Jacob

25After Rachel had Joseph, Jacob spoke to Laban. He said, "Send me away. I want to go to my own place and my own country.

And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

NoteJacob had left his home far away and come to live with Laban, his uncle. Now he wants to go back.

26Give me my wives and my children. I worked for you to get them. Then let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you."

Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

NoteJacob had worked for Laban for fourteen years to marry Leah and Rachel. That work was the price for them.

27Laban said to him, "Please stay, if you are pleased with me. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you."

And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

NoteDivination means trying to learn secret things by magic or by watching for signs. Laban did this to find out why he was doing so well.

28He said, "Tell me what pay you want. I will give it to you."

And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

29Jacob said to him, "You know how I have worked for you. You know how your animals have done while I cared for them.

And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

NoteIn those days sheep and goats were like money. The more animals you had, the richer you were.

30You had only a little before I came. Now you have very much. The LORD has blessed you since I came. When can I take care of my own family too?"

For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

31Laban said, "What shall I give you?" Jacob said, "Do not give me anything. Just do this one thing for me. Then I will keep feeding and caring for your flock.

And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

32Let me walk through your whole flock today. I will take out every sheep with spots or speckles. I will take every brown sheep. I will take every goat with spots or speckles. Those animals will be my pay.

I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

NoteMost sheep back then were white, and most goats were dark. Spotted and speckled ones were less common. So Jacob was asking for the unusual animals as his pay.

33Later you can come and check my pay. Then you will see that I have been honest. Say I have a goat without spots or speckles. Or say I have a sheep that is not brown. Then it will count as stolen."

So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

NoteJacob is setting up a simple test. If a plain animal shows up in his flock, everyone will know he took it.

34Laban said, "Good. Let it be just as you have said."

And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

35That same day Laban took out the male goats with streaks and spots. He took the female goats with speckles and spots. He took every goat with any white on it. He also took every brown sheep. He gave them to his sons to care for.

And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

NoteLaban moved all the spotted animals far away. That way they could not have spotted babies in Jacob's flock.

36He put three days of travel between himself and Jacob. Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flocks.

And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

NoteThree days of travel means as far as a person could walk in three days. It kept the two flocks from mixing.

37Jacob took fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He peeled strips of bark off them. That made white stripes show on the branches.

And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

NotePoplar, almond, and plane are kinds of trees. Bark is the outer skin of a branch. Peeling it off shows white wood underneath.

38He put the peeled branches in the water troughs in front of the flocks. The animals came there to drink. The flocks came into heat when they came to drink.

And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

NoteA trough is a long open box that holds water for animals to drink. "Came into heat" means the animals were ready to mate and have young.

39The flocks mated in front of the branches. Their young had streaks and speckles and spots.

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

NoteBack then people believed that what animals looked at could change how their babies looked.

40Jacob set the lambs apart. He turned the flocks to face the streaked and brown animals in Laban's flock. He kept his own animals by themselves. He did not put them with Laban's animals.

And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.

41Whenever the stronger animals were ready to mate, Jacob laid the branches in the troughs. He put them where the animals could see them. Then they mated near the branches.

And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

42But when the animals were weak, he did not put the branches there. So the weaker animals were Laban's. The stronger ones were Jacob's.

But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

43So Jacob grew very rich. He had many animals, servant women and servant men, camels and donkeys.

And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

NoteCamels and donkeys carried people and heavy loads. Having many animals and many servants meant you were rich.

1Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying. "Jacob has taken everything our father had. All this wealth of his came from what was our father's."

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.

NoteLaban was Jacob's uncle. He was also the father of Jacob's two wives.

2Jacob looked at Laban's face. Laban did not look at him the kind way he had before.

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

3The LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers, and to 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.

NoteLORD in capital letters stands for God's own name. Jacob's family used that name for God.

4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He called them out to the field where his flock was.

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

5He said to them, "I see your father's face. He does not look at me the way he did before. But the God of my father has been with 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.

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

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

7Your father has tricked me. He has changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him hurt me.

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

NoteJacob's pay was not money. Laban paid him with animals from the flock.

