Genesis / Jacob Flees from Laban

Jacob Flees from Laban

Genesis 31:1-21

Chapter 31

¹ He heard the words of Laban's sons saying, "Jacob has taken all that belongs to our father, and from what belongs to our father he has made all this glory." ² And Jacob saw the face of Laban, and behold, it was not with him as it was yesterday and three days ago. ³ And the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with you." ⁴ Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was. ⁵ He said to them, "I have observed your father's face, and it is not toward me as it was yesterday and the day before, but the God of my father has been with me." ⁶ And you—you know that with all my strength I served your father. ⁷ And your father deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not grant harm to me. ⁸ If he says, "Speckled shall be your reward," then all the flock gives birth to speckled; and if he says, "Striped shall be your reward," then all the flock gives birth to striped. ⁹ God has taken away your father's livestock and given it to me. ¹⁰ And it was at the time the flock was breeding, and I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the he-goats mounting the flock were banded, speckled, and striped. ¹¹ And the angel of God said to me in a dream, "Jacob!" And I said, "Here I am!" ¹² He said, "Lift up your eyes now and see: all the designated ones going up on the flock of sheep—striped, speckled, and spotted—because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you." ¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land, and return to the land of your birthplace. ¹⁴ Rachel and Leah answered him, "Do we still have a portion and an inheritance in our father's house?" ¹⁵ Are we not reckoned to him as foreign women? For he sold us and he ate—also eating—our silver. ¹⁶ For all the wealth that God has rescued from our father is for us and for our sons. Now, all that God has said to you, do. ¹⁷ Jacob arose and carried his sons and his wives on the camels. ¹⁸ He drove all his livestock and all his acquired property which he had acquired, livestock of his acquisitions which he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to come to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. ¹⁹ Laban went to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's teraphim. ²⁰ Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he had fled. ²¹ He fled—he and all that was his—and he arose, crossed the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.