Study Desk

She became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Jacob.

Jacob came in from the fields that night. Leah saw him and went out to meet him. She said, "You will sleep with me tonight. I have paid for you with my son's flowers." So Jacob slept with Leah that night.

Then God heard Rachel's prayer and made it possible for Rachel to have children.

Give me my wives and my children. I have earned them by working for you. You know that I served you well."

Jacob answered, "You know that I have worked hard for you. Your flocks have grown and been well while I cared for them.

When I came, you had little. Now you have much, much more. Every time I did something for you, the Lord blessed you. Now it is time for me to work for myself—it is time to do things for my family."

So the sons took all the spotted animals and led them to another place. They traveled for three days. Jacob stayed and took care of all the animals that were left.

You both know that I have worked as hard as I could for your father.

So Jacob prepared for the trip. He put his children and his wives on camels.

But I did not steal your gods. If you find anyone here with me who has taken your gods, they will be killed. Your men will be my witnesses. You can look for anything that belongs to you. Take anything that is yours." (Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen Laban's gods.)

I have worked 20 years for you. During all that time none of the baby sheep and goats died during birth. And I have not eaten any of the rams from your flocks.

Any time a sheep was killed by wild animals, I always paid for the loss myself. I did not take the dead animal to you and say that it was not my fault. But I was robbed day and night.

I worked 20 years like a slave for you. For the first 14 years I worked to win your two daughters. The last six years I worked to earn your animals. And during that time you changed my pay ten times.

You have been very kind to me. You did many good things for me. The first time I traveled across the Jordan River, I owned nothing—only my walking stick. But now I own enough things to have two full groups.

Jacob stayed in that place for the night. He prepared some things to give to Esau as a gift.

Esau said, "Who were all those people I saw while I was coming here? And what were all those animals for?" Jacob answered, "These are my gifts to you so that you might accept me."

But Esau said, "You don't have to give me gifts, brother. I have enough for myself."

So you go on ahead. I will follow you slowly. I will go slowly enough for the cattle and other animals to be safe and so that my children will not get too tired. I will meet you in Seir."

But Jacob went to Succoth. There he built a house for himself and small barns for his cattle. That is why the place was named Succoth.

He bought the field where he camped from the family of Hamor, father of Shechem. He paid 100 pieces of silver for it.