- Book: [[Genesis]] - Next chapter: [[Genesis 32]] # Overview ## [[Jacob]] perceives growing hostility and obeys [[God]]’s call to return home - [[Jacob]] notices the jealousy of [[Laban]]’s sons and the changed attitude of [[Laban]] himself - [[God]] in a dream reminds [[Jacob]] of the vow at [[Bethel]] and commands him to leave [[Aram]] for [[Canaan]] - Verse 3: "The LORD said to [[Jacob]], 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you'" - Verse 14: [[Rachel]] and [[Leah]] expect an inheritance ## Secret flight from [[Laban]] and the theft of the household gods - [[Jacob]] gathers all his flocks, servants, and children and secretly (deceitfully) departs while [[Laban]] is shearing sheep - [[Rachel]] steals her father’s [[Teraphim]] (household idols) without [[Jacob]]’s knowledge ## Pursuit by [[Laban]] and divine restraint - Three days later [[Laban]] learns of the flight and pursues [[Jacob]] to the hills of [[Gilead]] - [[God]] appears to [[Laban]] in a dream, warning him: “Speak neither good nor bad to [[Jacob]]” ## Confrontation and the search for the idols - [[Laban]] accuses [[Jacob]] of deceit; [[Jacob]] invites a search, unaware of [[Rachel]]’s theft - [[Rachel]], sitting on the camel saddle containing the idols, claims she cannot rise because of “the way of women,” and the search fails ## [[Jacob]]’s rebuke and the covenant of [[Galeed]] / [[Mizpah]] - [[Jacob]] enumerates twenty years of faithful service and suffering under [[Laban]] - They erect a stone pillar and heap, naming it [[Galeed]] (Aramaic: [[Jegar Sahadutha]]) and also [[Mizpah]] “watch-tower,” calling [[God]] as witness - A boundary is established; neither party is to cross to harm the other, and [[Laban]] departs back to [[Aram]] # Details - Parallel with [[Exodus]]? - This land is my land, and this land is your land -- similar to [[Abraham]] and the graves? - Verse 53: "[[God]] of [[Abraham]]" and "God of [[Nahor]]" seem to be two distinct beings here. Reflects [[Laban]]'s polytheistic worldview ## Duration of [[Jacob]]’s service to [[Laban]] | Years | Work & Wages | Reference | | ------ | ------------------------------------------ | ------------- | | 7 | For [[Rachel]] (received [[Leah]] instead) | 29:20–25 | | 7 | For [[Rachel]] truly | 29:27–30 | | 6 | For the speckled and spotted flocks | 30:25 – 31:41 | | **20** | Total time in [[Aram]] | 31:38 | ## The covenant heap: multiple names | Name | Language | Meaning | Verse | | ------------------- | -------- | ------------------- | ----- | | [[Galeed]] | Hebrew | “Heap of witness” | 31:48 | | [[Jegar Sahadutha]] | Aramaic | “Heap of testimony” | 31:47 | | [[Mizpah]] | Hebrew | “Watch-tower” | 31:49 | # Questions - Why did [[Rachel]] steal the [[Teraphim]]—to secure inheritance rights, for protection, or from lingering idolatry? - In what ways does [[Jacob]]’s twenty-year ordeal refine him before wrestling in [[Genesis 32]]?