The story begins when Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, travels to Haran to seek refuge with his uncle Laban and to find a wife among his relatives. Upon arrival, Jacob meets Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, at a well and is instantly captivated by her beauty. He offers to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. However, on the wedding night, Laban deceives Jacob by substituting Leah, his elder daughter, as the bride. Unbeknownst to Jacob, he consummates the marriage with Leah.

When Jacob discovers the deception the following morning, he confronts Laban, who argues that it is not customary to marry off the younger daughter before the elder. Nonetheless, Laban agrees to give Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another seven years of service, and Jacob consents, marrying Rachel a week later.

This arrangement sets the stage for a complex and competitive relationship between the sisters. Leah, who is described as having "weak eyes," contrasts with the beautiful Rachel, and both vie for Jacob's affections. God sees that Leah is unloved and blesses her with children. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

Meanwhile, Rachel struggles with infertility and becomes envious of her sister's ability to bear children. In desperation, Rachel offers her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate. Bilhah bears two sons: Dan and Naphtali. Leah, seeing that she has temporarily ceased bearing children, gives her maidservant Zilpah to Jacob, who bears two sons: Gad and Asher.

Leah later becomes fertile again and gives birth to two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. Eventually, God remembers Rachel, and she conceives, giving birth to Joseph. Later, she bears another son, Benjamin, but tragically dies during childbirth.

Together, the sons of Jacob by Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. These tribes form the foundation of the Israelite nation, each bearing the name of one of Jacob's sons.