8When he said, 'The spotted ones will be your pay,' all the flock had spotted babies. When he said, 'The striped ones will be your pay,' all the flock 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.

NoteMost sheep and goats are one plain color. Spotted and striped ones are rarer. Laban thought Jacob would end up with very few.

9In this way God has taken your father's animals and given them to me.

Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10When the animals were mating, I looked up and saw something in a dream. The male goats mating with the flock were striped and spotted and speckled.

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.

NoteWhen animals mate, they make babies together.

11In the dream the angel of God spoke to me. He said, 'Jacob.' I said, 'Here I am.'

And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

12He said, 'Look up and see. All the males mating with the flock are striped and spotted and speckled. I have seen everything Laban is 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.

13I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a stone pillar. That is where you made a promise to me. Now get up. Leave this land and go back to the land of your family.'"

I am the God of Bethel, 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.

NoteBethel was a place where Jacob once slept and dreamed about God. He poured oil on a stone there to show the spot was special.

14Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any share left for us in our father's house? Will we get anything he owns?

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

NoteLong ago a father left his things to his children. Rachel and Leah say they will get nothing from theirs.

15Does he not treat us like strangers? He sold us. He has also used up all the money paid for us.

Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

NoteBack then a man gave gifts to his bride's father. Jacob paid with many years of work. Laban kept it all for himself.

16All the riches God took from our father belong to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you."

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.

17Then Jacob got up. He put his sons and his wives on camels.

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

NoteCamels are big animals that carry people and bags. They can walk a long way in dry land.

18He took away all his animals and everything he owned. He had gotten it all in Padanaram. He set out for the land of Canaan, to go to his father Isaac.

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 Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

NotePadanaram was the faraway land where Laban lived. Canaan was the land Jacob's family came from.

19Laban had gone to cut the wool off his sheep. Rachel had stolen the little statues of gods that belonged to her father.

And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

NoteSheep grow thick wool. Once a year people cut it off to make cloth. It took many days of work. The little statues were small gods people kept at home. Some people thought they brought good luck. Some thought they showed who owned the family land.

20Jacob also tricked Laban the Syrian. He did not tell him that he was running away.

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

NoteLaban lived in a land far to the north. The King James calls him "the Syrian" because of that.

21So he ran away with everything he had. He got up and crossed the river. He headed toward 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.

NoteThe river was the Euphrates, a very wide river. Gilead was a hilly place many days away.

22Three days later, someone told Laban that Jacob had run away.

And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

23Laban took his relatives with him. He chased Jacob for seven days. They caught up with him in the hills of Gilead.

And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24That night God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream. God said, "Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad."

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.

25Then Laban caught up with Jacob. Jacob had put up his tent in the hills. Laban and his relatives camped in the hills of Gilead 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.

26Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You tricked me and slipped away. You carried off my daughters like prisoners taken in 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?

NotePrisoners are people carried off by soldiers after a fight. Laban is saying Jacob treated the women that way.

27Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn't you tell me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with drums and harps.

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?

NoteDrums and harps were for a happy goodbye party. Laban says he never got the chance.

28You did not even let me kiss my sons and my daughters goodbye. What you have done was foolish.

And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

NoteThese were really Laban's grandchildren. Back then people often said "sons" for grandsons too.

29I have the power to hurt you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, good or bad.'

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.

30Now you have gone away, because you missed your father's house so much. But why did you steal my 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?

31Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you might take your daughters away from me by force.

And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32If you find your gods with anyone here, that person must not live. Look in front of our relatives. If anything here is yours, take it." Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen 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.

NoteJacob was sure nobody had taken them. So he promised a very hard punishment.

33Laban went into Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, then the tents of the two servant women. He did not find them. Then he came out of Leah's tent and 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.

34Rachel had taken the little statues. She had put them inside her camel's saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent, but he did not find them.

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.

NoteA camel saddle is a big padded seat. It sits on the camel's back and holds bags.

35She said to her father, "Sir, please do not be upset with me. I cannot stand up in front of you. I am having my monthly bleeding." He searched, but he did not find the statues.

