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HOLY BIBLE
BOOK OF GENESIS
GENESIS 31
1Now Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what belonged to our father he has gained all this wealth.
2Jacob also saw that Laban did not regard him as favorably as he did before.
3Then the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers and your kindred, and I will be with you.
4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was,
5And said to them, I see your father does not regard me as favourably as he did before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6You know that I have served your father with all my strength,
7Yet your father has cheated me, and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to do me any harm.
8If he said, The speckled shall be your wages, then all the flock bore speckled; and if he said, The streaked shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore streaked.
9God has taken away the flocks of your father and given them to me.
10During the breeding season, I saw in a dream that the rams mating with the flocks were streaked, speckled, and mottled.
11The angel of God spoke to me in the dream, saying, Jacob, and I said, Here I am.
12And He said, Look and see that all the rams mating with the flocks are streaked, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now rise up, get out from this land and return to the land of your birth.
14Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, Is there any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15Has he not counted us as strangers? He not only sold us, but has also completely wasted the money paid for us.
16Surely all the riches that God has taken from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now do whatever God has told you.
17So Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18And he drove away all his livestock, all his wealth, and all that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to return to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19Now when Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father's.
20Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he intended to leave.
21So Jacob fled with all he had. He quickly crossed the Euphrates, then set his face towards the hill country of Gilead.
22And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. So he took his brethren with him and pursued Jacob seven days, and they caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
23So he took his brethren with him and pursued Jacob seven days, and they caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
24But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.
25So Laban overtook Jacob, and when Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, Laban and his brethren set up camp there also.
26Laban said to Jacob, What have you done? You have deceived me and carried away my daughters like they were captives of war.
27Why did you flee away secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could have sent you off with joy, and with songs, tambourines, and harps?
28You did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? What you have done is foolish.
29I have the power to do you harm, but the God of your father told me last night, Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.
30Very well, you had to leave because you greatly long for your father's house, but why have you stolen my gods?
31Jacob answered Laban, Because I was afraid, I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
32Whoever has taken your gods will be put to death. Before our brethren, identify whatever I have that is yours and take it. Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33So Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maids' tents, but he did not find them. Then he left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's.
34Now Rachel had taken the images and put them inside the camel's saddle and sat on them. Laban searched the whole tent but did not find them.
35For she said to her father, Don't be angry, my lord, that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me. So he searched but did not find the idols.
36Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. What is my trespass? Jacob demanded of Laban, How have I wronged you that you should hunt me down?
37Now you have searched through all my goods, did you find anything that belonged to you? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us.
38I have been with you these past twenty years. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, and the rams of your flock I have not eaten.
39That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you, I bore the loss myself. Of my hand did you require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
40In the day heat consumed me and the frost by night, and I went without sleep.
41This was my lot for the twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
42Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, been with me, you would have sent me away empty-handed now. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and He rebuked you last night.
43Laban replied to Jacob, These women are my daughters, these children are my children, and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to my daughters, or to their children which they have born?
44Come, then, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be for a witness between you and me.
45So Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar.
46And Jacob said to his brethren, Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap; and they ate there by the heap.Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and you this day. So it was called Galeed.
49It was also called Mizpah for he said, May the LORD watch between us when we are out of each other's sight.
51If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives beside my daughters, although no man is with us, realise that God is a witness between you and me.
51And Laban said to Jacob, See this heap and see this pillar, which I have set between you and me.
52This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap toward you for harm, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar toward me for harm.
53May the God of Abraham, and the god of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us. So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they did eat bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55Early in the morning Laban rose, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.
This is the Bible Overview
View Commentaries for Genesis Chapter 1
The Stories of the Bible – Read here
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
Bible Related Topics
- St. Basil the Great – Hexaemeron (Orthodox, 4th century)
- Description: Nine homilies on the six days of creation (Genesis 1:1-31), exploring both literal and spiritual meanings. Basil emphasizes God’s omnipotence, the instantaneous nature of creation, and the cosmos’s order, integrating philosophical insights with Scripture.
- Relevance: A foundational Orthodox text, ideal for your site’s authoritative exegesis.
- Source: Available in English via Fathers of the Church series (Catholic University of America Press) or CCEL.org (public domain).
- St. Ambrose of Milan – Hexaemeron (Catholic, 4th century)
- Description: Six sermons on the creation days, heavily influenced by St. Basil but adapted for a Latin audience. Ambrose blends literal and allegorical interpretations, focusing on God’s providence and creation’s harmony.
- Relevance: A key Catholic commentary, complementing Orthodox perspectives.
- Source: Public domain, available via NewAdvent.org or Fathers of the Church series.
- St. Ephrem the Syrian – Commentary on Genesis (Orthodox/Catholic, Syriac tradition, 4th century)
- Description: A verse-by-verse exegesis of Genesis, including Genesis 1, with a focus on literal interpretation and Syriac theological traditions. Ephrem’s concise style emphasizes doctrinal fidelity and spiritual insights.
- Relevance: Bridges Catholic and Orthodox traditions, ideal for your Septuagint-based focus.
- Source: Translated in St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works (Catholic University of America Press).
- St. Augustine of Hippo – The Literal Meaning of Genesis (Catholic, early 5th century)
- Description: Augustine’s detailed commentary explores literal and allegorical readings, proposing that the “days” of Genesis 1 may be instantaneous or symbolic, reflecting God’s eternal act. It addresses creation’s purpose and God’s eternity.
- Relevance: A cornerstone of Catholic exegesis, offering intellectual depth.
- Source: Public domain, available via NewAdvent.org or Works of St. Augustine.
- St. John Chrysostom – Homilies on Genesis (Orthodox, 4th century)
- Description: A series of 67 homilies, with several covering Genesis 1, focusing on literal interpretation and moral/spiritual lessons. Chrysostom’s pastoral style makes the text accessible yet profound.
- Relevance: Widely respected in Orthodox tradition, suitable for lay readers.
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