Jacob’s Treaty with Laban
A Final Look at Laban.

• Laban heeded God’s warning.

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. 

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 

Psalm 51:10 (NLT)
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.

 Genesis 31:43-55 (NLT)
Jacob’s Treaty with Laban
⁴³ Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children? ⁴⁴ So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”  ⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a monument. ⁴⁶ Then he told his family members, “Gather some stones.” So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal. ⁴⁷ To commemorate the event, Laban called the place Jegar-sahadutha (which means “witness pile” in Aramaic), and Jacob called it Galeed (which means “witness pile” in Hebrew).  ⁴⁸ Then Laban declared, “This pile of stones will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.” ⁴⁹ But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight. ⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other wives, God will see it even if no one else does. He is a witness to this covenant between us.
⁵¹ “See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us. ⁵² They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me. ⁵³ I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”
So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac, to respect the boundary line. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
⁵⁵ Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 31:43-55 (NLT)

Laban’s Original intent

Laban Pursues Jacob

²² Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. ²³ So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead.

 Genesis 31:29 (NLT)
²⁹ I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’

• Laban had set out in hot pursuit of Jacob with thoughts of destroying Jacob and taking back his daughters and Jacob’s flocks. 

• God intervened!

Genesis 31:24 (NLT)
²⁴ But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!”

 Jacob’s Treaty with Laban

⁴³ Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine.

“In fact” none of this is true.

• Laban had accepted payment from Jacob for Leah and Rachel, as well as all of the flocks Jacob had acquired.

Genesis 29:18-30 (NLT)
¹⁸ Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
¹⁹ “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
²¹ Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”
²² So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. ²³ But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. ²⁴ (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
²⁵ But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”
²⁶ “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. ²⁷ “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
²⁸ So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. ²⁹ (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) ³⁰ So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.

• Jacob had worked 14 years to pay for Leah and Rachel.

Genesis 30:28-32 (NLT)
²⁸ Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
²⁹ Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. ³⁰ You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?” ³¹ “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.
Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. ³² Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages.  ³³ In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”  ³⁴ “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” 

• Laban agreed to give Jacob all of his sheep and goats that were speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep as Jacob’s wages for tending his flocks.

But what can I do now about my daughters and their children? 

Laban may have sensed that things were out of his control.

⁴⁴ So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”

• Laban invites Jacob to make a covenant or treaty with him.

Jacob would not mistreat Laban’s daughters and would not marry other wives. (v. 50)

Jacob would not harm Laban and Laban would not harm Jacob. (v. 52)

⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a monument. ⁴⁶ Then he told his family members, “Gather some stones.” So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap.

Stones were used as monuments or physical reminders in the Old Testament.

Jacob at Bethel
Genesis 28 (After his vision of God in a dream)

Samuel
1 Samuel 7:12 (NLT)
¹² Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”

Joshua at Gilgal
Israel crossing the Jordan River
Joshua 4:1-8
A memorial to God’s love and miraculous assistance.

Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal. 

(See verse 54)

Eating with other people was a significant event in ancient days, for only parties who were at peace could dine together. (Ligonier Ministries – R.C. Sproul)

Examples in scripture

Revelation 3:20 New Living Translation (NLT)
²⁰ “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

 John 21:12-14 (NLT)
¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 

Exodus 24:1-11 (NLT)
Israel Accepts the Lord’s Covenant
¹ Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. ² Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
³ Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
⁴ Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. ⁶ Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.
⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”
⁸ Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”
⁹ Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. ¹⁰ There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. ¹¹ And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

• Jacob and Laban sat down together to eat a covenant meal.

⁴⁷ To commemorate the event, Laban called the place Jegar-sahadutha (which means “witness pile” in Aramaic), and Jacob called it Galeed (which means “witness pile” in Hebrew).

Did Jesus speak Aramaic or Hebrew?

⁴⁸ Then Laban declared, “This pile of stones will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.” ⁴⁹ But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight. 

⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other wives, God will see it even if no one else does. He is a witness to this covenant between us.