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.

NoteGrown women bleed a few days each month. Back then people did not touch the place such a woman sat. So Laban did not look under her.

36Jacob was angry. He argued with Laban. Jacob said to him, "What wrong have I done? What is my sin? Why have you chased me so hard?

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?

37You have searched all my things. Did you find anything of yours? Put it here in front of my relatives and yours. Let them decide between us.

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.

38I have been with you these twenty years. Your sheep and goats never lost their babies. I never ate the rams from your flock.

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.

NoteA ram is a grown male sheep. The rams belonged to Laban, not to Jacob.

39When wild animals killed one, I did not bring it to you. I paid for that loss myself. You made me pay for any animal stolen by day or by 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.

NoteA shepherd could usually show the dead animal and pay nothing. Laban made Jacob pay every time.

40This is how it was for me. The heat burned me by day. The cold froze me by night. Sleep would not come to my eyes.

Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

41I have been in your house these twenty years. I worked fourteen years for your two daughters. I worked six years for your animals. And you changed 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.

NoteJacob had no money for a wedding gift. So he worked for Laban instead, year after year.

42The God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, was with me. If he had not been, you would have sent me away with nothing. God saw my hard days and my hard work. Last night he told you that you were wrong."

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.

Note"The Fear of Isaac" was a name for God. Isaac's family used it. It meant the God that Isaac honored.

43Laban answered Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters. These children are my children. These animals are my animals. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today for my daughters, or for the children they have had?

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?

44So come, let you and me make an agreement, a solemn promise. Let it stand as a witness 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.

NoteA witness is someone who sees a promise being made. Later that person can tell what happened. Here a pile of stones stands in for a witness.

45So Jacob took a stone and stood it up as a pillar.

And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

NoteA pillar is a tall stone stood up on end. People used one to mark an important spot.

46Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." They took stones and made a pile. Then they ate a meal there beside the pile.

And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

NoteEating a meal together sealed the promise. It showed the two men were at peace.

47Laban called it Jegarsahadutha. Jacob called it Galeed.

And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

NoteBoth names mean "pile of witness." Laban and Jacob spoke different languages. Each one said it his own way.

48Laban said, "This pile is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was named Galeed.

And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;

49It was also called Mizpah. Laban said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are apart.

And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

NoteMizpah means "lookout place." It is a spot where someone watches.

50If you hurt my daughters, or if you marry other wives besides them, no one else is here with us. But look, God is a witness between you and me."

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.

NoteNo other person was there to check on Jacob. So Laban says God will be the one watching.

51Laban said to Jacob, "Look at this pile. Look at this pillar I have set up between you and me.

And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:

52This pile is a witness. This pillar is a witness. I will not go past this pile to hurt you. You will not go past this pile and this pillar to hurt me.

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.

53May the God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." And Jacob made a solemn promise by the Fear of his father Isaac.

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.

NoteNahor was Abraham's brother. He was Laban's grandfather.

54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.

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.

NoteA sacrifice was an animal given to God as a gift. Then the people ate a meal together. "Eat bread" just means to eat a meal.

55Early in the morning Laban got up. He kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and went back to his own place.

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.

1Jacob went on his way. The angels of God met him.

And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

NoteAngels are messengers God sends. Here they meet Jacob on the road.

2When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." So he named that place Mahanaim.

And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

NoteMahanaim means "two camps" in Jacob's language. Jacob had his own camp, and he had just seen God's.

3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

NoteLong ago Jacob tricked Esau and took what belonged to him. Esau was so angry that Jacob ran away. They have not seen each other in many years.

4Jacob told them what to say. "Say this to my master Esau: Your servant Jacob says, I have been living with Laban. I have stayed there until now.

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

NoteJacob calls Esau "my master" and calls himself "your servant." That was a polite way to talk to someone you hoped would forgive you.

5I have oxen and donkeys and flocks. I have men and women who work for me. I sent this word to my master, hoping you will be kind to me."

And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

NoteIn those days, animals and workers were how people counted their money. Jacob is saying he is not coming home poor.

