Study Desk

Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you."

But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."

I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the One Feared by Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment."

If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me."

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob swore by the One feared by his father Isaac.

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God." So he named that place Mahanaim.

Then Jacob declared, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, 'Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,'

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed."

So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered, "These are the children God has graciously given your servant."

But Jacob insisted, "No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need. So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."

Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone."

As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob's sons.

There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed Himself to him as he fled from his brother.

After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.

And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; you will no longer be called Jacob, but your name will be Israel." So God named him Israel.