Genesi 31:1-10

1 OR egli udì le parole de’ figliuoli di Labano, che dicevano: Giacobbe ha tolto a nostro padre tutto il suo avere; e di quello ch’era di nostra padre, egli ha acquistata tutta questa dovizia.

2 Giacobbe ancora vide che la faccia di Labano non era verso lui qual soleva esser per addietro.

3 E il Signore disse a Giacobbe: Ritornatene al paese de’ tuoi, ed al tuo luogo natio, ed io sarò teco.

4 E Giacobbe mandò a chiamar Rachele e Lea, a’ campi, presso della sua greggia.

5 E disse loro: Io veggo che la faccia di vostro padre non è inverso me qual soleva esser per addietro; e pur l’Iddio di mio padre è stato meco.

6 E voi sapete che ho servito a vostro padre di tutto il mio potere.

7 Ma egli mi ha ingannato, e m’ha cambiato il mio salario dieci volte; ma Iddio non gli ha permesso di farmi alcun danno.

8 Se egli diceva così: Le macchiate saranno il tuo salario, tutta la greggia figliava parti macchiati; e se diceva così: Le vergate saranno il tuo salario, tutta la greggia figliava parti vergati.

9 E Iddio ha tolto il bestiame a vostro padre, e me lo ha dato.

10 Ed avvenne una volta, al tempo che le pecore entrano in calore, che io alzai gli occhi, e vidi in sogno che i becchi ed i montoni che ammontavano le pecore e le capre, erano vergati, macchiati e grandinati.

Genesi 31:1-10 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.