• Laban invited God to be a witness to this covenant event.

⁵¹ “See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us.
⁵² They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me.
⁵³ I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”

God will serve as a judge between us.

So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac, to respect the boundary line. 

⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast.

• God was a part of this covenant event.

After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

Eating together indicated mutual acceptance.

⁵⁵ Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them.

This is the second last recorded activity of Laban found in the Scriptures. (See the next phrase.)

Then he left and returned home.

• Laban left “empty-handed”.

Laban’s name mentioned again in 32:4 and 46:18 & 25 (and a place on the map)

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. 

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 

Psalm 51:10 (NLT)
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.

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Laban Pursues Jacob

A story of deception and God’s intervention.

• “Deception” continues to be a major theme in this narrative.

Genesis 31:22-42 (NLT)
Laban Pursues Jacob
²² Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. ²³ So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead. ²⁴ But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!”
²⁵ Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob’s. ²⁶ “What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded. “How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war? ²⁷ Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you deceive me? And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. ²⁸ Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly! ²⁹ I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’ ³⁰ I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father’s home. But why have you stolen my gods?”
³¹ “I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. ³² But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!” But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the household idols.
³³ Laban went first into Jacob’s tent to search there, then into Leah’s, and then the tents of the two servant wives—but he found nothing. Finally, he went into Rachel’s tent. ³⁴ But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them, ³⁵ she said to her father, “Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period.” So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.
³⁶ Then Jacob became very angry, and he challenged Laban. “What’s my crime?” he demanded. “What have I done wrong to make you chase after me as though I were a criminal? ³⁷ You have rummaged through everything I own. Now show me what you found that belongs to you! Set it out here in front of us, before our relatives, for all to see. Let them judge between us! ³⁸ “For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. ³⁹ If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.
⁴⁰ “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. ⁴¹ Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! ⁴² In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 31:22-42 (NLT)
Laban Pursues Jacob

²² Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 

Twenty years earlier Jacob had fled from Esau after deceiving their father Isaac.

• “Deception” is a major theme in this narrative.

²³ So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit.

“Hot pursuit”

He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead. 

Seven days of “hot pursuit”.
Southeast of the Sea of Galilee.  Several hundred miles from Laban’s home.
Jacob and all of his flocks were moving right along. 

²⁴ But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!” 

(“Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” a proverbial expression)

• God clearly intervened on Jacob’s behalf.

Leave Jacob alone.  Don’t make him come back to your place.  Don’t take his possessions. 

²⁵ Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob’s. ²⁶ “What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded.

Feeling deceived.

Laban brings accusations against Jacob.

“How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war? 

Jacob did not drag Laban’s daughters away from their home.

(vs. 13-14)
²⁷ Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”
Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us!

Rachel and Leah were in agreement with each other and with Jacob about leaving their father.

 Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you deceive me?

Feeling deceived. 

And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. ²⁸ Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye?

Laban describes himself as a hurt and baffled father and Jacob as a thoughtless son in law.

Victim mentality.

Laban’s behavior is also deceptive.

You have acted very foolishly! 

²⁹ I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’ 

• Laban heeded God’s warning. (More about this in the next lesson.)

 ³⁰ I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father’s home. But why have you stolen my gods?”

Why would Jacob have stolen Laban’s gods?  Good question.

³¹ “I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. 

Jacob had worked hard for twenty years.

The deceptive environment led to feelings of fear.

³² But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!” But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the household idols.

Jacob unknowingly put the death penalty on Rachel.

³³ Laban went first into Jacob’s tent to search there, then into Leah’s, and then the tents of the two servant wives—but he found nothing. Finally, he went into Rachel’s tent. ³⁴ But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them.

• Rachel deceived her father (and Jacob).

• One dishonest deed led to another.

When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them, ³⁵ she said to her father, “Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period.”

This may, or may not, have been a lie.

If Rachel was having her monthly period (being unclean) and sat on the idol, it results in the idol becoming contaminated and therefore worthless.

