Jacob Runs from Laban
1 Jacob heard that Laban's sons were complaining, “Jacob is now a rich man, and he got everything he owns from our father.” 2 Jacob also noticed that Laban was not as friendly as he had been before. 3 One day the Lord said, “Jacob, go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors, and I will be with you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the pasture where he kept his sheep, 5 and he told them:
Your father isn't as friendly with me as he used to be, but the God my ancestors worshiped has been on my side. 6 You know that I have worked hard for your father 7 and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me. 8 When your father said the speckled sheep would be my wages, all of them were speckled. And when he said the spotted ones would be mine, all of them were spotted. 9 That's how God has taken sheep and goats from your father and given them to me.
10 Once, when the flocks were mating, I dreamed that all the rams were either spotted or speckled. 11 Then God's angel called me by name. I answered, 12 and he said, “Notice that all the rams are either spotted or speckled. I know everything Laban is doing to you, 13 and I am the God you worshiped at Bethel, when you poured olive oil on a rock and made a promise to me. Leave here at once and return to the land where you were born.”
14 Rachel and Leah said to Jacob:
There's nothing left for us to inherit from our father. 15 He treats us like foreigners and has even cheated us out of the bride price that should have been ours. 16 So do whatever God tells you to do. Even the property God took from our father and gave to you really belongs to us and our children.
17 Then Jacob, his wives, and his children got on camels and left 18 northern Syria for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Jacob took along all his flocks, herds, and other property.
19 Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols while Laban was out shearing his sheep.
20 Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean by not saying that he intended to leave. 21 When Jacob crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead, he took with him everything he owned.
Laban Catches Up with Jacob
22 Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had gone. 23 So he took some of his relatives along and chased after Jacob for seven days, before catching up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, “Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise.”
25 Jacob had set up camp in the hill country of Gilead, when Laban and his relatives came and set up camp in another part of the hill country. Laban went to Jacob 26 and said:
Look what you've done! You've tricked me and run off with my daughters like a kidnapper. 27 Why did you sneak away without telling me? I would have given you a going-away party with singing and with music on tambourines and harps. 28 You didn't even give me a chance to kiss my own grandchildren and daughters goodbye. That was really foolish. 29 I could easily hurt you, but the God your father worshiped has warned me not to make any threats or promises.
30 I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?
31 Jacob answered, “I left secretly because I was afraid you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 If you find that any one of us has taken your idols, I'll have that person killed. Let your relatives be witnesses. Show me what belongs to you, and you can take it back.” Jacob did not realize that Rachel had stolen the household idols.
33 Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, and the two servant women, but did not find the idols. Then he went to Rachel's tent. 34 She had already hidden them in the cushion she used as a saddle and was sitting on it. Laban searched everywhere and did not find them. 35 Rachel said, “Father, please don't be angry with me for not getting up; I'm having my period.” Laban kept on searching, but still did not find the idols.
36 Jacob became very angry and said to Laban:
What have I done wrong? Have I committed some crime? Is that why you hunted me down? 37 After searching through everything I have, did you find anything of yours? If so, put it here, where your relatives and mine can see it. Then we can decide what to do.
38 In all the 20 years that I've worked for you, not one of your sheep or goats has had a miscarriage, and I've never eaten even one of your rams. 39 If a wild animal killed one of your sheep or goats, I paid for it myself. In fact, you demanded the full price, whether the animal was killed during the day or at night. 40 I sweated every day, and I couldn't sleep at night because of the cold.
41 I had to work 14 of these 20 long years to earn your two daughters and another 6 years to buy your sheep and goats. During that time you kept changing my wages. 42 If the fearsome God worshiped by Abraham and my father Isaac had not been on my side, you would have sent me away without a thing. But God saw my hard work, and he knew the trouble I was in, so he helped me. Then last night he told you how wrong you were.
Jacob and Laban Make an Agreement
43 Laban said to Jacob, “Leah and Rachel are my daughters, and their children belong to me. All these sheep you are taking are really mine too. In fact, everything you have belongs to me. But there is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children. 44 So I am ready to make an agreement with you, and we will pile up some large rocks here to remind us of the agreement.”
45 After Jacob had set up a large rock, 46 he told his men to get some more rocks and pile them up next to it. Then Jacob and Laban ate a meal together beside the rocks. 47 Laban named the pile of rocks Jegar Sahadutha. But Jacob named it Galeed. 48 Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will remind us of our agreement.” That's why the place was named Galeed. 49 Laban also said, “This pile of rocks means that the Lord will watch us both while we are apart from each other.” So the place was also named Mizpah.
50 Then Laban said:
If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women, I may not know about it, but remember, God is watching us! 51-52 Both this pile of rocks and this large rock have been set up between us as a reminder. I must never go past them to attack you, and you must never come past them to attack me. 53 My father Nahor, your grandfather Abraham, and their ancestors all worshiped the same God, and he will make sure that we each keep the agreement.
