Study Desk

But Jacob became upset with Rachel and answered, "Don't blame me! I'm not God."

but Leah said, "It's bad enough that you stole my husband! Now you want my son's love flowers too." "All right," Rachel answered. "Let me have the flowers, and you can sleep with Jacob tonight."

But Laban told him, "If you really are my friend, stay on, and I'll pay whatever you ask. I'm sure the Lord has blessed me because of you."

You didn't have much before I came, but the Lord has blessed everything I have ever done for you. Now it's time for me to start looking out for my own family.

But he would not put out the branches when the weaker animals were mating. So Jacob got all of the healthy animals, and Laban got what was left.

and he told them: Your father isn't as friendly with me as he used to be, but the God my ancestors worshiped has been on my side.

and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me.

But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, "Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise."

I could easily hurt you, but the God your father worshiped has warned me not to make any threats or promises.

I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?

Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, and the two servant women, but did not find the idols. Then he started for Rachel's tent.

Rachel said, "Father, please don't be angry with me for not getting up; I am having my period." Laban kept on searching, but still did not find the idols.

If the fearsome God worshiped by Abraham and my father Isaac had not been on my side, you would have sent me away without a thing. But God saw my hard work, and he knew the trouble I was in, so he helped me. Then last night he told you how wrong you were.

Laban said to Jacob, "Leah and Rachel are my daughters, and their children belong to me. All these sheep you are taking are really mine too. In fact, everything you have belongs to me. But there is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children.

Laban named the pile of rocks Jegar Sahadutha. But Jacob named it Galeed.

Then Laban said: If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women, I may not know about it, but remember, God is watching us!

I don't deserve all the good things you have done for me, your servant. When I first crossed the Jordan, I had only my walking stick, but now I have two large groups of people and animals.

Please rescue me from my brother. I am afraid he will come and attack not only me, but my wives and children as well.

But you have promised that I would be a success and that someday it will be as hard to count my descendants as it is to count the stars in the sky.

Jacob's men took the gifts on ahead of him, but he spent the night in camp.