CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis 31
Chapter 31 of 50
Chapter Overview
What happens in Genesis 31
Jacob secretly leaves Laban and heads back to Canaan with his family and flocks. Laban pursues him but God warns Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob. They confront each other, make a covenant of peace, and part ways. This chapter marks the end of Jacob's twenty years with Laban.
Scripture
Genesis 31
Jacob Decides to Leave
Study note
Jacob notices that Laban's sons resent him and that Laban's attitude toward him has changed. God tells Jacob to go back to his homeland. Jacob calls Rachel and Leah to the fields and explains the situation — he has worked faithfully for Laban, but Laban has cheated him by changing his wages ten times. God has taken Laban's livestock and given them to Jacob. Both wives agree to leave, saying their father has treated them as foreigners and used up the wealth that should have been theirs.
1 Jacob started hearing Laban's sons complain. They said, "Jacob has taken everything our father owned. He built his wealth from what rightfully belonged to our dad." And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
2 Jacob also saw that Laban was giving him cold looks. Laban had a totally different attitude than before. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3 Then the Lord told Jacob, "Head back to your homeland and your family. I will be with you." And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4 Jacob sent a message to Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5 He told them, "I can tell your father isn't treating me the same as before. But the God of my father has been looking out for me." And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 "Both of you know that I've given your father everything I've got — I worked as hard as I possibly could." And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 "But your father has cheated me over and over — changing my pay ten different times. Still, God has never let him hurt me." And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8 "Whenever he said, 'The speckled animals are your pay,' every animal would have speckled babies. When he switched to, 'The striped ones are your pay,' all the animals had striped babies." If 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.
9 "That's how God took your father's livestock and gave them to me." Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10 "During mating season I had a dream. I saw that every male goat in the flock was streaked, speckled, or spotted." And 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.
11 "In the dream, the angel of God called out, 'Jacob!' and I said, 'I'm here.'" And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12 "The angel said, 'Look carefully — every male goat mating with the flock is streaked, speckled, or spotted. I have seen everything Laban has been doing to you.'" And 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.
13 "'I am the God who met you at Bethel, where you poured oil on that stone pillar and made your promise to me. Now pack up and go back to the land where you were born.'" I am the God of Beth-el, 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.
14 Rachel and Leah both said, "We have no share in our father's things anyway." And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15 "He treats us like we're strangers. He sold us off and used up all the money he got for us." Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16 "All this wealth that God took from our father truly belongs to us and our kids. So go ahead — do whatever God told you to do." For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
Jacob Flees from Laban
Study note
Jacob puts his wives and children on camels and takes all his livestock and possessions. He flees while Laban is away shearing sheep. Rachel steals her father's household gods without Jacob knowing. After three days, Laban hears that Jacob has fled and pursues him for seven days, catching up in the hill country of Gilead. But God comes to Laban in a dream and warns him to be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.
17 Jacob loaded up immediately. He put his children and wives on camels Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18 He herded all his livestock ahead of him. He brought all his things too. He had built up much during his time in Paddan Aram. He headed back to his father Isaac in Canaan. And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 Laban was away shearing his sheep. Rachel took her father's household idols in secret. And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
20 On top of that, Jacob slipped away without telling Laban the Aramean he was leaving. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21 He fled with everything he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and made a beeline for the hills of Gilead. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22 Three days went by before Laban found out Jacob was gone. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23 Laban gathered up his relatives and chased after Jacob for seven days. He finally caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24 But that night, God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream. He warned him, "Be careful. Don't say anything threatening to Jacob." And 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.
Laban Confronts Jacob
Study note
Laban catches up and accuses Jacob of sneaking away and stealing his household gods. Jacob, not knowing Rachel took them, invites Laban to search. Rachel hides the gods in her camel's saddle and sits on them, claiming she cannot stand because of her monthly period. Laban finds nothing. Jacob then angrily defends himself, listing his twenty years of faithful service — fourteen years for Laban's two daughters and six years for flocks. He says that if God had not been with him, Laban would have sent him away empty-handed.
25 Laban caught up to Jacob, who had set up camp in the hills. Laban and his men made camp there too. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26 Laban confronted Jacob: "What do you think you're doing? You sneaked away and carried off my daughters like prisoners of war!" And 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?
