Original subtitles

[Jacob] I'm here looking for my uncle Laban.

-He's my father. -Cousin!

An eligible bachelor!

What a man! I love him!

You take my daughter's hand in marriage.

Will you marry me... Rachel?

[Leah] You've broken my heart.

You cannot love him like I do.

Perhaps there's a way to keep them here

for another seven years.

[Jacob] She did this to trap me!

In the eyes of the world, Leah and I are married.

Swear you won't treat her as your real wife.

[Jacob] It'll just be you and me.

Jacob, we're going to have a son.

[Leah crying out in pain]

[woman] Good, Leah!

Push! One more!

-[Leah screaming] -[woman] Good, Leah!

A little more!

I know, I know.

The baby is the fruit of your sister's deception,

but here we are.

No, no, it's not the babe's fault.

I shall still be a loving aunt.

-[Leah screaming] -[baby crying]

[Jacob chuckles]

That's my son.

A hearty arrival into this world.

If you're staying away for me, you don't have to.

This is important.

-[baby crying] -You're certain?

Yes. Go be a father.

His name's Reuben.

Reuben.

This is the happiest day of my life.

[soft dramatic music]

[Leah] Jacob promised Rachel that nothing would alter

their love or life together.

You be good for your mother.

[Leah] But my life was realized the moment our child was born.

My dreams came into focus...

as hers began to fade.

I felt her pain.

[music continues]

[thunder rumbling]

Hour by hour, day by day,

Jacob and I spun towards one another

until we were one.

Lord, bless my son Reuben

on his first birthday.

Make him strong, to live a life in your service.

[thunder rumbling]

[soft dramatic music]

[lyre notes plucking]

[chuckles]

[discordant notes]

[Laban] Oh, what a talent, huh?

[Laban laughing]

What are you making?

-A toy for Reuben. -Aww!

That's most kind, sister,

when it must be hard to see Jacob and Leah's closeness.

[Acar] Yes, they are looking quite the happy little family.

[Rachel] I've hardly noticed.

Besides, they have a child together.

It's impossible for them to not share a closeness.

But it's me Jacob loves.

It's my tent where he spends his nights.

She's getting rather testy.

Mm-hmm.

Perhaps her monthly friend is visiting.

Move away! Move away!

[both laughing]

[Laban] Oh, here.

I call upon my household gods

to bless my beautiful grandchild.

And I brought one for you

to place upon your hearth.

Um, Reuben has been blessed already

by Jacob's God, the Lord Himself.

Your daughter understands.

My God is very important to me.

Our God.

I believe in Him too.

[Laban] Yeah.

Yes, our God.

And my descendants shall continue in our faith.

Hmm.

These households gods were handed down to me

from my father to his father before that.

Please don't take offense.

I know you mean well.

Huh.

How can I take offense when you have given me

the most perfect grandson?

[laughter]

He has brought so much joy to my life.

[laughter]

Clever Reuben.

He'll be playing with us next.

[Reuben cooing]

Good boy.

You won't be gone too long?

Uh, only a few weeks, I imagine.

There's quite a handful of merchants to trade with

along the main road who have interest in our wool.

Well, I hope your brothers and the shepherds

you're traveling with keep you safe.

I would come were it not for Reuben.

[Rachel sighs]

I was thinking.

When I return, it might be high time

for me to focus my efforts less on family business

and more on starting a family with you.

Yes, we do need to move faster

if you're to bear my next 11 children.

Yes, your magical 12.

-[Reuben laughing] -[soft lyre music]

Zilpah.

[gasps] Good night.

They're like little stars.

Reminds me of the vision I had on my way to Harran,

when I saw the angels.

They were far away.

Ethereal, difficult to behold with the eye,

but at the same time, bright and beautiful.

I wish I could've seen it.

I remember when you told us that story

the first time we met.

I was so impressed that God Himself had spoken to you.

I haven't heard the Lord's voice in a long time,

but I often reach out to the memory of that vision

in difficult moments.

You're a man of deep faith.

It's what drew me to you.

I've lost track of time. I should leave.

Must you?

