and Rachel. Leah was jealous because Rachel was the favorite. Rachel was jealous because Leah had lots of sons before she had even one. Finally she did have Joseph and Benjamin. Leah had many sons, including Judah, who became the ancestor of many important Jews such as King David and eventually Jesus Christ. Eventually God blessed Jacob with twelve sons, and despite Laban trying to cheat Jacob again and again, God blessed him with great wealth.