34 S Genesis 31:1
Jacob Flees From Laban
31
Jacob h
eard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything
our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged
to our father.” 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not
what it had been.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to
your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the f ields where his
flocks were. 5 He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is
not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know
that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has
cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed
him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all
the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will
be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken
away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw
that the male goats mating with the f lock were s treaked, speckled or spotted.
11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’
12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock
are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been do
ing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where
you made a vow to me. Now l eave this land at once and go back to your native
land.’ ”
14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inher
itance of our father’s estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only
has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 16 Surely all the wealth
that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do
whatever God has told you.”
17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, 18 and he drove all
his livestock a
head of him, a
long with all the goods he had accumulated in
Paddan Aram, a to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban had gone to s hear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s house
hold gods. 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him
he was running away. 21 So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River,
and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 On the t hird day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 Taking his relatives
with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and c aught up with him in the hill
country of Gilead. 24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a d
ream at n
ight
and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban over
took him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said
to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off
my daughters like captives in war. 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive
me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing
to the music of timbrels and harps? 28 You d
idn’t even let me kiss my grand
children and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have
the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be
careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 Now you have gone
off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you
steal my gods?”
31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was a
fraid, because I thought you would take
your daughters away from me by f orce. 32 But if you find anyone who has your
gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for your
self whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now
Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.
a 18
That is, Northwest Mesopotamia