[30] And it came to pass after Isaac had ceased blessing his son Jacob, it even came to pass, just when Jacob had gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. [31] And he also had made meats and brought them to his father; and he said to his father, Let my father arise and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. [32] And Isaac his father said to him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy first-born son Esau. [33] And Isaac was amazed with very great amazement, and said, Who then is it that has procured venison for me and brought it to me? and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed. [34] And it came to pass when Esau heard the words of his father Isaac, he cried out with a great and very bitter cry, and said, Bless, I pray thee, me also, father. [35] And he said to him, Thy brother has come with subtlety, and taken thy blessing. [36] And he said, Rightly was his name called Jacob, for lo! this second time has he supplanted me; he has both taken my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing; and Esau said to his father, Hast thou not left a blessing for me, father? [37] And Isaac answered and said to Esau, If I have made him thy lord, and have made all his brethren his servants, and have strengthened him with corn and wine, what then shall I do for thee, son? [38] And Esau said to his father, Hast thou only one blessing, father? Bless, I pray thee, me also, father. And Isaac being troubled, Esau cried aloud and wept. [39] And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. [40] And thou shalt live by thy sword, and shalt serve thy brother; and there shall be a time when thou shalt break and loosen his yoke from off thy neck.
[41] And Esau was angry with Jacob because of the blessing, with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his mind, Let the days of my father’s mourning draw nigh, that I may slay my brother Jacob. [42] And the words of Esau her elder son were reported to Rebecca, and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, Behold, Esau thy brother threatens thee to kill thee. [43] Now then, my son, hear my voice, and rise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia to Laban my brother into Charran. [44] And dwell with him certain days, until thy brother’s anger [45] and rage depart from thee, and he forget what thou hast done to him; and I will send and fetch thee thence, lest at any time I should be bereaved of you both in one day. [46] And Rebecca said to Isaac, I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of the sons of Chet; if Jacob shall take a wife of the daughters of this land, wherefore should I live?
Chapter 28
[1] And Isaac having called for Jacob, blessed him, and charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites. [2] Rise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia, to the house of Bathuel the father of thy mother, and take to thyself thence a wife of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. [3] And may my God bless thee, and increase thee, and multiply thee, and thou shalt become gatherings of nations. [4] And may he give thee the blessing of my father Abraam, even to thee and to thy seed after thee, to inherit the land of thy sojourning, which God gave to Abraam. [5] So Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went into Mesopotamia to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca the mother of Jacob and Esau.
[6] And Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Mesopotamia of Syria as he blessed him, to take to himself a wife thence, and that he charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of the Chananites; [7] and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and went to Mesopotamia of Syria. [8] And Esau also having seen that the daughters of Chanaan were evil before his father Isaac, [9] Esau went to Ismael, and took Maeleth the daughter of Ismael, the son of Abraam, the sister of Nabeoth, a wife in addition to his other wives.
[10] And Jacob went forth from the well of the oath, and departed into Charrhan. [11] And came to a certain place and slept there, for the sun had gone down; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it at his head, and lay down to sleep in that place, [12] and dreamed, and behold a ladder fixed on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it. [13] And the Lord stood upon it, and said, I am the God of thy father Abraam, and the God of Isaac; fear not, the land on which thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. [14] And thy seed shall be as the sand of the earth; and it shall spread abroad to the sea, and the south, and the north, and to the east; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed. [15] And behold I am with thee to preserve thee continually in all the way wherein thou shalt go; and I will bring thee back to this land; for I will not desert thee, until I have done all that I have said to thee. [16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and said, The Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. [17] And he was afraid, and said, How fearful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. [18] And Jacob rose up in the morning, and took the stone he had laid there by his head, and he set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. [19] And he called the name of that place, the House of God; and the name of the city before was Ulam-luz. [20] And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If the Lord God will be with me, and guard me throughout on this journey, on which I am going, and give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, [21] and bring me back in safety to the house of my father, then shall the Lord be for a God to me. [22] And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be to me a house of God; and of all whatsoever thou shalt give me, I will tithe a tenth for thee.
Chapter 29
[1] And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau. [2] And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well. [3] And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well. [4] And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are ye? and they said, We are of Charrhan. [5] And he said to them, Know ye Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said, We do know him. [6] And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold Rachel his daughter came with the sheep. [7] And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks be gathered together; water ye the flocks, and depart and feed them. [8] And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, then we will water the flocks. [9] While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father’s sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father. [10] And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, that Jacob came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother. [11] And Jacob kissed Rachel, and cried with a loud voice and wept. [12] And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to these words. [13] And it came to pass when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him, and brought him into his house; and he told Laban all these sayings. [14] And Laban said to him, Thou art of my bones and of my flesh; and he was with him a full month.