You know Rachel wouldn't appreciate me

tarrying in your tent.

Playing family with you,

spending time together,

our late-night conversations.

Sometimes I wonder if you might not love me too.

Leah, it's not what you think.

I... I love...

I love the life that you have given me.

Should that not be enough?

Husband!

Miss me?

Oh, you have no idea!

Let's go make a baby then.

[both laughing]

Two cycles and still not pregnant.

Guess we'll have to keep trying.

What?

There's no pleasant way to tell you this.

But when you were gone a few months ago,

I spent a night with your sister.

And now she's pregnant.

Are you ever going to forgive me?

It's been a week, Rachel, and you've hardly said

two words to me.

Do you think that's sufficient time

to stop being angry when I am to be cruelly reminded

for the next nine months of your indiscretion

every time I look at Leah's swollen belly?

It is not an indiscretion!

Leah is also my wife!

This is not what we agreed on.

Oh, the agreement to act as if Leah

isn't a part of this family?

It doesn't work!

You are the love of my life, Rachel.

It hurts me to hurt you.

But the truth is, I care for Leah too.

She is the mother of my child!

Soon to be children.

How she must have manipulated you.

Fallen into your arms,

sobbing over her loneliness,

going on about how I've wronged her!

She has rights too as my wife.

And I can no longer pretend that she doesn't exist,

or that we are not truly married

when we share so many intimate moments together as parents.

You can't possibly understand.

Why won't I understand? Because I'm not a mother?

What are you doing?

There's only one way to fix this problem.

I clearly have a lot of catching up to do.

Hey.

[Leah] With each child born to Jacob and I,

my life grew fuller and fuller.

I had everything Rachel wanted.

My sister was always strong, sure, unshakeable.

[laughter and chatter]

But she was bending under the weight of disappointment.

[Jacob] Aah!

Reuben, would you come help me in the kitchen?

And one can only bend so much before one breaks.

What is it? What's wrong?

Jacob, please give me children or I shall die.

It's been six years! I can't bear it any longer!

We're trying everything we can.

-I want this so badly too-- -Do you?

Because you seem perfectly content

to have an entire brood of my sister's children!

How can you say such a thing?

I am desperate to have a child with you!

But am I in the place of God,

who has chosen to deny you a babe?

No, you're the one who has denied me a chance

to catch up with Leah!

It is painful enough that you can't stop sleeping

with my sister, but she seems to become pregnant

when you even cast an eye upon her!

You asked for 12 children.

You already have eight and none of them are by me!

Then tell me, Rachel, what would you have me do?

Stop bedding my sister or I will stop bedding you.

The serpent approached Eve and told her to eat

of the fruit of knowledge,

that her eyes shall open,

and she'll know good from evil.

Ah, but I must leave you in suspense.

It is time for sleep.

-Come on, my sons. -[children laughing]

My bed grows cold these days, husband.

Keep me company tonight.

I would, but I can't.

Your sister had me swear that I would no longer visit your tent.

Be patient, Leah.

Look what Reuben found, sister.

-Are those mandrakes? -Yes.

And it's said that mandrake roots,

when made into a tea, can help those struggling to conceive.

I've heard of such a rare root.

Give it here.

I see.

You're after something.

What will you have in exchange then?

One night with Jacob.

You want me to trade Jacob for your son's mandrakes?

What's one night for something that could give you the babe

that you've wanted above all else?

Fine. One night.

Hello, husband.

Don't be alarmed.

Rachel knows.

She and I made an arrangement.

Sister.

I must speak with you.

Oh, I'm not quite sure how to say this.

Um...

I am with child again.

Again?

Then you won.

Another babe.

My little gamble with the mandrakes

did not work so well for me.

God favors you indeed.

I'm sorry. I cannot imagine

the pain that you must be in.

Please don't pretend to feel sorry for me.

I know my failures must be a great joy to you.

They are not.

I... I have borne Jacob many children.

I'm content.

Being a mother of a large family

is all I've wanted for a long time.

How wonderful for you.

My dear sister, I have had quite enough

of this rivalry over the years.

This child shall be my last.

Your last?

Really?

