The Bible - Genesis - Chapter 31: Jacob Leaves Secretly for Canaan

When they see Jacob amassing a huge flock at the cost of their father and their own inheritance, Laban’s sons are noticeably annoyed. Sensing the shift in the wind, Jacob receives the verbal blessing of his God makes ready to return with all his amassed wealth and to Canaan. Jacob calls his wives to him and retells the story of how he acquired the rights to all the animals he’s about to take. Jacob’s story to his wife differs significantly from the events stated in chapter 30; the JSB explains this in terms of another change of authorship. The NASB ignores the contradiction. Jacob tells his wives that God gave him the flocks because Laban continually cheated him and omits the detail that he actually employed mysticism to influence the color of the flock.

Rachel and Leah respond that their father has cheated them as well. He has frittered away the bride-price paid by Jacob that was really theirs by right. As Jacob’s retinue is preparing to leave, Rachel sneaks into her father’s home and steals his idols. She hides these items away and tells no one. While Laban is away shearing sheep, Jacob and his whole household pick up and start off.

After three days, Laban notices Jacob’s absence and takes off after him. God appears to Laban and warns him to back off but Laban finally catches up with Jacob and questions him on his unannounced departure and the missing idols. Jacob answers that he feared Laban would take his wives from him by force and claims forcefully that he’s stolen nothing. He goes so far as to say, “anyone with whom you find your goods shall not remain alive.” Laban conducts a thorough search and finds nothing except Rachel sitting on a set of saddlebags. She claims she cannot rise to allow him to search the bags because “the period of the woman is upon her.” Laban buys this excuse and leaves her with her stolen booty undetected.

After the search, it’s Jacob’s turn to be angry. He lays out a litany of complaints against Laban and the conditions under which he worked for 20 years. If it hadn’t been for God, he says, Laban would have sent him away empty handed. Laban relents and proposes a truce. They establish a boundary between their two lands and construct a mound to witness this pact before God.