Jacob Flees from Laban 1 UDB One day, someone told Jacob that Laban's sons were complaining and saying, "Jacob has become very rich by taking everything that belonged to our father." BSB BSB: 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 UDB Jacob noticed that Laban was not acting friendly toward him as he had done before. BSB BSB: And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
3 UDB Then Yahweh said to Jacob, "Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will help you there." BSB BSB: 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 UDB So Jacob sent a message to Rachel and Leah, telling them to come out to the pastures where his flocks of sheep and goats were. BSB BSB: So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,
5 UDB When they arrived, he said to them, "I see that your father does not act friendly toward me as he did previously. But God, whom my father worshiped, has helped me. BSB BSB: 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 UDB You two know that I have worked very hard for your father. BSB BSB: You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7 UDB He has cheated me many times by decreasing my wages. But God has not allowed him to do me physical harm. BSB BSB: And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8 UDB When Laban said, 'The speckled animals are the ones that I will give you to be your wages,' then all the animals gave birth to young ones that were speckled. When he changed his mind and said, 'The ones that have black and white stripes on them will be your wages,' then all the animals gave birth to young ones that were striped. BSB BSB: 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 UDB In that way, God has taken away the livestock that belonged to your father and has given them to me. BSB BSB: Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
10 UDB One time, when the animals were mating, I had a dream. In my dream I looked up and was surprised to see that some of the male goats that were mating with the female goats had black and white stripes on them, some were speckled, and some were spotted. BSB BSB: When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.
11 UDB In the dream, an angel who came from God said to me, 'Jacob!' I replied, 'I am here!' BSB BSB: In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’
12 UDB He said to me, 'Look up and you will see that all the male goats that are mating have black and white stripes on them, or are speckled or spotted. This is happening because I have seen all that Laban has done to you. BSB BSB: ‘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 UDB I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, where you set up a stone, poured olive oil on it and made a solemn promise to me. So now leave this land immediately and return to the land where you were born.'" BSB BSB: 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 UDB Rachel and Leah replied to him, "Our father will not give us anything more when he dies. BSB BSB: And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
15 UDB He treats us as though we were foreigners! The work that you did for him all these years was a payment that you gave him for us, but we will not inherit any of the wealth you produced for him. He has spent it all! BSB BSB: 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 UDB Certainly all of the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you to do!" BSB BSB: 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 UDB Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels. BSB BSB: Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
18 UDB He drove all his livestock just ahead of him as they went. He also took along all the other property and goods that he added to his own possessions while living in Paddan Aram. This is how they began their journey back to his father Isaac, who lived in the land of Canaan. BSB BSB: 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 UDB Now Laban had left to go shear his sheep. In his absence, Rachel stole the small wooden idols that were in her father's tent. BSB BSB: Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
20 UDB Furthermore, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that they were planning to leave. BSB BSB: Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.
21 UDB So Jacob and his family fled with all their possessions. They crossed the Euphrates River and then started traveling south toward the hill country of the region of Gilead. BSB BSB: So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob 22 UDB On the third day after they left, someone told Laban that Jacob and his family were gone. BSB BSB: On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
23 UDB So he took some of his relatives with him and started to pursue Jacob. They walked for seven days and they caught up with him in hill country of the region of Gilead. BSB BSB: So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
24 UDB Then God appeared to Laban in a dream at night. He said to him, "When you catch up to Jacob, be very careful what you say to him." BSB BSB: 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 UDB The next day, by the time Laban caught up with Jacob, Jacob and his household had set up their tents in the hills of Gilead. So Laban and his relatives set up their tents there too. BSB BSB: 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 UDB Then Laban went to Jacob and said to him, "Why have you done this? You have deceived me by carrying away my daughters as though you had captured them in a war! BSB BSB: Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
27 UDB Why did you run away and deceive me? Why did you not tell me that you were going to leave, so that we could have rejoiced and sung while people played music on tambourines and harps before I said 'goodbye' to you? BSB BSB: 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 UDB You did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye before they left! What you have done was foolish! BSB BSB: But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
29 UDB My relatives and I have the power to harm you, but last night the God whom your father worships said to me in a dream, 'Be very careful what you say to Jacob.' BSB BSB: 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.’