Yes, Rachel.

I love you.

Despite everything.

Two sisters, one heart. Remember?

I wish to see your desires come to fruition too.

I want to see you happy.

[Rachel sobbing]

Sister...

I don't know if it's possible for me to be with child.

We've tried for so long.

Then let me help.

Woman to woman.

I may have given Jacob his firstborn,

but perhaps you could give him his youngest.

A child that would be just as special in his own way.

[Leah] You have always been self-reliant.

A practical woman.

And you have made your way so far on reason and resilience.

But... sometimes don't you feel that...

there are things on this earth

that cannot be explained by logic alone?

More and more these days.

We must accept that not everything

can be within our control, sister.

The faith in something godly out there,

that's...

that's what gives me hope.

Come.

Shall we pray?

[dramatic music]

Dear Lord, I pray for my sister.

That you remember her.

That you open her womb,

giving her what she and your faithful servant Jacob

have so long desired.

[thunder rumbling]

Oh! Ah!

[all laughing]

Now the only thing to wish for is a healthy and easy pregnancy.

[Rachel straining]

She's looking very pale.

Oh, stay with us. Stay with us.

The baby's nearly here.

I'll fetch some fresh towels.

How is she?

She-- she's doing the best that she can,

but, Jacob, our mother died giving birth to Rachel,

and she seems to be experiencing similar difficulties.

I can't lose her.

I can't live without her.

I know.

Me neither.

[Rachel screaming]

[screaming echoes]

[baby crying]

Sister, oh, you did it!

You did it!

Rachel! Rachel, look!

Please, God, no!

Sister, sister!

Oh! [sobbing]

[baby crying]

[Rachel gasps]

Oh!

Thank God! Thank God!

My youngest son, Joseph.

Now this is the happiest day of my life.

[baby cooing]

Come on, let's go.

Come on.

I can't tell if Father's taking the news well.

He's had a while to prepare himself.

Jacob and I have always planned to leave for Canaan

once we're married.

I must say, I am worried.

-You're always worried. -But is it safe?

What about Jacob's brother who wanted to kill him?

Has his anger been assuaged?

He could be putting our lives in danger,

our family's lives in danger.

And leaving our home

and everything we've ever known with nothing.

I would never let us leave with nothing.

I told Jacob to negotiate with Father.

I've built this family's fortune sheep by sheep,

and we're deserving of our share.

As for Jacob's family,

as you've taught me once, sister,

let me now be the one to remind you.

We must have faith.

We've spoken and your father has been quite accommodating.

Though I must say, it's going to be very hard

to part with my beloved daughters,

and, frankly, a tragedy.

To be left at home alone with... those two.

[Laban groans]

He has even been generous enough

to offer some of the flock.

-Really? -Yes, of course.

I am very well aware that I have only been blessed

with good fortune because of you and Jacob.

But I would like you to go to the flock

and separate out both the speckled

and the spotted sheep and have them for yourselves.

That's a tenth of the herd!

Thank you! That is generous!

Oh, no. Speak nothing of it, huh?

What kind of father would I be

if I did not set my children up for success?

Now, here, look.

Here.

What's this? [chuckles]

Take that. Go on.

I don't see a single black or speckled sheep.

No, neither do I.

We did as you said, Father.

We separated all the spotted sheep.

And hid them away.

Rachel and Jacob will never find them.

[Laban] Good, then they won't be taking anything

that is rightfully ours.

And with nothing to their name,

I suspect they won't be leaving Harran either.

My father tricked us. We can't let him win.

We have a right to that flock.

I shall go to him and speak true.

That will get us nowhere.

We can't prove anything, and if we accuse him now,

he'll simply come up with another trick.

No, we must bide our time, regrow the flock,

and trick him right back.

But how are we going to rebuild the flock

without any black or speckled sheep to breed with?

Besides, it took me nearly 20 years

to grow my father's herd.

My love, I will find a way.

I don't know how I am so certain,

but I promise you it will not take another 20 years.

Remember, you taught me everything you know

as the best shepherdess in Harran.

Even the best shepherdess isn't capable of miracles.

