1Und es kamen vor ihn die Reden der Söhne Labans, dass sie sprachen: Jakob hat alles Gut unseres Vaters an sich gebracht, und nur von unseres Vaters Gut hat er solchen Reichtum zuwege gebracht. (1Mo 30,35)2Und Jakob sah an das Angesicht Labans, und siehe, er war zu ihm nicht mehr wie zuvor.3Und der HERR sprach zu Jakob: Zieh wieder in deiner Väter Land und zu deiner Verwandtschaft; ich will mit dir sein. (1Mo 12,1; 1Mo 28,15)4Da sandte Jakob hin und ließ rufen Rahel und Lea aufs Feld zu seiner Herde5und sprach zu ihnen: Ich sehe an eures Vaters Angesicht, dass er zu mir nicht ist wie zuvor; aber der Gott meines Vaters ist mit mir gewesen.6Und ihr wisst, dass ich aus allen meinen Kräften eurem Vater gedient habe.7Und er hat mich getäuscht und zehnmal meinen Lohn verändert; aber Gott hat ihm nicht gestattet, dass er mir Schaden täte.8Wenn er sprach: Die Gefleckten sollen dein Lohn sein, so warf die ganze Herde Gefleckte. Wenn er aber sprach: Die Sprenkligen sollen dein Lohn sein, so warf die ganze Herde Sprenklige.9So hat Gott die Güter eures Vaters ihm entwunden und mir gegeben.10Denn wenn die Brunstzeit kam, hob ich meine Augen auf und sah im Traum, und siehe, die Böcke, die die Tiere besprangen, waren sprenklig, gefleckt und scheckig.11Und der Engel Gottes sprach zu mir im Traum: Jakob! Und ich antwortete: Hier bin ich.12Er aber sprach: Hebe deine Augen auf und sieh! Alle Böcke, die die Tiere bespringen, sind sprenklig, gefleckt und scheckig; denn ich habe alles gesehen, was Laban dir antut.13Ich bin der Gott zu Bethel, wo du das Steinmal gesalbt hast, und du hast mir daselbst ein Gelübde getan. Nun mach dich auf und zieh aus diesem Lande und kehre zurück in das Land deiner Verwandtschaft. (1Mo 28,18)14Da antworteten Rahel und Lea und sprachen zu ihm: Haben wir denn noch Anteil und Erbe am Hause unseres Vaters?15Gelten wir ihm nicht als Fremde? Hat er uns doch verkauft und unsern Kaufpreis verzehrt! (1Mo 29,18; 1Mo 29,27)16Fürwahr, der ganze Reichtum, den Gott unserm Vater entzogen hat, gehört uns und unsern Kindern. Alles nun, was Gott dir gesagt hat, das tu!17Da machte sich Jakob auf und lud seine Kinder und Frauen auf die Kamele18und führte weg all sein Vieh und alle seine Habe, die er in Paddan-Aram erworben hatte, dass er käme zu Isaak, seinem Vater, ins Land Kanaan.19Laban aber war gegangen, seine Herde zu scheren. Da stahl Rahel ihres Vaters Hausgott. (1Mo 35,4; Ri 17,5; Ri 18,17; 1Sam 19,13; 2Kön 23,24; Sach 10,2)20Und Jakob täuschte Laban, den Aramäer, damit, dass er ihm nicht ansagte, dass er ziehen wollte.21So floh er mit allem, was sein war, machte sich auf und fuhr über den Euphrat und richtete seinen Weg nach dem Gebirge Gilead.