30 UDB Now I know you have left because you want to go back home. But why did you steal my idols?" BSB BSB: Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
31 UDB Jacob replied to Laban, "I did not tell you that we were planning to leave, because I was afraid that you would take your daughters away from me by force. BSB BSB: “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 UDB But if you find anyone here who has your idols, we will execute that person. While our relatives are watching, search for yourself to see if there is anything that belongs to you that is here with me. If you find anything, you can take it!" When Jacob said that, he did not know that Rachel had already stolen her father's idols. BSB BSB: If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33 UDB Then Laban went into Jacob's tent, next into Leah's tent, and then into the tent of the two female slaves and searched for the idols, but he did not find them. After he left their tents, he entered Rachel's tent. BSB BSB: So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
34 UDB But Rachel had previously taken the idols and put them in the saddle of a camel, and she was sitting on the saddle. So when Laban searched all over for them inside Rachel's tent, he did not find them. BSB BSB: Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.
35 UDB Rachel said to her father, "Do not be angry with me, sir, but I cannot stand up in your presence to show respect for you, because I am having my menstrual period." So even after searching more, Laban did not find his idols. BSB BSB: Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.
36 UDB Then Jacob became angry. He said to Laban, "What crime did I commit? For what sin have you pursued me? BSB BSB: Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
37 UDB Now you have searched through all my possessions, and you have found nothing that belongs to you! If you have found anything, put it here in front of my relatives and your relatives, so that they can decide who is right, you or me! BSB BSB: You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
38 UDB I was with you for twenty years. In all that time, your sheep and goats have not miscarried. I have not killed and eaten any rams from your flocks. BSB BSB: I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.
39 UDB When one of your animals was attacked and mauled by a wild animal, I did not bring it to you. I replaced the dead animal with a living one of my own animals. Whenever one of your animals was stolen, during the day or during the night, you demanded that I replace it with one of my own animals. BSB BSB: I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.
40 UDB I suffered from the heat during the day and from the cold at night. I was often not even able to sleep! BSB BSB: As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41 UDB I lived in your household for twenty years. I worked for you for fourteen years to marry your two daughters, and for six more years to buy some of your sheep and goats. During that time, you changed and reduced my wages ten times. BSB BSB: Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!
42 UDB If God, the one whom my grandfather Abraham worshiped and before whom my father Isaac trembled in fear, had not been with me and helped me, you would have sent me away with nothing in my hands! But God saw how much I was suffering and how hard I was working, so last night he told you that what you have done to me was wrong." BSB BSB: If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
Jacob’s Covenant with Laban 43 UDB Laban replied, "These two women are my daughters, and their children are my grandchildren, and the animals are my animals. Everything you see here is mine! BSB BSB: But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?
44 UDB I cannot do anything in order to keep them, so we should make a peace agreement, you and I. It will serve as a witness between you and me." BSB BSB: Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
45 UDB So Jacob took a large stone and set it on its end. BSB BSB: So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
46 UDB Then Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather some stones." So they gathered some rocks and put them in a heap, and they ate some food there near the heap. BSB BSB: and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.
47 UDB Laban gave the heap the Aramaic name Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob gave the heap the Hebrew name Galeed. BSB BSB: Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48 UDB Laban said to Jacob, "This pile of rocks we have put here today will help us to remember our agreement." That is why Jacob called it Galeed. BSB BSB: Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.
49 UDB They also named the place Mizpah, which sounds like the Hebrew word that means "watchtower," because Laban said, "We will ask Yahweh to watch you and me while we are separated from each other, so that we do not try to harm each other. BSB BSB: It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
50 UDB If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take other women to be your wives, even if no one tells me about it, do not forget that God sees what you and I are doing!" BSB BSB: If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51 UDB Laban also said to Jacob, "You see this large stone and this pile of rocks that we have set up to be between us. BSB BSB: Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.
52 UDB Both this pile of rocks and this large stone will remind us, that I will not go past these rocks to harm you and you will not go past these rocks to harm me. BSB BSB: This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.
53 UDB May the God whom Abraham worshiped, and the god that Nahor worshiped, and the gods their ancestor Terah worshiped punish either one of us, if one of us harms the other." Jacob solemnly promised by the God whom his father Isaac feared to do what they said in their peace agreement. BSB BSB: May the 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.
54 UDB He offered a sacrifice to God there in the hill country, and he invited his relatives to eat with him. After they had eaten, they slept there that night. BSB BSB: Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
55 UDB The next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters, and he asked God to bless them. Then Laban and his men left and returned home. BSB BSB: Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.