27 "Why did you run off in secret like that? If you had told me, I would have thrown you a going-away party with music and singing!" Wherefore 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?
28 "You didn't even give me a chance to kiss my grandkids and daughters goodbye! That was a foolish move." And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29 "I have the power to make things very unpleasant for you. But last night the God of your father warned me, 'Don't threaten Jacob in any way.'" It 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.
30 "Okay, fine — I get it, you missed home and wanted to go back. But why on earth did you steal my household gods?" And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31 Jacob explained, "I left secretly because I was scared you'd rip your daughters away from me." And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32 "But about the gods — if you find them on anyone here, that person deserves to die. Search everything I have, right here in front of our relatives. If anything is yours, take it." Jacob had no idea Rachel was the one who had taken them. With 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.
33 Laban searched Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, then the two servants' tents. Nothing. Then he went into Rachel's tent. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
34 Rachel had already stuffed the idols inside her camel's saddle and was sitting right on top of them. Laban dug through everything in the tent but came up empty. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35 Rachel told her father, "Don't be upset that I'm not standing up for you, Father. I'm on my period." So Laban kept looking but never found the gods. And 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.
36 Now Jacob was the one who was furious. He laid into Laban: "What exactly is my crime? What terrible thing did I do that made you chase me down like a criminal?" And 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?
37 "You've gone through everything I own. Did you find a single thing that belongs to you? If so, put it right here in front of both our families and let them be the judges." Whereas 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.
38 "I spent twenty years working for you! Your sheep and goats never lost a single baby under my watch, and I never ate any of your rams." This 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.
39 "When a wild animal killed one of your animals, I didn't bring it to you as an excuse — I covered the loss myself! You charged me for every animal that was stolen, day or night." That 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.
40 "Here's what my life was like: scorching heat during the day, freezing cold at night, and barely any sleep." Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41 "That was my reality for twenty years in your household. Fourteen years working for your two daughters, six years working for your flocks — and you switched up my pay ten times." Thus 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.
42 "If the God of my father — the God of Abraham, the one Isaac respects and fears — hadn't been on my side, you would have sent me away with nothing. But God saw how hard I worked and how much I suffered, and last night he stepped in on my behalf." Except 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.
The Covenant at Mizpah
Study note
Laban proposes a peace agreement. They set up a stone pillar and a heap of stones as a witness. The place is called Mizpah, meaning 'watchtower,' because Laban says, 'May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.' They agree that neither will cross the boundary to harm the other. They share a meal, and the next morning Laban kisses his grandchildren and daughters goodbye and returns home.
43 Laban fired back, "These women are my daughters. These children are my grandchildren. These flocks are from my flocks. Everything here started with me! But what can I do? These are my daughters and their kids." And 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?
44 "So let's make a deal — you and me — and let it stand as a formal agreement between us." Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45 Jacob picked up a stone and stood it on end as a pillar. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46 He told his people, "Start gathering stones." They piled up a heap of rocks, and then everyone sat down to eat a meal beside it. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. Both names mean 'witness heap.' And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban declared, "This pile of rocks is a witness between you and me from this day forward." That's why it was called Galeed. And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49 It was also named Mizpah, because Laban said, "May the Lord keep an eye on both of us when we're far apart from each other." And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50 "Do not mistreat my daughters. Do not marry other women besides them. No one may be watching. But God sees all that happens between us." If 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.
51 Laban said, "See this pile of stones? And see this pillar standing between us?" And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
52 "This pile and this pillar mark a boundary. I promise not to cross past them to come after you, and you promise not to cross past them to come after me. Neither of us will cross this line to do harm." This 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.
53 "Let the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor — the God their father worshiped — be our judge." Jacob swore his oath in the name of the God his father Isaac deeply respected. The 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.
54 Jacob offered a sacrifice on the hilltop and invited everyone to share a meal. They ate together and spent the night there. Then 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.
55 The next morning, Laban got up early, kissed his daughters and grandchildren, and blessed them all. Then he headed home. And 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Genesis 31
God's call to return homeLeaving the familiar behindConfrontation and resolutionGod's protection on the journeyLetting go of the past
Apply This Today
Living Genesis 31
Jacob spent twenty years away from home, but God called Him back to face what He had been avoiding. Sometimes growth requires returning to unresolved situations. Trust God to protect you as you face what you have been running from.
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