Genesis 31:1-29 ▼

1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4 So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

5 and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength.

7 And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.

8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

9 Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

10 When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

14 And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

15 Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

16 Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

18 and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

19 Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

21 So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

22 On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.

23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25 Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.

26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

29 I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’