Genesis 31:1-21

Genesis 31:1-21

[1] And he heard  the words  of Laban's  sons,  saying,  Jacob  hath taken away  all that was our father's;  hath he gotten  all this glory.  [2] And Jacob  beheld  the countenance  of Laban,  and, behold, it was not toward him as  before.  [3] And the LORD  said  unto Jacob,  Return  unto the land  of thy fathers,  and to thy kindred;  [4] And Jacob  sent  and called  Rachel  and Leah  to the field  unto his flock,  [5] And said  unto them, I see  your father's  countenance,  that it is not toward me as  before;  but the God  of my father  hath been  with me. [6] And ye  know  that with all my power  I have served  your father.  [7] And your father  hath deceived  me, and changed  my wages  ten  times;  but God  suffered him  not to hurt  me.  [8] If he said  thus, The speckled  shall be thy wages;  then all the cattle  bare  speckled:  and if he said  thus, The ringstraked  shall be thy hire;  then bare  all the cattle  ringstraked.  [9] Thus God  hath taken away  the cattle  of your father,  and given  them to me. [10] And it came to pass at the time  that the cattle  conceived,  that I lifted up  mine eyes,  and saw  in a dream,  and, behold, the rams  which leaped  upon the cattle  were ringstraked,  speckled,  and grisled.  [11] And the angel  of God  spake  unto me in a dream,  saying, Jacob:  And I said,  [12] And he said,  Lift up  now thine eyes,  and see,  all the rams  which leap  upon the cattle  are ringstraked,  speckled,  and grisled:  for I have seen  all that Laban  doeth  unto thee. [13] I am the God  of Bethel,  where thou anointedst  the pillar,  and where thou vowedst  a vow  unto me: now arise,  get thee out  from this land,  and return  unto the land  of thy kindred.  [14] And Rachel  and Leah  answered  and said  unto him, Is there yet any portion  or inheritance  for us in our father's  house?  [15] Are we not counted  of him strangers?  for he hath sold  us, and hath quite  also our money.  [16] For all the riches  which God  hath taken  from our father,  that is ours, and our children's:  now then, whatsoever God  hath said  unto thee, do.  [17] Then Jacob  rose up,  and set  his sons  and his wives  upon camels;  [18] And he carried away  all his cattle,  and all his goods  which he had gotten,  the cattle  of his getting,  which he had gotten  in Padanaram,  for to go  to Isaac  his father  in the land  of Canaan.  [19] And Laban  went  to shear  his sheep:  and Rachel  had stolen  the images  that were her father's.  [20] And Jacob  stole away  unawares  to Laban  the Syrian,  in that  he told  him not  that he fled.  [21] So he fled  with all that he had; and he rose up,  and passed over  the river,  and set  his face  toward the mount  Gilead. 

What does Genesis 31:1-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God had been faithful in blessing Jacob, as He had promised Abraham and Isaac. Moses recorded the testimony to that fact in this section. Jacob acknowledged that God was responsible for his prosperity. God"s goodness and His command to return to the Promised Land ( Genesis 31:3), as well as Laban"s growing hostility ( Genesis 31:5), motivated Jacob to leave Paddan-aram.
It is unclear from what Jacob reported to his wives when the Angel of God appeared to him in the dream ( Genesis 31:10-13). This may have occurred before or at the same time as the revelation referred to earlier in this passage. It seems likely, however, that this was the same Revelation , God"s second to Jacob.
In this revelation Jacob learned that God had been responsible for his becoming richer ( Genesis 31:12). Jacob credited God with this and with his own survival ( Genesis 31:5; Genesis 31:7). This is the first time in the narrative that Jacob emerges as a man of public faith. He finally takes the leadership in his home, and his wives, for the first time, follow his lead.
"This is another case of the "Ruth effect," where the foreign wife commits herself and future to the God of her adopted family." [1]