Le'ah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Re'uven. For she said, *Because the LORD has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me.*
The angel of the LORD said to her, *Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Yishma'el, because the LORD has heard your affliction.
Unless the God of my father, the God of Avraham, and the fear of Yitzchak, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.*
It happened, while Yisra'el lived in that land, that Re'uven went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Yisra'el heard of it. Now the sons of Ya`akov were twelve.
Re'uven answered them, saying, *Didn't I tell you, saying, 'Don't sin against the child,' and you wouldn't listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required.*
The sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Yisra'el (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Yosef the son of Yisra'el; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
The LORD said, *I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
The people believed, and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Yisra'el, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
She vowed a vow, and said, the LORD of Armies, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
It happened, when the time was come about, that Channah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Shemu'el, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.