6The messengers came back to Jacob. They said, "We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you. Four hundred men are with him."

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

NoteFour hundred men is like a small army. That is why Jacob is so scared in the next verse.

7Then Jacob was very afraid and troubled. He split the people with him into two groups. He split the flocks, the herds, and the camels too.

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

NoteA flock means sheep and goats. A herd means cattle. Camels are big animals that carry loads across dry land.

8He said, "If Esau comes to one group and attacks it, the other group can get away."

And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

9Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac. LORD, you told me, 'Go back to your country and to your family, and I will be good to you.'

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

NoteAbraham was Jacob's grandfather. Isaac was his father. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

10You have been kind and true to me, your servant. I am not good enough for even the smallest of it. I crossed this Jordan river with only my walking stick. Now I have become two groups.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

NoteThe Jordan is a river. Jacob had crossed it years before with nothing but a stick to walk with.

11Please save me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. I am afraid of him. He may come and attack me, and the mothers with the children.

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

Note"From the hand of" means from someone's power. Jacob is asking God to keep him safe.

12You said, 'I will surely do you good. I will make your family like the sand of the sea. It is too much to count.'"

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

NoteSand on a beach is too much to count. God promised Jacob that many, many children and grandchildren.

13Jacob stayed there that same night. From what he had with him, he picked out a gift for his brother Esau.

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

NoteThis gift is not just a present. Jacob hopes it will show Esau he is sorry.

14He chose two hundred female goats and twenty male goats. He chose two hundred female sheep and twenty male sheep.

Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

NoteA female sheep is called a ewe. A male sheep is called a ram.

15He chose thirty mother camels with their young, forty cows, and ten bulls. He also chose twenty female donkeys and ten young donkeys.

Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

NoteMother camels give milk that people drink. Altogether Jacob is sending more than five hundred animals. That is a huge gift.

16He handed them to his servants, each herd kept by itself. He said, "Go on ahead of me. Leave space between one herd and the next."

And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

NoteJacob sends the animals in small groups, one after another. Each new group would surprise Esau again.

17He told the servant in front what to do. "My brother Esau will meet you. He will ask, 'Whose servant are you? Where are you going? Whose animals are these ahead of you?'

And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

18Then you must say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my master Esau. And look, Jacob is behind us.'"

Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

19He told the second servant and the third the same thing. He told all the servants walking behind the herds, "Say this to Esau when you find him."

And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

20"Say also, 'Look, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" Jacob thought, "The gift going ahead of me will calm him down. After that I will see his face. Maybe he will accept me."

And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

Note"Accept me" means welcome me back instead of staying angry.

21So the gift went over ahead of him. Jacob himself stayed that night with the camp.

So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

22He got up that night. He took his two wives, his two servant women, and his eleven sons. They crossed the Jabbok river at a shallow place.

And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

NoteThe Jabbok is a river. A shallow place is where the water is low enough to walk across.

23He took them and sent them over the stream. He sent over everything he had.

And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

24Jacob was left all alone. A man wrestled with him until the day began to break.

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

NoteWrestling is a kind of fight where two people grip and push each other. "The day began to break" means the sky was getting light.

25The man saw that he could not win against Jacob. He touched the socket of Jacob's hip. Jacob's hip came out of joint as they wrestled.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

NoteThe hip socket is the joint where your leg fits into your hip. When it comes out of joint, it slips out of place and hurts a lot.

26The man said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

NoteTo bless someone is to ask God to give them good things.

27The man said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob."

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28The man said, "Your name will not be Jacob anymore. It will be Israel. You have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won."

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

NoteThe name Jacob sounded like "he grabs the heel," a name for someone who tricks people. Israel sounds like "he wrestles with God." Later the whole family was called Israel after him.

29Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." The man said, "Why do you ask my name?" And he blessed Jacob there.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

30Jacob named the place Peniel. He said, "I have seen God face to face, and I am still alive."

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

NotePeniel means "the face of God." People believed that seeing God would be too much for a person to live through.