Trust me.

[soft dramatic music]

[Rachel] Joseph, wait!

Come, sister, come.

Jacob, you have bred an entire flock out of thin air.

And in only a handful of years.

How?

I took poplar, almond, and plane,

stripped back the bark to expose the white underneath,

then put them in the trough, and set all the white sheep

from your father's flock to drink from it.

And when they would breed,

all of the lambs were spotted and speckled.

An unusual methodology, is it not?

I'd never heard of it.

It was as if I woke up one morning and just knew.

I believe it was God.

He favored us.

You've come a long way from the man who hardly knew

how to milk a cow.

Now that we have our own flock,

how will we take them with us?

Father will never allow it.

That is why we cannot tell your father.

What?

We all just sneak away without even saying good-bye?

Yes, sister.

We must slip away in the night.

[dramatic music]

-Father-- -[Laban yelps] What?

Father, they're gone.

-Father, they're gone. -No, who-- who's gone?

Jacob, Leah, and Rachel.

And all of their children, and the entire camp.

The whole place is empty.

And they've made off with half of our flock.

All the black and spotted sheep.

Leaving us with a very small and weak herd.

They've profited off of us.

They've fooled us, took what was ours right out from under us!

[Laban screaming]

No, they tricked me!

Their own father!

No, we'll go to town. Gather up your men.

We will give chase and take everything back!

By force, if necessary!

Go, get your men!

-Go! -Go!

[dramatic music]

Why are Father's idols hidden in your saddle?

I snuck into his camp before we left and I stole them.

Why?

Our father and brothers will have discovered

our absence by now and are surely giving chase.

When they catch us, and they will catch us,

they'll seize our flocks and send us away empty-handed.

I can't let that happen.

Father is so very attached to the idols,

and our brothers want them for themselves.

This will only antagonize them.

That's exactly what I'm counting on.

Just trust me.

We need a contingency plan, and this is it.

And say nothing of this to Jacob.

[music continues]

[Laban] Whoa! Whoa!

Here.

Jacob. Jacob, you--

you left without saying a word.

You think it's right to take away a man's daughters

like captives of the sword in the night?

You are here to take what is rightfully ours.

How can you say this?

You are the one that cheated me!

If you're speaking of our herd,

then we have a right to every creature that we've taken.

I don't think your brothers or our men

are going to agree with that.

And besides, there is also the matter

of the household idols.

You do know, don't you, that it is a sinful offense

to take a man's gods from him?

Not to mention the familial significance.

Those idols have always been held

-by the leader of our family. -Yes.

I have not taken your precious household gods.

That would be a sin indeed.

[Laban] Oh, who did it then, huh?

I think you're nothing but a common thief.

Search our belongings yourself,

and if you find anyone here that has stolen your gods,

I swear that they shall not live.

Oh!

Oh, I will hold you to that promise.

Sister, I can hardly breathe.

They're going to find the camel's saddle.

[Laban] Search the tents! I want those idols found!

This is the last tent in the camp.

It's mine and Rachel's. You won't find them here.

There's nothing here, Father.

[Laban] No.

The only place we haven't searched is your persons.

Hmm?

Up.

I'm sorry, Father.

Please don't be angry,

but I cannot rise before you.

The ways of women are upon me.

-Ugh. -Hmm.

No, Father, we cannot touch her during her, um, lunations.

It would be much too unpleasant.

Ah, no matter, because we will not be leaving

before the idols turn up.

In the meantime, my sons, round up the livestock.

Come.

Uh, brother, why don't I show you where the sheep are?

You'd be hard-pressed to find them.

[rooster crowing]

[Laban] Turning into a fine old morning.

I think that I slept rather well for a man on the road.

Well, why are you all so glum?

Shouldn't there be some cheer when one is with family?

Perhaps we would have more cheer, sir,

if you had not overstayed your welcome.

-Father! Father! -Yes?

We were rounding up the livestock when Birham fell,

and there they were, the household idols

tumbling out of his pocket!

I never-- I didn't-- I never touched them.

[Laban] What?

You're trying to set me up to look bad in Father's eyes.

