Study Desk

You know how hard I've worked for you, so let me take my wives and children and leave."

Jacob answered: You've seen how hard I've worked for you, and you know how your flocks and herds have grown under my care.

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.

Some of the sheep that Jacob was keeping for Laban were already spotted. And when the others were ready to mate, he made sure that they faced in the direction of the spotted and black ones. In this way, Jacob built up a flock of sheep for himself and did not put them with the other sheep.

Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the field where he kept his sheep,

You know that I have worked hard for your father

Rachel and Leah said to Jacob: There's nothing left for us to inherit from our father.

for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Jacob took all of the flocks, herds, and other property that he had gotten in northern Syria.

When Jacob crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead, he took with him everything he owned.

So he took some of his relatives along and chased after Jacob for seven days, before catching up with him in the hill country of Gilead.

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.

In all the twenty years that I've worked for you, not one of your sheep or goats has had a miscarriage, and I've never eaten even one of your rams.

If a wild animal killed one of your sheep or goats, I paid for it myself. In fact, you demanded the full price, whether the animal was killed during the day or at night.

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.

After Jacob had spent the night there, he chose some animals as gifts for Esau:

Jacob got up in the middle of the night and took his wives, his eleven children, and everything he owned across to the other side of the Jabbok River for safety.

"But, brother, I already have plenty," Esau replied. "Keep them for yourself."

"No!" Jacob said. "Please accept these gifts as a sign of your friendship for me. When you welcomed me and I saw your face, it was like seeing the face of God.

So Esau left for Edom.