Based on the writings of Ellen White, Leah was Jacob's first wife, though he had intended to marry her younger sister, Rachel. Here are the key points about her story: * **A Deceptive Marriage:** Jacob had worked for Laban for seven years to marry Rachel. However, Laban deceived him by substituting Leah on the wedding night. The fact that "Leah herself was a party to the cheat, caused Jacob to feel that he could not love her" (PP 189.2). * **An Unloved Wife:** Because of the deception, Jacob's marriage to Leah was unhappy. Ellen White notes, "When Jacob realized the deception that had been practiced upon him, and that Leah had acted her part in deceiving him, he could not love Leah" (1SP 109.1). * **Rivalry with Rachel:** Jacob went on to marry Rachel as well, but his preference for her created constant conflict. His life was "embittered by the rivalry between the sister-wives" (PP 189.2). * **Laban's Regret:** Years later, Laban acknowledged the unhappiness his deception had caused. He understood that "it was the jealousy of Leah and Rachel that led them to give their maids to Jacob, which confused the family relation, and increased the unhappiness of his daughters" (1SP 116.3). Despite the difficult circumstances of her marriage, Leah became the mother of six of Jacob's sons—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun—and a daughter, Dinah.