Der Vertrag zwischen Jakob und Laban
22Am dritten Tage wurde Laban angesagt, dass Jakob geflohen wäre.23Und er nahm seine Brüder zu sich und jagte ihm nach, sieben Tagereisen weit, und ereilte ihn auf dem Gebirge Gilead. (1Mo 47,1)24Aber Gott kam zu Laban, dem Aramäer, im Traum des Nachts und sprach zu ihm: Hüte dich, mit Jakob im Guten oder Bösen zu reden.25Und Laban holte Jakob ein. Jakob aber hatte sein Zelt aufgeschlagen auf dem Gebirge, und Laban mit seinen Brüdern schlug sein Zelt auch auf dem Gebirge Gilead auf.26Da sprach Laban zu Jakob: Was hast du getan, dass du mich getäuscht hast und hast meine Töchter entführt, als wenn sie im Krieg gefangen wären?27Warum bist du heimlich geflohen und hast mich hintergangen und hast mir’s nicht angesagt, dass ich dich geleitet hätte mit Freuden, mit Liedern, mit Pauken und Harfen?28Und hast mich nicht einmal lassen meine Enkel und Töchter küssen? Nun, du hast töricht getan.29Ich hätte wohl so viel Macht, dass ich euch Böses antun könnte; aber eures Vaters Gott hat diese Nacht zu mir gesagt: Hüte dich, mit Jakob im Guten oder Bösen zu reden.30Und wenn du schon weggezogen bist und sehntest dich so sehr nach deines Vaters Hause, warum hast du mir dann aber meinen Gott gestohlen?31Jakob antwortete und sprach zu Laban: Ich fürchtete mich und dachte, du würdest deine Töchter von mir reißen.32Bei wem du aber deinen Gott findest, der sterbe! Hier vor unsern Brüdern suche das Deine bei mir und nimm’s hin. Jakob wusste aber nicht, dass Rahel ihn gestohlen hatte. (1Mo 19,1)33Da ging Laban in die Zelte Jakobs und Leas und der beiden Mägde und fand nichts. Und ging aus dem Zelte Leas in das Zelt Rahels.34Rahel aber hatte den Hausgott genommen und unter den Kamelsattel gelegt und sich daraufgesetzt. Laban aber betastete das ganze Zelt und fand nichts.35Da sprach sie zu ihrem Vater: Mein Herr, zürne nicht, denn ich kann nicht aufstehen vor dir, denn es geht mir nach der Frauen Weise. Daher fand er den Hausgott nicht, wie sehr er auch suchte. (3Mo 15,19)36Und Jakob wurde zornig und schalt Laban und sprach zu ihm: Was hab ich Übles getan oder gesündigt, dass du so hitzig hinter mir her bist?37Du hast all meinen Hausrat betastet. Was hast du von deinem Hausrat gefunden? Lege das her vor meinen und deinen Brüdern, dass sie zwischen uns beiden richten.38Diese zwanzig Jahre bin ich bei dir gewesen, deine Schafe und Ziegen haben keine Fehlgeburt gehabt; die Widder deiner Herde hab ich nie gegessen;39was die wilden Tiere zerrissen, brachte ich dir nicht, ich musste es ersetzen; du fordertest es von meiner Hand, es mochte mir des Tages oder des Nachts gestohlen sein. (2Mo 22,11)40Des Tages kam ich um vor Hitze und des Nachts vor Frost und kein Schlaf kam in meine Augen.41So habe ich diese zwanzig Jahre in deinem Hause gedient, vierzehn um deine Töchter und sechs um deine Herde, und du hast mir meinen Lohn zehnmal verändert. (1Mo 29,20; 1Mo 29,30; 1Mo 30,31)42Wenn nicht der Gott meines Vaters, der Gott Abrahams und der Schrecken Isaaks[1], auf meiner Seite gewesen wäre, du hättest mich leer ziehen lassen. Aber Gott hat mein Elend und meine Mühe angesehen und hat diese Nacht rechtes Urteil gesprochen.43Laban antwortete und sprach zu Jakob: Die Töchter sind meine Töchter und die Kinder sind meine Kinder und die Herden sind meine Herden und alles, was du siehst, ist mein. Was kann ich heute für meine Töchter oder ihre Kinder tun, die sie geboren haben? (2Mo 21,4)44So komm nun und lass uns einen Bund schließen, ich und du, der ein Zeuge sei zwischen mir und dir.45Da nahm Jakob einen Stein und richtete ihn auf zu einem Steinmal46und sprach zu seinen Brüdern: Lest Steine auf! Und sie nahmen Steine und machten davon einen Haufen und aßen daselbst auf dem Steinhaufen.47Und Laban nannte ihn Jegar-Sahaduta, Jakob aber nannte ihn Gal-Ed. (1Mo 23,1)48Da sprach Laban: Der Steinhaufe sei heute Zeuge zwischen mir und dir. Daher nennt man ihn Gal-Ed[2] (Jos 24,27)49und Mizpa[3]; denn er sprach: Der HERR wache als Späher über mir und dir, wenn wir voneinander gegangen sind, (Ri 11,11)50dass du meine Töchter nicht bedrückst oder andere Frauen dazunimmst zu meinen Töchtern. Es ist hier kein Mensch bei uns; siehe aber, Gott ist der Zeuge zwischen mir und dir.51Und Laban sprach weiter zu Jakob: Siehe, das ist der Haufe und das ist das Steinmal, das ich aufgerichtet habe zwischen mir und dir.52Dieser Steinhaufe sei Zeuge und das Steinmal sei auch Zeuge, dass ich nicht an diesem Haufen vorüberziehe zu dir hin oder du vorüberziehst zu mir hin an diesem Haufen und diesem Mal in böser Absicht!53Der Gott Abrahams und der Gott Nahors sei Richter zwischen uns – der Gott ihres Vaters! Und Jakob schwor bei dem Schrecken seines Vaters Isaak. (1Mo 42,1)54Und Jakob opferte auf dem Gebirge und lud seine Brüder zum Essen. Und als sie gegessen hatten, blieben sie auf dem Gebirge über Nacht.
1Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.”2And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. (1Mo 4,5)3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” (1Mo 28,15; 1Mo 31,13; 1Mo 32,9)4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was5and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. (1Mo 31,2; 1Mo 31,3)6You know that I have served your father with all my strength, (1Mo 30,29; 1Mo 31,38)7yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. (1Mo 31,41; 4Mo 14,22; Neh 4,12; Hi 19,3; Sach 8,23)8If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. (1Mo 30,32)9Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. (1Mo 31,1)10In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.11Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’12And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. (2Mo 3,7)13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” (1Mo 28,18; 1Mo 31,3; 1Mo 