Genèse 31:1-9

1 Or Jacob entendit les discours des enfants de Laban, qui disaient: Jacob a pris tout ce qui appartenait à notre père; et c'est de ce qui était à notre père, qu'il s'est acquis toute cette richesse.

2 Et Jacob remarqua le visage de Laban; et voici, il n'était plus à son égard comme auparavant.

3 Et l'Éternel dit à Jacob: Retourne au pays de tes pères, et vers ta parenté, et je serai avec toi.

4 Alors Jacob envoya dire à Rachel et à Léa, de venir aux champs vers son troupeau.

5 Et il leur dit: Je vois que le visage de votre père n'est plus envers moi comme auparavant; mais le Dieu de mon père a été avec moi.

6 Et vous savez vous-mêmes que j'ai servi votre père de toutes mes forces.

7 Et votre père s'est moqué de moi, et a changé dix fois mon salaire; mais Dieu ne lui a point permis de me faire du mal.

8 Quand il disait ainsi: Les picotés seront ton salaire, toutes les brebis faisaient des agneaux picotés. Et s'il disait ainsi: Les rayés seront ton salaire, toutes les brebis faisaient des agneaux rayés.

9 Dieu a donc pris le bétail de votre père, et me l'a donné.

Genèse 31:1-9 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.