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Genesis 31:1-55

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Jacob Flees from Laban 31 1 Now 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.” 2 And Jacob saw a that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, b “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” 4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, c “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father d has been with me. 6 e You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages f ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, g ‘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. 9 Thus God has h taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In 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. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for i I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, j where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now k arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there l any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For m he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All 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.” 17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in n Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s o household gods. 20 And Jacob tricked 1 Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the p Euphrates, 1 and q set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean r in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, s either good or bad.” 25 And 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. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have t tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly t and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me u to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is v in my power to do you harm. But the w God of your 1 father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, x either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you y steal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 z Anyone 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. 33 So 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. 34 Now 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. 35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot a rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods. 36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and b your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38 These 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. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. c From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. d I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and e you have changed my wages ten times. 42 f If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the g Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. h God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and i rebuked you last night.” 43 Then 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? 44 Come now, j let us make a covenant, you and I. k And let it be a witness between you and me.” 45 So Jacob l took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, 1 but Jacob called it Galeed. 2 48 Laban said, m “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, 49 n and Mizpah, 1 for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, o God is witness between you and me.” 51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. 52 p This 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. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the q Fear of his father Isaac, 54 and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called r his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. 55 1 Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed s his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.

Genesis 31:1-54

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31 1 וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת ־ דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי ־ לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָקַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל ־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל ־ הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה ׃ 2 וַיַּ֥רְא יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת ־ פְּנֵ֣י לָבָ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נּוּ עִמּ֖וֹ כִּתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם ׃ 3 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל ־ יַעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל ־ אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ ׃ 4 וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֖א לְרָחֵ֣ל וּלְלֵאָ֑ה הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֶל ־ צֹאנֽוֹ ׃ 5 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ן רֹאֶ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ אֶת ־ פְּנֵ֣י אֲבִיכֶ֔ן כִּֽי ־ אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֵלַ֖י כִּתְמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֔י הָיָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי ׃ 6 וְאַתֵּ֖נָה יְדַעְתֶּ֑ן כִּ֚י בְּכָל ־ כֹּחִ֔י עָבַ֖דְתִּי אֶת ־ אֲבִיכֶֽן ׃ 7 וַאֲבִיכֶן֙ הֵ֣תֶל בִּ֔י וְהֶחֱלִ֥ף 1 אֶת ־ מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת מֹנִ֑ים וְלֹֽא ־ נְתָנ֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְהָרַ֖ע עִמָּדִֽי ׃ 8 אִם ־ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר נְקֻדִּים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ וְיָלְד֥וּ כָל ־ הַצֹּ֖אן נְקֻדִּ֑ים וְאִם ־ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר עֲקֻדִּים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ וְיָלְד֥וּ כָל ־ הַצֹּ֖אן עֲקֻדִּֽים ׃ 9 וַיַּצֵּ֧ל אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת ־ מִקְנֵ֥ה אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וַיִּתֶּן ־ לִֽי ׃ 10 וַיְהִ֗י בְּעֵת֙ יַחֵ֣ם הַצֹּ֔אן וָאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֛י וָאֵ֖רֶא בַּחֲל֑וֹם וְהִנֵּ֤ה הָֽעַתֻּדִים֙ הָעֹלִ֣ים עַל ־ הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים ׃ 11 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י מַלְאַ֧ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים בַּחֲל֖וֹם יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי ׃ 12 וַיֹּ֗אמֶר שָׂא ־ נָ֨א עֵינֶ֤יךָ וּרְאֵה֙ כָּל ־ הָֽעַתֻּדִים֙ הָעֹלִ֣ים עַל ־ הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּ֑ים כִּ֣י רָאִ֔יתִי אֵ֛ת כָּל ־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָבָ֖ן עֹ֥שֶׂה לָּֽךְ ׃ 13 אָנֹכִ֤י הָאֵל֙ בֵּֽית ־ אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ שָּׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם נֶ֑דֶר עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן ־ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְשׁ֖וּב אֶל ־ אֶ֥רֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ ׃ 14 וַתַּ֤עַן רָחֵל֙ וְלֵאָ֔ה וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה ל֑וֹ הַע֥וֹד לָ֛נוּ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽינוּ ׃ 15 הֲל֧וֹא נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ ל֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְכָרָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֥אכַל גַּם ־ אָכ֖וֹל אֶת ־ כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ ׃ 16 כִּ֣י כָל ־ הָעֹ֗שֶׁר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֤יל אֱלֹהִים֙ מֵֽאָבִ֔ינוּ לָ֥נוּ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֵ֑ינוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֧ר אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה ׃ 17 וַיָּ֖קָם יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיִּשָּׂ֛א אֶת ־ בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶת ־ נָשָׁ֖יו עַל ־ הַגְּמַלִּֽים ׃ 18 וַיִּנְהַ֣ג אֶת ־ כָּל ־ מִקְנֵ֗הוּ וְאֶת ־ כָּל ־ רְכֻשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁ מִקְנֵה֙ קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם לָב֛וֹא אֶל ־ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן ׃ 19 וְלָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִגְזֹ֖ז אֶת ־ צֹאנ֑וֹ וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב רָחֵ֔ל אֶת ־ הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָבִֽיהָ ׃ 20 וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת ־ לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָאֲרַמִּ֑י עַל ־ בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא ׃ 21 וַיִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְכָל ־ אֲשֶׁר ־ ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר אֶת ־ הַנָּהָ֑ר וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת ־ פָּנָ֖יו הַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד ׃ 22 וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְלָבָ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י כִּ֥י בָרַ֖ח יַעֲקֹֽב ׃ 23 וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת ־ אֶחָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיַּדְבֵּ֥ק אֹת֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד ׃ 24 וַיָּבֹ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל ־ לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י בַּחֲלֹ֣ם הַלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ פֶּן ־ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִֽם ־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד ־ רָֽע ׃ 25 וַיַּשֵּׂ֥ג לָבָ֖ן אֶֽת ־ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיַעֲקֹ֗ב תָּקַ֤ע אֶֽת ־ אָהֳלוֹ֙ בָּהָ֔ר וְלָבָ֛ן תָּקַ֥ע אֶת ־ אֶחָ֖יו בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד ׃ 26 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֶת ־ לְבָבִ֑י וַתְּנַהֵג֙ אֶת ־ בְּנֹתַ֔י כִּשְׁבֻי֖וֹת חָֽרֶב ׃ 27 לָ֤מָּה נַחְבֵּ֙אתָ֙ לִבְרֹ֔חַ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֹתִ֑י וְלֹא ־ הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים בְּתֹ֥ף וּבְכִנּֽוֹר ׃ 28 וְלֹ֣א נְטַשְׁתַּ֔נִי לְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְבָנַ֖י וְלִבְנֹתָ֑י עַתָּ֖ה הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּֽ עֲשֽׂוֹ ׃ 29 יֶשׁ ־ לְאֵ֣ל יָדִ֔י לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּכֶ֖ם רָ֑ע וֵֽאלֹהֵ֨י אֲבִיכֶ֜ם אֶ֣מֶשׁ ׀ אָמַ֧ר אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֗ר הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר עִֽם ־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד ־ רָֽע ׃ 30 וְעַתָּה֙ הָלֹ֣ךְ הָלַ֔כְתָּ כִּֽי ־ נִכְסֹ֥ף נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ לָ֥מָּה גָנַ֖בְתָּ אֶת ־ אֱלֹהָֽי ׃ 31 וַיַּ֥עַן יַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֑ן כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔אתִי כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן ־ תִּגְזֹ֥ל אֶת ־ בְּנוֹתֶ֖יךָ מֵעִמִּֽי ׃ 32 עִ֠ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֣א אֶת ־ אֱלֹהֶיךָ֮ לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶה֒ נֶ֣גֶד אַחֵ֧ינוּ הַֽכֶּר ־ לְךָ֛ מָ֥ה עִמָּדִ֖י וְקַֽח ־ לָ֑ךְ וְלֹֽא ־ יָדַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י רָחֵ֖ל גְּנָבָֽתַם ׃ 33 וַיָּבֹ֨א לָבָ֜ן בְּאֹ֥הֶל יַעֲקֹ֣ב ׀ וּבְאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֗ה וּבְאֹ֛הֶל שְׁתֵּ֥י הָאֲמָהֹ֖ת וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑א וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֵאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֹ֥הֶל רָחֵֽל ׃ 34 וְרָחֵ֞ל לָקְחָ֣ה אֶת ־ הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן אֶת ־ כָּל ־ הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא ׃ 35 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל ־ אָבִ֗יהָ אַל ־ יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא אוּכַל֙ לָק֣וּם מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ כִּי ־ דֶ֥רֶךְ נָשִׁ֖ים לִ֑י וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ וְלֹ֥א מָצָ֖א אֶת ־ הַתְּרָפִֽים ׃ 36 וַיִּ֥חַר לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיָּ֣רֶב בְּלָבָ֑ן וַיַּ֤עַן יַעֲקֹב֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֔ן מַה ־ פִּשְׁעִי֙ מַ֣ה חַטָּאתִ֔י כִּ֥י דָלַ֖קְתָּ אַחֲרָֽי ׃ 37 כִּֽי ־ מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת ־ כָּל ־ כֵּלַ֗י מַה ־ מָּצָ֙אתָ֙ מִכֹּ֣ל כְּלֵי ־ בֵיתֶ֔ךָ שִׂ֣ים כֹּ֔ה נֶ֥גֶד אַחַ֖י וְאַחֶ֑יךָ וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ בֵּ֥ין שְׁנֵֽינוּ ׃ 38 זֶה֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ רְחֵלֶ֥יךָ וְעִזֶּ֖יךָ לֹ֣א שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ וְאֵילֵ֥י צֹאנְךָ֖ 1 לֹ֥א אָכָֽלְתִּי ׃ 39 טְרֵפָה֙ לֹא ־ הֵבֵ֣אתִי אֵלֶ֔יךָ אָנֹכִ֣י אֲחַטֶּ֔נָּה מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נָּה גְּנֻֽבְתִ֣י י֔וֹם וּגְנֻֽבְתִ֖י לָֽיְלָה ׃ 40 הָיִ֧יתִי בַיּ֛וֹם אֲכָלַ֥נִי חֹ֖רֶב וְקֶ֣רַח בַּלָּ֑יְלָה וַתִּדַּ֥ד שְׁנָתִ֖י מֵֽעֵינָֽי ׃ 41 זֶה ־ לִּ֞י עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָה֮ בְּבֵיתֶךָ֒ עֲבַדְתִּ֜יךָ אַרְבַּֽע ־ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתֶ֔יךָ וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים בְּצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וַתַּחֲלֵ֥ף אֶת ־ מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת מֹנִֽים ׃ 42 לוּלֵ֡י אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִי֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וּפַ֤חַד יִצְחָק֙ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה רֵיקָ֣ם שִׁלַּחְתָּ֑נִי אֶת ־ עָנְיִ֞י וְאֶת ־ יְגִ֧יעַ 1 כַּפַּ֛י רָאָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיּ֥וֹכַח אָֽמֶשׁ ׃ 43 וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל ־ יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַבָּנ֨וֹת בְּנֹתַ֜י וְהַבָּנִ֤ים בָּנַי֙ וְהַצֹּ֣אן צֹאנִ֔י וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר ־ אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לִי ־ ה֑וּא וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י מָֽה ־ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֤ה לָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם א֥וֹ לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלָֽדוּ ׃ 44 וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכָ֛ה נִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה וְהָיָ֥ה לְעֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ ׃ 45 וַיִּקַּ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה ׃ 46 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב לְאֶחָיו֙ לִקְט֣וּ אֲבָנִ֔ים וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ ־ גָ֑ל וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם עַל ־ הַגָּֽל ׃ 47 וַיִּקְרָא ־ ל֣וֹ לָבָ֔ן יְגַ֖ר שָׂהֲדוּתָ֑א וְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב קָ֥רָא ל֖וֹ גַּלְעֵֽד ׃ 48 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן הַגַּ֨ל הַזֶּ֥ה עֵ֛ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם עַל ־ כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא ־ שְׁמ֖וֹ 1 גַּלְעֵֽד ׃ 49 וְהַמִּצְפָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר יִ֥צֶף יְהוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֥י נִסָּתֵ֖ר אִ֥ישׁ מֵרֵעֵֽהוּ ׃ 50 אִם ־ תְּעַנֶּ֣ה אֶת ־ בְּנֹתַ֗י וְאִם ־ תִּקַּ֤ח נָשִׁים֙ עַל ־ בְּנֹתַ֔י אֵ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ עִמָּ֑נוּ רְאֵ֕ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים עֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ ׃ 51 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָבָ֖ן לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ הַמַצֵּבָ֔ה 1 אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרִ֖יתִי בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ ׃ 52 עֵ֚ד הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵדָ֖ה הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה אִם ־ אָ֗נִי לֹֽא ־ אֶֽעֱבֹ֤ר 1 אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת ־ הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְאִם ־ אַ֠תָּה לֹא ־ תַעֲבֹ֨ר אֵלַ֜י אֶת ־ הַגַּ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה וְאֶת ־ הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְרָעָֽה ׃ 53 אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י נָחוֹר֙ יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּפַ֖חַד אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק ׃ 54 וַיִּזְבַּ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֥ב זֶ֙בַח֙ בָּהָ֔ר וַיִּקְרָ֥א לְאֶחָ֖יו לֶאֱכָל ־ לָ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֣אכְלוּ לֶ֔חֶם וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בָּהָֽר ׃

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Notes

Jacob and Laban make peace Introduction : Jacob learning the same testimony of faith and confidence in God as did Abraham and Isaac. Sounds almost like 2 Tim at times. Two tricksters make a covenant of peace. This is the closing of the 'Laban' Russian doll. 1. Jacob sets off to return home, at God's direction (v1-21) v1 cf jealousy at the blessing v3 the LORD said; he turns the events. Again, I will be with you. The blessing which sits at the heart and centre of the physical blessings. v5-13 he testifies. v12 it has been God's doing - the speckled flock v16 faith of wives. Laban had not 'loved' his daughters but 'used' them for his own gain, and they know it. v18 'drove', how a shepherd moves livestock v19 Rachel, an insight. v20 But he tricks Laban. Means/method again. Jacob's faith has grown significantly, yet has further to go. v21 crossing a river; always significant in Biblical stories. Echo of Exodus; mistreatment, divine sending out to a promised land; fleeing, caught up, confrontation, divine protection. Crafty women. 'You of little faith' - how should we understand this? 2. Laban chases Jacob but they end in peace (v22-55) v24 God protecting hill country etc - see map v26 now another confrontation about 'why have you tricked me' v27 a lie. Laban, classic example of pretending to be concerned about one thing, but actually all about selfish gain. cf Christian trojan horses. v29 your (plural) God why are we told the detail about the household gods? Possible link to inheritance. v35 deception again v36-42 Jacob's testimony of suffering and humbling, yet learning the fear of YHWH. v53 the 'fear' of Isaac; why that choice of phrase? v53 Abraham and Nahor, and it appears, Terah? There was a line going back to Noah, as previously recorded for us in Genesis. Make a covenant, recognition of his might. Like Abimelech before with both Abraham and Isaac. S acrifice and eating. Why specify the different Aramean or Hebrew name of the pillar? Two tricksy peoples brought to an agreement of peace. Fear of the LORD - what is it, how is it learned, and illustration. It's a compound noun (cf 'butterfly'), so we can't just study 'fear' and 'LORD' to understand it. Biblical manhood learned by Jacob; cf fear of the LORD. cf Biblical womanhood; in Proverbs 31 the heart of her value is that she's a woman who 'fears the LORD'. NB how fear of the LORD enables Jacob to engage in confrontation (however imperfectly) with Laban. Fear of the LORD is what drives Jacob testimonies to his wives and then to Laban. [cf upcoming Dig Deeper evenings on 'fear' and also 'fear of man'] God's glory: He is with Jacob. Faithful to protect and bless. Patient to bear with Jacob and teach him the Fear of the LORD. FCF : Fear of man; tricksiness. Apparent pretexts, but actual selfish gain - Laban (trojan horses). Fear of man - you have something which I want or need, but I am not sure you'll give it to me. So I trick, fight, manipulate etc. It might be safety, attention, love, affirmation, respect, etc. Mistrust of God's goodness leads to mistreatment of fellow man. The fear of man is a 'snare'. Person of Jesus: Teaches us the fear of the LORD; that He has all we want and need, AND that he will indeed give freely. We can trust and worship him. We see it in his teaching We see it in his actions and miracles Work of Jesus: His death teaches us the fear of the LORD. God loves us this much. His wrath is this holy. His outpoured Spirit guides, controls, comforts us in the fear of YHWH. His cross is the greater 'pillar' showing that peace has been made with tricksy people. Union with Jesus: In Jesus I am learning the fear of the LORD; me fears are replaced with a greater Fear. I am free to love people rather than fear and need them I can walk in the right way, even if that involves healthy conflict Comfort; freedom; courage - from fear of the LORD, in Jesus. Wrap-up: The closing of the Laban Russian doll. Jacob is learning the comfort, freedom, courage of the fear of the LORD.

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