Study Desk

When Laban said, ‘You can have all the speckled animals as your pay,' all the animals gave birth to speckled young ones. But when he said, ‘You can have all the streaked animals as your pay,' all the flocks gave birth to streaked babies.

I have the power to harm you, but last night the God of your father spoke to me and warned me not to say anything to you, good or bad.

I know you want to go back to your home, but why did you steal my idols?"

So Laban looked in Jacob's tent, in Leah's tent, and in the tent where the two slave women stayed, but he did not find his idols. When he left Leah's tent, he went into Rachel's tent.

Rachel said to her father, "Father, don't be angry with me. I am not able to stand up before you because I am having my monthly period." So Laban looked through the camp, but he did not find his idols.

You have looked through everything I own, but you have found nothing that belongs to you. If you have found anything, show it to everyone. Put it in front of your relatives and my relatives, and let them decide which one of us is right.

Any time an animal was killed by wild beasts, I did not bring it to you, but made up for the loss myself. You made me pay for any animal that was stolen during the day or night.

But the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, was with me. Otherwise, you would have sent me away with nothing. But he saw the trouble I had and the hard work I did, and last night he corrected you."

Laban said to Jacob, "These girls are my daughters. Their children belong to me, and these flocks are mine. Everything you see here belongs to me, but I can do nothing to keep my daughters and their children.

Jacob thought, "Esau might come and destroy one camp, but the other camp can run away and be saved."

I am not worthy of the kindness and continual goodness you have shown me. The first time I traveled across the Jordan River, I had only my walking stick, but now I own enough to have two camps.

So Jacob sent the gifts to Esau, but he himself stayed that night in the camp.

Then he said to Jacob, "Let me go. The sun is coming up." But Jacob said, "I will let you go if you will bless me."

Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But the man said, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there.

So Jacob named that place Peniel, saying, "I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved."

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and put his arms around him and hugged him. Then Esau kissed him, and they both cried.

But Esau said, "I already have enough, my brother. Keep what you have."

But Jacob said to him, "My master, you know that the children are weak. And I must be careful with my flocks and their young ones. If I force them to go too far in one day, all the animals will die.

But Jacob went to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his animals. That is why the place was named Succoth.

Jacob learned how Shechem had disgraced his daughter, but since his sons were out in the field with the cattle, Jacob said nothing until they came home.