Study Desk

One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons,

Jacob separated those lambs from Laban's flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban's animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban's.

But Jacob soon learned that Laban's sons were grumbling about him. "Jacob has robbed our father of everything!" they said. "He has gained all his wealth at our father's expense."

So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock.

For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,' the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,' then the whole flock produced striped young.

So Jacob put his wives and children on camels,

and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived.

At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father's household idols and took them with her.

So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.

So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead.

Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob's.

she said to her father, "Please, sir, forgive me if I don't get up for you. I'm having my monthly period." So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.

Then he told his family members, "Gather some stones." So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal.

I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us." So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac, to respect the boundary line.

Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.

As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him.

Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom.

After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, "We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!"

Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.