Then Jacob made a promise in the name of the fearsome God his father Isaac had worshiped. 54 Jacob killed an animal and offered it as a sacrifice there on the mountain, and he invited his men to eat with him. After the meal they spent the night on the mountain. 55 Early the next morning, Laban kissed his daughters and his grandchildren goodbye, then he left to go back home.
1 Bet viņš dzirdēja Lābana dēlus sakām: "Jēkabs ir piesavinājies it visu, kas mūsu tēvam bija. No tā, kas mūsu tēvam pieder, viņš sagādājis sev visu šo bagātību." 2 Un Jēkabs vēroja Lābana seju, un, lūk, tā nebija pret viņu tāda kā vakar un aizvakar. 3 Un Tas Kungs sacīja uz Jēkabu: "Atgriezies sava tēva zemē pie savas cilts, un Es būšu ar tevi." 4 Un Jēkabs sūtīja ziņu un lika Rahēlei un Leai nākt uz lauka pie viņa sīklopiem. 5 Un viņš sacīja tām: "Es vēroju jūsu tēva seju, ka tā vairs nav pret mani tāda kā vakar un aizvakar; bet mana tēva Dievs ir ar mani, 6 un jūs zināt, ka es ar visiem saviem spēkiem esmu kalpojis jūsu tēvam. 7 Bet jūsu tēvs mani ir pievīlis, un viņš ir pārgrozījis manu algu desmitām reižu, bet Dievs nav ļāvis viņam ļaunu man darīt. 8 Ja viņš sacīja: lāsainie lai ir tava alga,- tad visiem sīklopiem atnesās lāsaini jēri un kazlēni. Bet, ja viņš sacīja: raibie lai ir tava alga,- visiem atnesās raibi jēri un kazlēni. 9 Tā Dievs ir atņēmis jūsu tēvam ganāmpulku un devis man. 10 Un notika, ap avju apiešanās laiku, es, savas acis pacēlis, sapnī redzēju: un, lūk, visi teķi, kas aplēca avis, bija svītraini, lāsaini un raibi. 11 Un Dieva eņģelis sacīja man sapnī: Jēkab! - Un es sacīju: te es esmu. 12 Un Viņš sacīja: atver savas acis un skaties: visi teķi, kas aplec avis, ir svītraini, lāsaini un raibi; jo Es esmu redzējis, ko Lābans tev ir darījis. 13 Es esmu tas Bēteles Dievs, kur tu piemiņas akmeni esi svaidījis, kur tu esi Man solījumu devis. Bet tagad celies, ej no šīs zemes projām un atgriezies savā dzimtajā zemē." 14 Un Rahēle un Lea atbildēja viņam: "Vai mums vēl ir kāda daļa jeb mantojums mūsu tēva namā? 15 Vai viņš mūs netur kā svešinieces? Jo viņš mūs ir pārdevis un pats apēdis mūsu atlīdzības naudu. 16 Un visa bagātība, ko Dievs atņēmis mūsu tēvam, pieder mums un mūsu bērniem. Tad nu dari visu, ko Dievs tev ir sacījis." 17 Un Jēkabs cēlās un uzsēdināja savus bērnus un savas sievas uz kamieļiem. 18 Un viņš savāca visus savus ganāmpulkus un visu savu mantību, ko bija ieguvis, ganāmpulkus, ko tas Mezopotāmijā bija ieguvis, lai ietu pie sava tēva Īzāka uz Kānaāna zemi. 19 Bet, kad Lābans gāja savas avis cirpt, Rahēle nozaga terafīmu, kas bija viņas tēvam. 20 Un Jēkabs pievīla aramieti Lābanu, jo neko neteica tam par savu bēgšanu. 21 Un viņš bēga līdz ar visu, kas tam bija, un cēlās un pārgāja pāri upei, un virzījās uz Gileāda kalna pusi. 22 Bet Lābanam trešajā dienā tika paziņots, ka Jēkabs aizbēdzis. 23 Tad viņš ņēma savus brāļus un dzinās tam pakaļ septiņu dienu gājumā un panāca viņu pie Gileāda kalna. 24 Un Dievs nāca pie aramieša Lābana sapnī, nakts laikā, un sacīja: "Sargies, ka tu ar Jēkabu nerunā ne labu, ne ļaunu." 25 Un Lābans panāca Jēkabu; un Jēkabs savu telti bija uzcēlis kalnā; arī Lābans ar saviem brāļiem uzcēla savu telti Gileāda kalnā. 26 Un Lābans teica Jēkabam: "Ko tu man esi darījis! Kāpēc tu esi mani pievīlis, manas meitas aizvezdams kā kara gūsteknes? 27 Kāpēc tu esi slepeni aizbēdzis, mani pievildams, un neesi man to sacījis? Es tevi būtu pavadījis ar prieku un dziesmām, ar bungām un cītarām. 28 Un tu neesi ļāvis man noskūpstīt manus bērnubērnus un manas meitas. Tiešām, tu esi aplam darījis. 