31The sun rose on him as he passed Penuel. He was limping because of his hip.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

NotePenuel is the same place as Peniel. The name was said two slightly different ways.

32So the people of Israel do not eat the tendon at the hip socket, even today. That is because the man touched Jacob's hip there, at that tendon.

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

NoteA tendon is a tough cord inside you that joins muscle to bone. Jacob's family later chose never to eat that part, to remember this night.

1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming. Four hundred men were with him. Jacob split the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servant women.

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

NoteEsau was Jacob's twin brother. Years before, Jacob had tricked him and then run away. Jacob had not seen him since. That is why four hundred men coming felt scary.

2He put the servant women and their children in front. Leah and her children came next. Rachel and Joseph came last.

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

NoteThe servant women were Bilhah and Zilpah. They worked for Rachel and Leah. Jacob had children with all four women.

3Jacob went on ahead of them. He bowed down to the ground seven times as he came near his brother.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

NoteBowing to the ground meant kneeling and touching your head to the dirt. People did this to show great respect. Doing it seven times showed the most respect of all.

4Esau ran to meet him. He hugged him and put his arms around his neck and kissed him. They both cried.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5Esau looked up and saw the women and the children. He asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "These are the children God has kindly given me, your servant."

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

NoteJacob calls himself "your servant" on purpose. Long ago that was a polite way to talk to someone important.

6Then the servant women came near with their children, and they bowed down.

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

7Leah came near with her children too, and they bowed down. After that Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8Esau asked, "What did you mean by all those animals I met?" Jacob said, "They are so you will be pleased with me, my lord."

And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

Note"My lord" was a polite name for someone important. Jacob had sent big groups of animals ahead as a present for Esau.

9Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you."

And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

10Jacob said, "No, please. If you are pleased with me, then take my gift. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, and you have welcomed me."

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11"Please take the gift I brought you. God has been kind to me, and I have all I need." Jacob kept asking him, and Esau took it.

Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

12Esau said, "Let us start out and go. I will go in front of you."

And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

13Jacob said to him, "My lord, you know the children are little. And my sheep and cows are feeding their babies. If they are pushed hard for even one day, all the flock will die."

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

NoteBaby animals cannot walk fast or far. Their mothers stay near them to feed them. Pushing them to hurry would hurt them.

14"Please, my lord, go on ahead of me, your servant. I will come slowly. I will go only as fast as the animals and the children can go. I will meet you, my lord, at Seir."

Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

NoteSeir was the hilly land where Esau lived. It was south of where Jacob was traveling.

15Esau said, "Let me leave some of my men with you." Jacob said, "Why do that? Just be pleased with me, my lord."

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

16So that day Esau went back on his way to Seir.

So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

17Jacob traveled to Succoth. He built a house there. He made shelters for his animals. That is why the place is called Succoth.

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

NoteSuccoth means "shelters" in the language Jacob spoke. He named the place after the shelters he built there.

18Jacob came safely to Shechem, a city in the land of Canaan. He had come from Paddan-aram. He set up his tent outside the city.

And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

NotePaddan-aram was far away, where Jacob's uncle Laban lived. Jacob had worked there for twenty years. Canaan was the land where he grew up.

19He bought the piece of land where he had set up his tent. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitah.

And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

NoteA kesitah was a piece of silver used as money long ago. Nobody today knows exactly how much one was worth.

20There he set up an altar. He called it El-Elohe-Israel.

And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.

NoteAn altar was a pile of stones built for giving gifts to God. El-Elohe-Israel means "God is the God of Israel." Israel was the new name God had given Jacob.

1Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. She went out to see the young women of that land.

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

NoteJacob's family were shepherds who moved from place to place. They were living near a city that was not their home. The young women there were strangers to Dinah.

2Shechem was the son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that land. Shechem saw Dinah. He took her and forced her to lie with him. He shamed her.

And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

NoteA Hivite was one of the groups of people living in that land. Shechem's father was the ruler, so his family was powerful. "He shamed her" means he hurt her and took her against her will.

3His heart was tied to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He loved the girl, and he spoke kindly to her.