32,9)14Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? (2Sam 20,1; 1Kön 12,16)15Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. (1Mo 29,15; 1Mo 29,27; 1Mo 30,26)16All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”17So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels.18He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. (1Mo 25,20; 1Mo 28,2; 1Mo 28,6)19Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. (1Mo 31,30; 1Mo 31,34; Ri 17,5; 1Sam 15,23; 1Sam 19,13; Hes 21,21; Hos 3,4; Sach 10,2)20And Jacob tricked[1] Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.21He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates,[2] and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. (2Mo 23,31; 2Kön 12,17; Ps 72,8; Lk 9,51)22When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,23he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead.24But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (1Mo 20,3; 1Mo 24,50; 4Mo 24,13; 2Sam 13,22)25And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead.26And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? (1Mo 31,20)27Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? (1Mo 31,26)28And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. (1Mo 31,55; Rut 1,9; Rut 1,14; 1Kön 19,20; Apg 20,37)29It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your[3] father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ (1Mo 28,13; 1Mo 31,24; 1Mo 31,42; 1Mo 31,53; 5Mo 28,32; Neh 5,5; Spr 3,27; Mi 2,1)30And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” (1Mo 31,19; Ri 18,24)31Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.32Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. (1Mo 44,9)33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s.34Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them.35And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods. (3Mo 19,32)36Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?37For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. (1Mo 31,54)38These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.39What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. (2Mo 22,12)40There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. (1Mo 29,27; 1Mo 31,7)42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.” (1Mo 29,32; 1Mo 31,29; 1Mo 31,53; Ps 124,1)43Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne?44Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” (1Mo 26,28; Jos 24,27)45So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. (1Mo 28,18)46And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha,[4] but Jacob called it Galeed.[5]48Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, (1Mo 31,44)49and Mizpah,[6] for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. (Ri 11,29; Ri 11,34)50If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” (Ri 11,10; 1Sam 12,5; Hi 16,19; Jer 42,5; Mi 1,2)51Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me.52This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. (1Mo 31,43)53The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, (1Mo 31,42)54and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. (1Mo 31,37)55[7] Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home. (1Mo 31,28; 1Mo 31,43)
1.Mose 31
King James Version
1And he heard the words of Laban' sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father'; and of that which was our father' hath he gotten all this glory.2And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.3And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,5And said unto them, I see your father' countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying , Jacob: And I said, Here am I.12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father' house?15Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.16For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children': now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.17Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;18And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father'.20And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.21So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.22And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.23And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days'journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.24And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.25Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.26And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?27Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?28And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.29It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.30And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father' house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.32With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.33And Laban went into Jacob' tent, and into Leah' tent, and into the two maidservants'tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah' tent, and entered into Rachel' tent.34Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel' furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.35And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.36And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?37Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.38This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.39That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.40Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.43And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?44Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.45And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.46And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.47And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.48And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;49And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.50If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.51And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;52This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.54Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.55And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
1Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying. ‘Jacob has taken everything our father owned,’ they said. ‘He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.’2Jacob noticed that Laban’s feelings towards him had changed.3Then the LORD spoke to Jacob. He said, ‘Go back to your father’s land and to your relatives. I will be with you.’4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He told them to come out to the fields where his flocks were.5He said to them, ‘I see that your father’s feelings towards me have changed. But the God of my father has been with me.6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength.7But your father has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. In spite of everything that’s happened, God hasn’t let him harm me.8Sometimes Laban would say, “The speckled ones will be your pay.” Then all the flocks had little ones with speckles. At other times he would say, “The striped ones will be your pay.” Then all the flocks had little ones with stripes.9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.10‘Once during the mating season I had a dream. In my dream I looked and saw male goats mating with the flock. The goats had stripes, speckles or spots.11The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob”. I answered, “Here I am.”12He said, “Look around you. See the male goats mating with the flock. All of them have stripes, speckles or spots. That’s because I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you.13I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured olive oil on a sacred stone. There you made a promise to me. Now leave this land. Go back to your own land.” ’14Rachel and Leah replied, ‘Do we still have any share of our father’s property?15Doesn’t our father think of us as outsiders? First he sold us. Now he has used up what he was paid for us.16All the wealth God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do what God has told you to do.’17Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels.18He drove all his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had acquired in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.19Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of the family gods that belonged to her father.20And that’s not all. Jacob tricked Laban, the Aramean. He didn’t tell him he was running away.21So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the River Euphrates. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban chases Jacob
22On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away.23He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.24Then God came to Laban, the Aramean, in a dream at night. He said to him, ‘Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.’25Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That’s where Laban caught up with him. Laban and his relatives camped there too.26Laban said to Jacob, ‘What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war.27Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn’t you tell me? Then I could have sent you away happily. We could have sung to the music of tambourines and harps.28You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.29I have the power to harm you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, “Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.”30Now you have run away. You longed to go back to your father’s home. But why did you have to steal the statues of my gods?’31Jacob answered Laban, ‘I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.32But if you find anyone who has the statues of your gods, that person will not remain alive. While our relatives are watching, look for yourself. See if there’s anything of yours here with me. If you find anything belonging to you, take it.’ But Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen the statues.33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and Leah’s tent. He went into the tent of their two female servants. But he didn’t find anything. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent.34Rachel was the one who had taken the statues of Laban’s family gods. She had put them inside her camel’s saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent. But he didn’t find anything.35Rachel said to her father, ‘I’m sorry, sir. I can’t get up for you right now. But don’t be angry with me. I’m having my monthly period.’ So he searched everywhere but couldn’t find the statues of his gods.36Jacob was very angry with Laban. ‘What is my crime?’ he asked. ‘What have I done to you that you hunt me down like this?37You have searched through all my things. What have you found that belongs to your family? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine. Let them decide between the two of us.38‘I’ve been with you for 20 years now. The little ones of your sheep and goats were not dead when they were born. I haven’t eaten rams from your flocks.39I didn’t bring you animals torn apart by wild beasts. I made up for the loss myself. Also, you made me pay for anything stolen by day or night.40And what was my life like? The heat burned me in the daytime. And it was so cold at night that I froze. I couldn’t sleep.41That’s what it was like for the 20 years I was living with you. I worked for 14 years to marry your two daughters. I worked for six years to get my share of your flocks. You changed my pay ten times.42But the God of my father was with me. He is the God of Abraham and the God Isaac worshipped. If he hadn’t been with me, you would surely have sent me away without anything to show for all my work. But God has seen my hard times. He has seen all the work my hands have done. So last night he warned you.’43Laban answered Jacob, ‘The women are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they’ve had?44Come now. Let’s make a formal agreement, you and I. Let it be a witness between us.’45So Jacob set up a stone as a way to remember.46He said to his relatives, ‘Get some stones.’ So they took stones and put them in a pile. And they ate there by it.47Laban named the pile of stones Jegar Sahadutha. Jacob named it Galeed.48Laban said, ‘This pile of stones is a witness between you and me today.’ That’s why it was named Galeed.49It was also called Mizpah. That’s because Laban said, ‘May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.50Don’t treat my daughters badly. Don’t get married to any women besides my daughters. There isn’t anyone here to see what we’re doing. But remember that God is a witness between you and me.’51Laban also said to Jacob, ‘Here is this pile of stones. And here is this stone I’ve set up. I’ve set them up between you and me.52This pile is a witness. And this stone is a witness. They are witnesses that I won’t go past this pile to harm you. And they are witnesses that you won’t go past this pile and this stone to harm me.53The God of Abraham and Nahor is also the God of their father. May their God decide which of us is right.’ So Jacob made a promise using the name of the God his father Isaac worshipped.54He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country. And he invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.55Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters. He gave them his blessing. Then he left and returned home.
1Jacob heard 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.’2And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude towards him was not what it had been.3Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were.5He said to them, ‘I see that your father’s attitude towards me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,7yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.8If 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.9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.10‘In the breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.11The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob.” I answered, “Here I am.”12And 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 doing to you.13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.” ’14Then Rachel and Leah replied, ‘Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate?15Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.16Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.’17Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels,18and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram,[1] to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.19When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.21So he fled with all he had, crossed the River Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban pursues Jacob
22On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.23Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.24Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’25Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too.26Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.27Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so that I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps?28You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.29I 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.”30Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?’31Jacob answered Laban, ‘I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.32But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself 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.33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent.34Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.35Rachel said to her father, ‘Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.’ So he searched but could not find the household gods.36Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. ‘What is my crime?’ he asked Laban. ‘How have I wronged you that you hunt me down?37Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.38‘I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.39I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.40This was my situation: the heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.41It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.’43Laban answered Jacob, ‘The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?44Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.’45So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.46He said to his relatives, ‘Gather some stones.’ So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.47Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[2]48Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me today.’ That is why it was called Galeed.49It was also called Mizpah,[3] because he said, ‘May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.50If you ill-treat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no-one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.’51Laban also said to Jacob, ‘Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me.52This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.53May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.’ So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.54He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.55Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.[4]