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Jacob Runs from Laban
31
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 bless you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the field 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,
 and I am the God you worshiped at Bethel,  y 31.13 you ... Bethel: Or “who appeared to you at Bethel.” when you poured olive oil on a rock and made a promise to me. Leave here right away 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 z 31.15 bride price: Usually the husband-to-be paid a bride price to the father of the bride. But Jacob didn't pay Laban a bride price for either Rachel or Leah. Instead he was tricked into working fourteen years to get the bride he loved. So there was no money for either of Laban's daughters. that should have been ours.
16 Now 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 for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Jacob took all of the flocks, herds, and other property that he had gotten in northern Syria.
19 Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols b 31.19 household idols: These were thought to protect the household from danger. It is also possible that the person who had them would inherit the family property. while Laban was out shearing his sheep.
20 Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean c 31.20 the Aramean: Meaning someone from northern Syria (see the note at 24.10). 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.
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