[15] And Laban said to Jacob, Surely thou shalt not serve me for nothing, because thou art my brother; tell me what thy reward is to be. [16] Now Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lea, and the name of the younger, Rachel. [17] And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance, and exceedingly fair in countenance. [18] And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for thy younger daughter Rachel. [19] And Laban said to him, It is better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me. [20] And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were
before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her. [21] And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her. [22] And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a marriage-feast. [23] And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her. [24] And Laban gave to his daughter Lea, Zelpha his handmaid, as a handmaid for her. [25] And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this that thou hast done to me? did I not serve thee for Rachel? and wherefore hast thou deceived me? [26] And Laban answered, It is not done thus in our country, to give the younger before the elder. [27] Fulfil then her sevens, and I will give to thee her also in return for thy labour, which thou labourest with me, yet seven other years. [28] And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her sevens; and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife. [29] And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to her. [30] And he went in to Rachel; and he loved Rachel more than Lea; and he served him seven other years.
[31] And when the Lord God saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. [32] And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has looked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then my husband will love me. [33] And she conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob; and she said, Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given to me this one also; and she called his name, Simeon. [34] And she conceived yet again, and bore a son, and said, In the present time my husband will be with me, for I have born him three sons; therefore she called his name, Levi. [35] And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet again this time will I give thanks to the Lord; therefore she called his name, Juda; and ceased bearing.
Chapter 30
[1] And Rachel having perceived that she bore Jacob no children, was jealous of her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children; and if not, I shall die. [2] And Jacob was angry with Rachel, and said to her, Am I in the place of God, who has deprived thee of the fruit of the womb? [3] And Rachel said to Jacob, Behold my handmaid Balla, go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees, and I also shall have children by her. [4] And she gave him Balla her maid, for a wife to him; and Jacob went in to her. [5] And Balla, Rachel’s maid, conceived, and bore Jacob a son. [6] And Rachel said, God has given judgment for me, and hearkened to my voice, and has given me a son; therefore she called his name, Dan. [7] And Balla, Rachel’s maid, conceived yet again, and bore a second son to Jacob. [8] And Rachel said, God has helped me, and I contended with my sister and prevailed; and she called his name, Nephthalim. [9] And Lea saw that she ceased from bearing, and she took Zelpha her maid, and gave her to Jacob for a wife; and he went in to her. [10] And Zelpha the maid of Lea conceived, and bore Jacob a son. [11] And Lea said, It is happily: and she called his name, Gad. [12] And Zelpha the maid of Lea conceived yet again, and bore Jacob a second son. [13] And Lea said, I am blessed, for the women will pronounce me blessed; and she called his name, Aser. [14] And Ruben went in the day of barley-harvest, and found apples of mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Lea; and Rachel said to Lea her sister, Give me of thy son’s mandrakes. [15] And Lea said, Is it not enough for thee that thou hast taken my husband, wilt thou also take my son’s mandrakes? And Rachel said, Not so: let him lie with thee to-night for thy son’s mandrakes. [16] And Jacob came in out of the field at even; and Lea went forth to meet him, and said, Thou shalt come in to me this day, for I have hired thee for my son’s mandrakes; and he lay with her that night. [17] And God hearkened to Lea, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. [18] And Lea said, God has given me my reward, because I gave my maid to my husband; and she called his name Issachar, which is, Reward. [19] And Lea conceived again, and bore Jacob a sixth son. [20] And Lea said, God has given me a good gift in this time; my husband will choose me, for I have born him six sons: and she called his name, Zabulon. [21] And after this she bore a daughter; and she called her name, Dina. [22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and he opened her womb. [23] And she conceived, and bore Jacob a son; and Rachel said, God has taken away my reproach. [24] And she called his name Joseph, saying, Let God add to me another son.
[25] And it came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Send me away, that I may go to my place and to my land. [26] Restore my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, that I may depart, for thou knowest the service wherewith I have served thee. [27] And Laban said to him, If I have found grace in thy sight, I would augur well, for the Lord has blessed me at thy coming in. [28] Appoint me thy wages, and I will give them. [29] And Jacob said, Thou knowest in what things I have served thee, and how many cattle of thine are with me. [30] For it was little thou hadst before my time, and it is increased to a multitude, and the Lord God has blessed thee since my coming; now then, when shall I set up also my own house? [31] And Laban said to him, What shall I give thee? and Jacob said to him, Thou shalt not give me anything; if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again tend thy flocks and keep them. [32] Let all thy sheep pass by to-day, and separate thence every grey sheep among the rams, and every one that is speckled and spotted among the goats — this shall be my reward. [33] And my righteousness shall answer for me on the morrow, for it is my reward before thee: whatever shall not be spotted and speckled among the goats, and grey among the rams, shall be stolen with me. [34] And Laban said to him, Let it be according to thy word. [35] And he separated in that day the spotted and speckled he-goats, and all the spotted and speckled she-goats, and all that was grey among the rams, and every one that was white among them, and he gave them into the hand of his sons. [36] And he set a distance of a three days’ journey between them and Jacob. And Jacob tended the cattle of Laban that were left behind. [37] And Jacob took to himself green rods of storax tree and walnut and plane-tree; and Jacob peeled in them white stripes; and as he drew off the green, the white stripe which he had made appeared alternate on the rods. [38] And he laid the rods which he had peeled, in the hollows of the watering-troughs, that whensoever the cattle should come to drink, as they should have come to drink before the rods, the cattle might conceive at the rods. [39] So the cattle conceived at the rods, and the cattle brought forth young speckled, and streaked and spotted with ash-coloured spots. [40] And Jacob separated the lambs, and set before the sheep a speckled ram, and every variegated one among the lambs, and he separated flocks for himself alone, and did not mingle them with the sheep of Laban. [41] And it came to pass in the time wherein the cattle became pregnant, conceiving in the belly, Jacob put the rods before the cattle in the troughs, that they might conceive by the rods. [42] But he did not put them in indiscriminately whenever the cattle happened to bring forth, but the unmarked ones were Laban’s, and the marked ones were Jacob’s. [43] And the man became very rich, and he had many cattle, and oxen, and servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses.
