The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  5and said to them, f“I see your father’s 1countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father ghas been with me.

  6“And hyou know that with all my might I have served your father.

  7“Yet your father has deceived me and ichanged my wages jten times, but God kdid not allow him to hurt me.

  8“If he said thus: l‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.

  9“So God has mtaken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

  10“And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.

  11“Then nthe Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’

  12“And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for oI have seen all that Laban is doing to you.

  13‘I am the God of Bethel, pwhere you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now qarise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.”’

  14Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, r“Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

  15“Are we not considered strangers by him? For she has sold us, and also completely consumed our money.

  16“For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

  17Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.

  18And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of tCanaan.

  19Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the uhousehold2 idols that were her father’s.

  20And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.

  21So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and vheaded3 toward the mountains of Gilead.

  Laban Pursues Jacob

  22And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.

  23Then he took whis brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.

  24But God xhad come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you yspeak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

  25So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.

  26And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and zcarried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?

  27“Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?

  28“And you did not allow me ato kiss my sons and my daughters. Now byou have done foolishly in so doing.

  29“It is in my power to do you harm, but the cGod of your father spoke to me dlast night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’

  30“And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you esteal my gods?”

  31Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was fafraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’

  32“With whomever you find your gods, gdo not 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.

  33And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

  34Now Rachel had taken the 4household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban 5searched all about the tent but did not find them.

  35And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot hrise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the 6household idols. False Gods in the Old Testament

  36Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my 7trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me?

  37“Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!

  38“These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.

  39i“That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. jYou required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.

  40“There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.

  41“Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I kserved you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and lyou have changed my wages ten times.

  42m“Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and nthe Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. oGod has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and prebuked you last night.”

  Laban’s Covenant with Jacob

  43And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

  44“Now therefore, come, qlet us make a 8covenant, ryou and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”

  45So Jacob stook a stone and set it up as a pillar.

  46Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.

  47Laban called it 9Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it 10Galeed.

  48And Laban said, t“This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed,

  49also uMizpah,11 because he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.

  50“If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”

  51Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me.

  52“This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.

  53“The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father vjudge between us.” And Jacob wswore by xthe 12Fear of his father Isaac.

  54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.

  55And early in the morning Laban arose, and ykissed his sons and daughters and zblessed them. Then Laban departed and areturned to his place.

  Genesis 32

  Esau Comes to Meet Jacob

  1So Jacob went on his way, and athe angels of God met him.

  2When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s bcamp.” And he called the name of that place 1Mahanaim.

  3Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother cin the land of Seir, dthe 2country of Edom.

  4And he commanded them, saying, e“Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.

  5f“I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that gI may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

  6The
n the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and hhe also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

  7So Jacob was greatly afraid and idistressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.

  8And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and 3attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

  9jThen Jacob said, k“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD lwho said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:

  10“I am not worthy of the least of all the mmercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with nmy staff, and now I have become two companies.

  11o“Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and 4attack me and pthe mother with the children.

  12“For qYou said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the rsand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”’

  13So he lodged there that same night, and took what 5came to his hand as sa present for Esau his brother: Jacob Returns to Canaan

  14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

  15thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

  16Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”

  17And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’

  18“then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.”’

  19So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;

  20“and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.”’ For he said, “I will tappease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

  21So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

  Wrestling with God

  22And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, uand crossed over the ford of Jabbok.

  23He took them, sent them 6over the brook, and sent over what he had.

  24Then Jacob was left alone; and va Man wrestled with him until the 7breaking of day.

  25Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He 8touched the socket of his hip; and wthe socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

  26And xHe said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, y“I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

  27So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”

  28And He said, z“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but 9Israel; for you have astruggled with God and bwith men, and have prevailed.”

  29Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, c“Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He dblessed him there.

  30So Jacob called the name of the place 10Peniel: “For eI have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

  31Just as he crossed over 11Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.

  32Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He 12touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

  Genesis 33

  Jacob and Esau Meet

  1Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, aEsau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

  2And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.

  3Then he crossed over before them and bbowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

  4cBut Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, dand fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

  5And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children ewhom God has graciously given your servant.”

  6Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.

  7And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

  8Then Esau said, “What do you mean by fall this company which I met?” And he said, “These are gto find favor in the sight of my lord.”

  9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

  10And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I hhave seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

  11“Please, take imy blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt jgraciously with me, and because I have 1enough.” kSo he urged him, and he took it.

  12Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”

  13But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.

  14“Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, 2are able to endure, until I come to my lord lin Seir.”

  15And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? mLet me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

  16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

  17And Jacob journeyed to nSuccoth, built himself a house, and made 3booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called 4Succoth.

  Jacob Comes to Canaan

  18Then Jacob came 5safely to othe city of pShechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.

  19And qhe bought the parcel of 6land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.

  20Then he erected an altar there and called it rEl7 Elohe Israel.

  Genesis 34

  The Dinah Incident

  1Now aDinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

  2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he btook her and lay with her, and violated her.

  3His soul 1was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke 2kindly to the young woman.

  4So Shechem cspoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”

  5And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob dheld3 his peace until they came.

  6Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.

  7And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he ehad done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, fa thing which ought not to be done.

  8But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.

  9“And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves.

  10“So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”

  11Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, �
��Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give.

  12“Ask me ever so much gdowry4 and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

  13But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke hdeceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.

  14And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is iuncircumcised, for jthat would be a reproach to us.

  15“But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,

  16“then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

  17“But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”

  18And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son.

  19So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was kmore honorable than all the household of his father.

  20And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the lgate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:

  21“These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.

  22“Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.

  23“Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”

  24And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who mwent out of the gate of his city.

  25Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, nSimeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.

  26And they okilled Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out.