Chapter 31

1

AND he heard the words of Lavan's sons, saying, Ya`aqov has taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's has he gotten את all this glory.

2

And Ya`aqov beheld the countenance of Lavan, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

3

And Yahuah said unto El-Ya`aqov, Return unto the land of your fathers, and to your kindred; and I will be with you.

4

And Ya`aqov sent and called Rachel and Le'ah to the field unto his flock,

5

And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the Elohiym of my father has been with me.

6

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

7

And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but Elohiym suffered him not to hurt me.

8

If he said thus, The speckled shall be your wages; then all the cattle bore speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be your hire; then bore all the cattle ringstraked.

9

Thus Elohiym has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10

And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grizzled.

11

And the angel of Elohiym spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Ya`aqov: And I said, Here am I.

12

And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen את all that Lavan does unto you.

13

I am the Elohiym of Beyt-El, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return unto the land of your kindred.

14

And Rachel and Le'ah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

15

Are we not counted of him strangers? for he has sold us, and has quite devoured also our money.

16

For all the riches which Elohiym has taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever Elohiym has said unto you, do.

17

Then Ya`aqov rose up, and set his sons and his women upon camels;

18

And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Paddan Aram, for to go to El-Yitschaq his father in the land of Kena`an.

19

And Lavan went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the Teraphiym that were her father's.

20

And Ya`aqov stole away unawares to Lavan the Arammiy, in that he told him not that he fled.

21

So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the Mount Gil'ad.

22

And it was told Lavan on the third day that Ya`aqov was fled.

23

And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the Mount Gil'ad.

24

And Elohiym came to Lavan the Arammiy in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that you speak not to Ya`aqov either good or bad.

25

Then Lavan overtook Ya`aqov. Now Ya`aqov had pitched his tent in the mount: and Lavan with his brethren pitched in the Mount of Gil'ad.

26

And Lavan said to Ya`aqov, What have you done, that you have stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

27

Wherefore did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and did not tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

28

And have not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? you have now done foolishly in so doing.

29

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the Elohiym of your father spoke unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed that you speak not to Ya`aqov either good or bad.

30

And now, though you would needs be gone, because you sore longed after your father's house, yet wherefore have you stolen my elohiym?

31

And Ya`aqov answered and said to Lavan, Because I was afraid: for I said, Perchance you would take by force your daughters from me.

32

With whomsoever you find your elohiym, let him not live: before our brethren discern what is yours with me, and take it to you. For Ya`aqov knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33

And Lavan went into Ya`aqov's tent, and into Le'ah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Le'ah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34

Now Rachel had taken the Teraphiym, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Lavan searched all the tent, but found them not.

35

And she said to her father, Let it not displease my adoniy that I cannot rise up before you; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the Teraphiym.

36

And Ya`aqov was wroth, and chode with Lavan: and Ya`aqov answered and said to Lavan, What is my transgression? what is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued after me?

37

Whereas you have searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

38

This twenty years have I been with you; your ewes and your she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of your flock have I not eaten.

39

That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto you; I bore the loss of it; of my hand did you require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

40

Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from my eyes.

41

Thus have I been twenty years in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your cattle: and you have changed my wages ten times.

42

Except the Elohai of my father, the Elohai of Avraham, and the fear of Yitschaq, had been with me, surely you had sent me away now empty. Elohiym has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you yesternight.

43

And Lavan answered and said unto El-Ya`aqov, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44

Now therefore come, let us cut a covenant, I and you; and let it be for a witness between me and you.

45

And Ya`aqov took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46

And Ya`aqov said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made a heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

47

And Lavan called it Yegar Sahadutha: but Ya`aqov called it Gal`ed.

48

And Lavan said, This heap is a witness between me and you this day. Therefore was the name of it called Gal`ed;

49

And Mitspah; for he said, Yahuah watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

50

If you shall afflict my daughters, or if you shall take other women beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, Elohiym is witness betwixt me and you.

51

And Lavan said to Ya`aqov, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and you;

52

This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

53

The Elohai of Avraham, and the Elohai of Nachor, the Elohai of their father, judge betwixt us. And Ya`aqov swore by the fear of his father Yitschaq.

54

Then Ya`aqov offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

55

And early in the morning Lavan rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Lavan departed, and returned unto his place.



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