Chapter 31
[1] And Jacob heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and of our father’s property has he gotten all this glory. [2] And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and behold it was not toward him as before. [3] And the Lord said to Jacob, Return to the land of thy father, and to thy family, and I will be with thee. [4] And Jacob sent and called Lea and Rachel to the plain where the flocks were. [5] And he said to them, I see the face of your father, that it is not toward me as before, but the God of my father was with me. [6] And ye too know that with all my might I have served your father. [7] But your father deceived me, and changed my wages for the ten lambs, yet God gave him not power to hurt me. [8] If he should say thus, The speckled shall be thy reward, then all the cattle would bear speckled; and if he should say, The white shall be thy reward, then would all the cattle bear white. [9] So God has taken away all the cattle of your father, and given them to me. [10] And it came to pass when the cattle conceived and were with young, that I beheld with mine eyes in sleep,
and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots. [11] And the angel of God said to me in a dream, Jacob; and I said, What is it? [12] And he said, Look up with thine eyes, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots; for I have seen all things that Laban does to thee. [13] I am God that appeared to thee in the place of God where thou anointedst a pillar to me, and vowedst to me there a vow; now then arise and depart out of this land, depart into the land of thy nativity, and I will be with thee. [14] And Rachel and Lea answered and said to him, Have we yet a part or inheritance in the house of our father? [15] Are we not considered strangers by him? for he has sold us, and quite devoured our money. [16] All the wealth and the glory which God has taken from our father, it shall be our’s and our children’s; now then do whatsoever God has said to thee. [17] And Jacob arose and took his wives and his children up on the camels; [18] and he took away all his possessions and all his store, which he had gotten in Mesopotamia, and all that belonged to him, to depart to Isaac his father in the land of Chanaan. [19] And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole her father’s images. [20] And Jacob hid the matter from Laban the Syrian, so as not to tell him that he ran away. [21] And he departed himself and all that belonged to him, and passed over the river, and went into the mountain Galaad. [22] But it was told Laban the Syrian on the third day, that Jacob was fled. [23] And having taken his brethren with him, he pursued after him seven days’ journey, and overtook him on Mount Galaad. [24] And God came to Laban the Syrian in sleep by night, and said to him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not at any time to Jacob evil things. [25] And Laban overtook Jacob; and Jacob pitched his tent in the mountain; and Laban stationed his brothers in the mount Galaad. [26] And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done? wherefore didst thou run away secretly, and pillage me, and lead away my daughters as captives taken with the sword? [27] Whereas if thou hadst told me, I would have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, and timbrels, and harp. [28] And I was not counted worthy to embrace my children and my daughters; now then thou hast wrought foolishly. [29] And now my hand has power to hurt thee; but the God of thy father spoke to me yesterday, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not evil words to Jacob. [30] Now then go on thy way, for thou hast earnestly desired to depart to the house of thy father; wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? [31] And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid; for I said, Lest at any time thou shouldest take away thy daughters from me, and all my possessions. [32] And Jacob said, With whomsoever thou shalt find thy gods, he shall not live in the presence of our brethren; take notice of what I have of thy property, and take it; and he observed nothing with him, but Jacob knew not that his wife Rachel had stolen them. [33] And Laban went in and searched in the house of Lea, and found them not; and he went out of the house of Lea, and searched in the house of Jacob, and in the house of the two maid-servants, and found them not; and he went also into the house of Rachel. [34] And Rachel took the idols, and cast them among the camel’s packs, and sat upon them. [35] And she said to her father, Be not indignant, Sir; I cannot rise up before thee, for it is with me according to the manner of women. Laban searched in all the house, and found not the images. [36] And Jacob was angry, and strove with Laban; and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my injustice, and what my sin, that thou hast pursued after me, [37] and that thou hast searched all the furniture of my house? what hast thou found of all the furniture of thine house? set it here between thy relations and my relations, and let them decide between us two. [38] These twenty years have I been with thee; thy sheep, and thy she-goats have not failed in bearing; I devoured not the rams of thy cattle. [39] That which was taken of beasts I brought not to thee; I made good of myself the thefts of the day, and the thefts of the night. [40] I was parched with heat by day, and chilled with frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. [41] These twenty years have I been in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years among thy sheep, and thou didst falsely rate my wages for ten lambs. [42] Unless I had the God of my father Abraam, and the fear of Isaac, now thou wouldest have sent me away empty; God saw my humiliation, and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday.
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