Genesis 31:9-19

9 God has taken your father's herds and given them to me.

10 "When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 In that dream the Angel of God said to me, 'Jacob!' and I said: Here I am.

12 And He said, 'Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.^[a]

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to Me.^[b] Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.' "

14 Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Do we have any portion or inheritance in our father's household?

15 Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us^[c] and has certainly spent our money.

16 In fact, all the wealth that God has taken from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you."

17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and wives on the camels.

18 He took all the livestock and possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, and he drove his herds to go to the land of his father Isaac in Canaan.

19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols.

Genesis 31:9-19 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Gn 30:37-40
• [b] Gn 28:18-19
• [c] Gn 29:19-30