Genesis 31:6-16

6 You know that I've worked for your father as hard as I could.
7 But your father cheated me and changed my payment ten times. Yet God didn't let him harm me.
8 If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your payment,' the whole flock gave birth to speckled young. And if he said, ‘The striped ones will be your payment,' the whole flock gave birth to striped young.
9 God took away your father's livestock and gave them to me.
10 When the flocks were mating, I looked up and saw in a dream that the male goats that mounted the flock were striped, speckled, and spotted.
11 In the dream, God's messenger said to me, ‘Jacob!' and I said, ‘I'm here.'
12 He said, ‘Look up and watch all the striped, speckled, and spotted male goats mounting the flock. I've seen everything that Laban is doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a sacred pillar and where you made a solemn promise to me. Now, get up and leave this country and go back to the land of your relatives.'"
14 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any share or inheritance left for us in our father's household?
15 Doesn't he think of us as foreigners since he sold us and has even used up the payment he received for us?
16 All of the wealth God took from our father belongs to us and our children. Now, do everything God told you to do."

Genesis 31:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 31

This chapter relates how that Jacob observing that Laban and his sons envied his prosperity, and having a call from God to return to his own country, acquaints his wives with it; and reports to them Laban's ill usage of him, and the wonderful appearance of God to him, and for him, and his orders to him to depart from thence, Ge 31:1-13; to which they agreed, knowing full well their father's unkindness, and that they had nothing to expect from him, and therefore judged it best to go off with what they had got through the gift of God unto them, Ge 31:14-16; upon which Jacob set out privately, with all he had, towards his own country, while Laban was shearing his sheep, Ge 31:17-21; three days after, Laban, being informed of it, pursued after Jacob, and overtook him at Mount Gilead; but was warned by the way to be cautious what he said to him, Ge 31:22-25; yet nevertheless he warmly expostulated with him about his secret flight, not giving him the opportunity of taking his leave of his children, and especially for taking away his gods, Ge 31:26-30; to which Jacob gave an answer, Ge 31:31-35; and in his turn was warm likewise, and chided Laban severely for his hot pursuit of him, his charge of stealth, when he could find nothing on him, his hard labour for the space of twenty years with him, and his ill requital of him for it, Ge 31:36-42; however, upon the whole, an amicable agreement was made between them, and they parted in a friendly manner, Ge 31:43-55.

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