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JANUARY 16
in a dream, and behold, the rams which pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban
leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speck- with his brethren pitched in the mountains of
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led, and gray-spotted. Then the Angel of God Gilead.
spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I 26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you
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said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Lift your eyes done, that you have stolen away unknown to
now and see, all the rams which leap on the me, and carried away my daughters like cap-
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flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spot- tives taken with the sword? Why did you flee
ted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to away secretly, and steal away from me, and
you. I am the God of Bethel, where you not tell me; for I might have sent you away
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anointed the pillar and where you made a vow with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?
to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and 28 And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and
return to the land of your family.’ ” my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in
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so doing. It is in my power to do you harm,
but the God of your father spoke to me last
night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to
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Jacob neither good nor bad.’ And now you
31:19 household idols. Literally, teraphim have surely gone because you greatly long for
(see 2 Kin. 23:24; Ezek. 21:21).These images or your father’s house, but why did you steal my
figurines of varying sizes,usually of nude god- gods?”
desses with accentuated sexual features, 31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban,
either signaled special protection for, inheri- “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you
tance rights for, or guaranteed fertility for the would take your daughters from me by force.’
bearer. Or, perhaps possession by Rachel 32
would call for Jacob to be recognized as head With whomever you find your gods, do not
of the household at Laban’s death. let him live. In the presence of our brethren,
identify what I have of yours and take it with
you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had
stolen them.
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said 33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into
to him, “Is there still any portion or inheri- Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but
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tance for us in our father’s house? Are we not he did not find them. Then he went out of
considered strangers by him? For he has sold Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. Now
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us, and also completely consumed our money. Rachel had taken the household idols, put
16 For all these riches which God has taken them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them.
from our father are really ours and our chil- And Laban searched all about the tent but did
dren’s; now then, whatever God has said to not find them. And she said to her father, “Let
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you, do it.” it not displease my lord that I cannot rise
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his before you, for the manner of women is with
wives on camels. And he carried away all his me.” And he searched but did not find the
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livestock and all his possessions which he had household idols.
gained, his acquired livestock which he had 36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban,
gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What
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in the land of Canaan. Now Laban had gone is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have
to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the so hotly pursued me? Although you have
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household idols that were her father’s. And searched all my things, what part of your
Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syr- household things have you found? Set it here
ian, in that he did not tell him that he intended before my brethren and your brethren, that
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to flee. So he fled with all that he had. He they may judge between us both! These
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arose and crossed the river, and headed twenty years I have been with you; your ewes
toward the mountains of Gilead. and your female goats have not miscarried
22 And Laban was told on the third day that their young, and I have not eaten the rams of
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Jacob had fled. Then he took his brethren your flock. That which was torn by beasts I
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with him and pursued him for seven days’ did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You
journey, and he overtook him in the moun- required it from my hand, whether stolen by
tains of Gilead. But God had come to Laban day or stolen by night. There I was! In the day
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the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to the drought consumed me, and the frost by
him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob nei- night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.
ther good nor bad.” 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years;
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had I served you fourteen years for your two
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