And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

Note"His heart was tied to Dinah" means he could not stop thinking about her. The King James says his soul "clave" unto her, which means stuck fast.

4Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl to be my wife."

And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

NoteLong ago a father often arranged a marriage for his son. The son would ask, and the father would speak to the girl's family.

5Jacob heard that Shechem had shamed his daughter Dinah. His sons were out in the fields with his animals. Jacob stayed quiet until they came home.

And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

NoteJacob's sons were far away caring for the sheep and goats. That work often kept them out in the fields for days.

6Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out to talk with Jacob.

And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

7Jacob's sons heard about it and came in from the fields. They were full of sadness, and they were very angry. Shechem had done a shameful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter. Such a thing should not be done.

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

NoteIsrael was another name God gave to Jacob. Here it means Jacob and his whole family.

8Hamor talked with them. He said, "My son Shechem wants your daughter very much. Please give her to him as his wife.

And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.

9Marry among us. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves.

And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

NoteMarrying into another group meant joining the two families together. After that, they would live as one people and share everything.

10You may live with us. The land is open to you. Live here, trade here, and get land of your own."

And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

NoteTo trade means to buy and sell things with people. Hamor was offering them land and a place in his town.

11Shechem said to Dinah's father and to her brothers, "Please be kind to me. Whatever you ask me for, I will give it.

And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

12Ask me for a large bride price and a large gift. I will give what you say. Only give me the girl as my wife."

Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

NoteA bride price was a gift given to a bride's family. The man gave it before the wedding to show he was serious.

13Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with a trick. They spoke this way because Shechem had shamed their sister Dinah.

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

14They said to them, "We cannot do this. We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a shame to us.

And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

NoteCircumcised means a little bit of skin was cut off a boy. God had told Abraham to do this to every boy in his family. It was a sign that they belonged to God.

15We will agree to you on one thing only. Every man among you must be circumcised, as we are.

But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

16Then we will give you our daughters, and we will take your daughters for ourselves. We will live with you and become one people.

Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

Note"Become one people" means the two groups would join into one. They would marry each other and live in the same town.

17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, we will take our sister and go."

But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.

18Their words seemed good to Hamor and to Hamor's son Shechem.

And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.

19The young man did not wait to do it. He was delighted with Jacob's daughter. He was the most respected man in all his father's house.

And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.

Note"Most respected" means people thought well of him and listened to him. He was the important one in his father's house.

20Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city. They talked with the men of their city. They said,

And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

NoteThe gate of a city was where the men met to talk. Important choices for the whole town were made there.

21"These men are peaceful with us. Let them live in the land and trade in it. Look, the land is big enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters.

These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

22But the men will agree to live with us and be one people on one thing only. Every man among us must be circumcised, as they are.

Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

23Will not their animals and their goods and all their beasts be ours? Let us just agree with them. Then they will live with us."

Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

NoteThe men of the city were thinking about getting rich. If Jacob's family joined them, their animals would belong to everyone.

24All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

25On the third day the men were sore. Two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, were Dinah's brothers. Each one took his sword. They walked into the city boldly and killed every male.

And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

NoteAfter being circumcised, men were sore and slow for several days. On the third day the hurt was worst, so they could not fight back.

26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword. They took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went out.

And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.

27Jacob's sons came upon the dead men and took everything from the city. They did this because their sister had been shamed.

The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

NoteAfter a fight, winners often took everything the town owned. That was a common thing in those days.

28They took the sheep, the cows, and the donkeys. They took what was in the city and what was in the fields.

They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

29They took all the riches. They took all the little children and the wives as captives. They took everything that was in the houses.

And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

NoteCaptives are people who are taken away by force. They had to go live and work with the people who took them.

30Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me. Now the people of this land hate me. They are the Canaanites and the Perizzites. We are only a few. They may join together against me and kill me. Then I and my whole family will be destroyed."

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

NoteThe King James says Jacob was made to "stink" among the people. It means everyone around him now hated him. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were other groups living in that land.

31They said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"

And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

NoteA prostitute was a woman men paid to use for a night. The brothers meant Shechem had treated their sister as worth nothing.