Genesi 31:43-53

43 E Labano rispose a Giacobbe, dicendo: "Queste figliuole son mie figliuole, questi figliuoli son miei figliuoli, queste pecore son pecore mie, e tutto quel che vedi è mio. E che posso io fare oggi a queste mie figliuole o ai loro figliuoli ch’esse hanno partorito?

44 Or dunque vieni, facciamo un patto fra me e te, e serva esso di testimonianza fra me e te".

45 Giacobbe prese una pietra, e la eresse in monumento.

46 E Giacobbe disse ai suoi fratelli: "Raccogliete delle pietre". Ed essi presero delle pietre, ne fecero un mucchio, e presso il mucchio mangiarono.

47 E Labano chiamò quel mucchio Jegar-Sahadutha, e Giacobbe lo chiamò Galed.

48 E Labano disse: "Questo mucchio è oggi testimonio fra me e te". Perciò fu chiamato Galed,

49 e anche Mitspa, perché Labano disse: "L’Eterno tenga l’occhio su me e su te quando non ci potremo vedere l’un l’altro.

50 Se tu affliggi le mie figliuole e se prendi altre mogli oltre le mie figliuole, non un uomo sarà con noi; ma, bada, Iddio sarà testimonio fra me e te".

51 Labano disse ancora a Giacobbe: "Ecco questo mucchio di pietre, ed ecco il monumento che io ho eretto fra me e te.

52 Sia questo mucchio un testimonio e sia questo monumento un testimonio che io non passerò oltre questo mucchio per andare a te, e che tu non passerai oltre questo mucchio e questo monumento, per far del male.

53 L’Iddio d’Abrahamo e l’Iddio di Nahor, l’Iddio del padre loro, sia giudice fra noi!" E Giacobbe giurò per il Terrore d’Isacco suo padre.

Genesi 31:43-53 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.