Laban

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.

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.