Laban would assume that Rachel would not dare contaminate a god.

So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.

 ³⁶ Then Jacob became very angry, and he challenged Laban.

Jacob brings accusations against Laban.

Reaping what was sown.

 “What’s my crime?” he demanded. “What have I done wrong to make you chase after me as though I were a criminal? ³⁷ You have rummaged through everything I own. Now show me what you found that belongs to you! Set it out here in front of us, before our relatives, for all to see. Let them judge between us!

• Deceptive behaviors escalated the conflict between the father and son-in-law.

³⁸ “For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. ³⁹ If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.

⁴⁰ “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. ⁴¹ Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! 

• Jacob tried to defend his actions. 

⁴² In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

• Jacob acknowledges God’s intervention on his behalf.

Applications for our lives:

• God intervenes in our lives.

Psalm 55:22 (NLT)
Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

 Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.

 Isaiah 43:1-3 (NLT)
¹ But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
² When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
³ For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you. 

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 John 10:27-29 (NLT)
²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, ²⁹ for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 

What are some things we know about deception?

• The human heart is deceitful.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?

Deceitful behaviors have serious consequences.

Proverbs 19:9 (NLT)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will be destroyed.

 Galatians 6:7 (NLT)
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

• Be done with deceit.

1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)
So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

Colossians 3:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

 Luke 6:45 (NLT)
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. 

Ask God to give you a clean heart.

Psalm 51:10 (NLT)
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.

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Jacob Flees from Laban – Heading back to Canaan

Four mini lessons for us. Learn from the life of Jacob.

Learn from Jacob’s mistakes

Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Jacob Flees from Laban
Genesis 31:1-21 (NLT)
¹ But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.” ² And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.
³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”
⁴ So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock. ⁵ He said to them, “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ You know how hard I have worked for your father, ⁷ but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm. ⁸ For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,’ then the whole flock produced striped young. ⁹ In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me.
¹⁰ “One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ¹¹ Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’
¹² “The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you. ¹³ I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”
¹⁴ Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. ¹⁵ He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us. ¹⁶ All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”
¹⁷ So Jacob put his wives and children on camels, ¹⁸ and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived. ¹⁹ At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her. ²⁰ Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving. ²¹ So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.

Examine the Scriptures

Jacob Flees from Laban

Genesis 31:1-21 (NLT)

¹ But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.” 

Jacob lied to his own father. (Chapter 27)
Jacob deceived his own father. (Chapter 27)
Jacob manipulated the breeding of Laban’s flocks.

Laban’s son’s observations were somewhat accurate.

² And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.

Laban deceived Jacob by giving Jacob Leah in place of Rachel. (Chapter 29)

Laban deceived Jacob by removing all the animals, he had promised to give to Jacob, and giving them to his sons. (Chapter 30)

Laban was looking out for his own interests when he convinced Jacob to stay and care for his flocks.  (Chapter 30)

• You are known by the way you act.

Mini-lesson #1

• For you will be treated as you treat others. Matthew 7:2 NLT

Luke 6:31 (NLT)
Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)
Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

Challenge:
Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

 ³ Then the Lord said to Jacob,

 “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 28:15 (NLT)
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” 

Jacob had good reasons to move back to Canaan.

God told Jacob to move back to Canaan.

Laban’s attitude and Laban’s son’s grumbling.

A message to God’s chosen people while in exile in Babylon:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Mini-lesson #2

• God has a plan (for good) for his chosen people.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)
³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (spend time in the Word getting to know God and His will for your life), and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

Psalm 86:11 (NLT)
Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.

 ⁴ So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock. 

Away from other listening ears.

Let his wives in on his plans.

Jacob shares how God has been working in his life as well as his plans to return to Canaan.

⁵ He said to them, “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed.

 But the God of my father has been with me.

At times Isaac rejected Jacob and Laban rejected Rachel and Leah, but Jacob felt God’s presence with him. 

 ⁶ You know how hard I have worked for your father, ⁷ but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times.