29 Mana roka gan ir pietiekami stipra, lai tev darītu ļaunu, bet tavu tēvu Dievs vakar runāja uz mani, sacīdams: sargies, ka tu ar Jēkabu nerunā ne labu, ne ļaunu. 30 Nu labi, tu esi ietin aizgājis tāpēc, ka tu ilgodamies ilgojies pēc sava tēva nama; bet kāpēc tu esi nozadzis manus dievus?" 31 Un Jēkabs atbildēja un sacīja Lābanam: "Es baidījos, jo es domāju, ka tu man tik ar varu neatņem savas meitas. 32 Pie kā tiek atrasti tavi dievi, tas lai mitas dzīvot! Mūsu brāļu klātbūtnē pārmeklē to, kas man ir, un ņem to sev." Bet Jēkabs nezināja, ka Rahēle bija tos nozagusi. 33 Un Lābans iegāja Jēkaba teltī un Leas teltī, un abu kalpoņu teltīs, un viņš tur nekā neatrada; un viņš iznāca no Leas telts un iegāja Rahēles teltī. 34 Un Rahēle bija paņēmusi terafīmu un ielikusi to kamieļa seglos un pati uzsēdusies tiem virsū. Un Lābans iztaustīja visu telti un nevarēja to atrast. 35 Bet viņa sacīja savam tēvam: "Lai mans kungs nedusmojas, ka es viņa priekšā nevaru piecelties, jo man klājas, kā sievām mēdz būt." Un viņš meklēja, bet neatrada terafīmu. 36 Un Jēkabs sadusmojās un uzbruka Lābanam. Un Jēkabs atbildēja un sacīja Lābanam: "Ko es esmu pārkāpis, ko es esmu nogrēkojies, ka tu man dzenies pakaļ? 37 Tu esi aptaustījis visas manas lietas. Ko tu esi atradis no sava nama lietām? Liec to tagad manu un savu brāļu priekšā, lai tie izšķir, kam taisnība. 38 Divdesmit gadus es esmu bijis pie tevis; tavas avis un tavas kazas nav izmetušās, un tavu sīklopu aunus un āžus es neesmu ēdis. 39 Saplosīto es neesmu tev atnesis atpakaļ, es esmu samaksājis; no manas rokas tu to atprasīji, vai nu tas bija zudis dienā, vai naktī. 40 Es esmu tā dzīvojis, ka karstums mani ēda dienā, bet aukstums naktī. Un miegs bēga no manām acīm. 41 Es tev divdesmit gadus esmu kalpojis, četrpadsmit gadus es esmu kalpojis par tavām abām meitām un sešus gadus par taviem sīklopiem; desmitām reižu tu manu algu esi pārgrozījis. 42 Ja nebūtu bijis mana tēva Dievs, Ābrahāma Dievs, un tas, ko Īzāks bīstas, ar mani, tad tagad tukšām rokām tu būtu mani atlaidis. Bet Dievs ir redzējis manas bēdas un manu roku darbu un šonakt lietu izšķīris." 43 Un Lābans atbildēja un sacīja Jēkabam: "Šīs meitas ir manas meitas, šie bērni - mani bērni un šie sīklopi - mani lopi, un viss, ko tu pārredzi, tas ir mans. Bet ko gan es šodien darīšu savām meitām vai viņu bērniem, kurus tās ir dzemdējušas? 44 Tāpēc nāc, lai noslēdzam derību, es un tu, un lai tā ir liecība starp mani un tevi." 45 Un Jēkabs paņēma akmeni un cēla to par piemiņas akmeni. 46 Un Jēkabs sacīja saviem brāļiem: "Salasiet akmeņus!" Un tie paņēma akmeņus un izveidoja akmens kaudzi un ēda tur pie tās akmens kaudzes. 47 Un Lābans to nosauca: Jegar-Sahaduta , bet Jēkabs to nosauca: Galeda . 48 Un Lābans sacīja: "Šī kaudze lai ir par liecību šodien starp mani un tevi." Tāpēc tas nosauca tās vārdu: Galeda 49 un arī Micpa , tāpēc ka tas sacīja: "Tas Kungs lai ir sargs pār mani un pār tevi, kad mēs neredzamies. 50 Ja tu ļauni apiesies ar manām meitām vai kad tu ņemsi citas sievas klāt pie manām meitām, kur neviena nav klāt, tad redzi: Dievs ir liecinieks mūsu vidū." 51 Un Lābans sacīja Jēkabam: "Redzi, šī kaudze un šis piemiņas akmens, ko esmu uzcēlis starp mani un tevi: 52 liecinieces ir šī kaudze un šis akmens, ka es neiešu pāri pie tevis un tu nenāksi pāri pie manis, lai darītu ļaunu. 53 Ābrahāma Dievs un Nahora Dievs lai ir soģis starp mums, viņu tēvu Dievs!" Un to Jēkabs apzvērēja pie Tā, ko Īzāks, viņa tēvs, bijās. 54 Un Jēkabs sagatavoja upuri uz kalna un aicināja savus radus ēst maizi. Un viņi ēda maizi un pārnakšņoja kalnā.