We all know you'd love to be named patriarch of this family

and claim my rightful inheritance!

I have every right to be the patriarch of this family

if Father wishes to bequeath me the idols.

I am the eldest son!

[onlookers gasp]

[Birham shouts]

[Birham] I have every right, brother!

You better run, brother, while you still can!

-I'm gonna catch you! -[man] After them!

[Acar] Come back here!

Get your horses!

What did you say earlier, sir?

That you'd be leaving once the idols were found?

You framed our brother. You were right.

It did antagonize them.

Oh, sister, you have saved our lives.

[horses stampeding]

[men shouting]

[Leah] We made the last of our long-anticipated journey

to Jacob's home, to our new lives.

I'd been afraid that family strife might greet us.

That we'd be met with resentment, anger, and swords.

But what we found was reconciliation and forgiveness,

love with our new family and fresh purpose.

Sister, can you believe it? Canaan.

It's everything I've imagined.

[Leah] At last, we were home.

[soft dramatic music]

[laughter]

Is that how you prevailed over the angel of the Lord, Father?

[Jacob grunting] It was, Joseph.

We wrestled till the break of day,

when I finally prevailed,

though it did not come without pain.

The man broke my hip.

But still, I didn't let him go until he blessed me.

Your father came face to face with God,

who gave him his new name, Israel.

[children gasp]

[Leah] Rachel and I were content in Canaan.

Our sisterhood was strong and so was our family.

But Jacob's dream of 12 sons never faded in my mind.

I could not ignore the desire.

And neither could she.

Why do you have mandrakes?

Are you trying to have another child?

You are, aren't you?

Leah, I've only ever been able to bear one child,

when I have always wanted several.

But I was never blessed. Not like you.

And you're nearly past the ways of women.

If anyone should carry another child, it's me!

Rachel, you nearly died giving birth to Joseph.

You would be risking your life. You can't do it.

I can and I shall.

It would be worth the risk.

Then we shall see who bears the 12th son.

[Rachel screaming]

[screaming continues]

I'm scared.

I'm here. I'm here.

[screaming]

Hmm.

I'm not going to make it, am I?

Please, sister.

Please stay with us.

You were right.

You told me it was too dangerous to have another baby.

Oh, I...

I let my jealousy get the best of me.

It will haunt me forever if this costs you your life.

I played my part in this too.

But I look at our beautiful family

and my beautiful son,

and I think...

it was all worth the sacrifice, wasn't it?

Every tear and every painful moment.

God has a destiny for us all.

I love you.

Two sisters, one heart.

[somber music]

Promise me...

you'll raise my son as if he were your own.

I promise. I promise.

His name is Benjamin.

[baby fussing]

My youngest and last.

A child of sorrow.

But also strength.

Life is much too short, is it not, my love?

I could have spent eternity with you.

[Leah] Rachel said God has a plan for each of us,

and that sometimes it would be far too great

for us to understand.

She was right.

[lively music and cheering]

Benjamin was always ravenous.

You could never feed that boy enough.

I need to remove my aunt before she tells that awful story again

about how I became violently ill

eating that cursed goat's medicine.

[laughter]

You're supposed to tell stories that will make me more appealing

to my soon-to-be wife, not less.

Let me have my fun.

Aunt, do you...

do you think Mother was watching over our merriment?

I'm sure of it.

Nights like these, I can almost feel her here with us.

I, um...

I brought this with me.

It's all I have of her.

That's not true.

You have her eyes.

You have her smile.

But most of all, you have her courage.

And she would be so proud of the man that you are today.

Son.

It's time.

[applause]

You outdid yourself.

Rachel would've loved it.

Would she have, or would she have rather been hiding

with the sheep than dealing with all of the gossiping wives

and floral arrangements?

[both laugh]

I miss her so much.

[Leah] I do too.

She would want us to be joyful tonight.

She would tell us that this is exactly as we dreamed,

as God promised.

And that our descendants number as many as the stars.

[Jacob chuckles]

Maybe not as many as the stars.

Not yet, but one day, they will.

[dramatic music]

[soft dramatic music]

[dog barks]