Cheated by his father-in-law.

But God has not allowed him to do me any harm. 

Protected by God.

Mini-lesson #3

• It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.  Psalm 118:8

Psalm 118:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people. 

⁸ For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,’ then the whole flock produced striped young. 

 ⁹ In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me.

Jacob recognized God at work in his life.

¹⁰ “One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ¹¹ Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’
¹² “The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you. ¹³ I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”

 Jacob’s speech to his wives seemed to get the results he wanted.

¹⁴ Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. ¹⁵ He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us. 

Rachel and Leah were in agreement with each other and with Jacob.

¹⁶ All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”

Jacob’s wives saw God at work in their lives.

¹⁷ So Jacob put his wives and children on camels, ¹⁸ and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived. 

 ¹⁹ At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her. 

Rachel was not yet free from her pagan background.

Genesis 35:2  (NLT)
So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.

                                A Biblical principle God will give to his people at a later date:

Exodus 20:2-6 (NLT)
² “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
³ “You must not have any other god but me.
⁴ “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. ⁵ You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. ⁶ But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

 Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 

• No one can serve two masters.

 Mini-lesson #4 

• Wholly trust in God.

 Psalm 62:5-8 (NLT)
⁵ Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. 

 ²⁰ Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean,

 for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving. 

Outwitted, set out secretly,

Genesis 31:26 (NLT)
“What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded.

 Jacob continues to deceive others.

²¹ So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.

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Jacob’s Wealth Increases

Jacob is experiencing some of God’s blessings.

Genesis 28:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. ¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

             Note: God’s blessings were not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

Genesis 30:25-43 (NLT)
²⁵ Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. ²⁶ Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”
²⁷ “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. ²⁸ Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
²⁹ Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. ³⁰ You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”
³¹ “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.
Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. ³² Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. ³³ In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”
³⁴ “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” ³⁵ But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, ³⁶ who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.
³⁷ Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. ³⁸ Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. ³⁹ And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ⁴⁰ Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.
⁴¹ Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. ⁴² But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. ⁴³ As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

Examine the Scriptures

Jacob’s Wealth Increases

Genesis 30:25-43 (NLT)
²⁵ Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph,

• Jacob’s 14 year commitment to Laban had been fulfilled.

(Genesis 29-30 covers a time period of 20 years.)

Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. 

Remember the reasons Jacob had traveled to Paddan-Aram.

Fleeing from Esau.

Looking for a wife as instructed by his father.

God had said to Jacob, “One day I will bring you back to this land. (Canaan).

 Jacob appears to have a general understanding of God’s plan for his life.

• Jacob was ready to move back “home” to Canaan, the Promised Land.

²⁶ Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”

Jacob is making an appropriate, respectful appeal.

 ²⁷ “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. ²⁸ Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”

• Laban understood that he was becoming wealthy because the Lord was blessing Jacob.

Genesis 30:27 English Standard Version (ESV)
But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.

 Genesis 30:27 New International Version (NIV)
But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”

 The use of divination is sinful even though the information obtained is accurate.

Discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means.

Laban knows that it is to his advantage for Jacob to continue working for him.

 ²⁹ Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. ³⁰ You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done.

• Jacob also knew that Laban’s increased wealth was a direct result of the Lord’s blessing.

Note: God’s blessings were not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

Jacob worked hard for Laban.

• God’s blessings are not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

 But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”

 ³¹ “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.

Laban did not want Jacob to leave.

• Laban wanted Jacob to stay, so that he, Laban, would continue to benefit from God’s blessings to Jacob.

Jacob’s Proposal

 Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. ³² Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep.

  Give these to me as my wages. ³³ In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. 

• Jacob professes to be honest with Laban. 

If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”

It would be obvious which animals were Jacob’s and which were Laban’s.

³⁴ “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” 

• Laban verbally agreed to follow Jacob’s proposal.

• Jacob agreed to stay and work for Laban a little longer. (6 years)

Genesis 31:41 (NLT)
Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock.

³⁵ But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, ³⁶ who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was.

• Laban cheated Jacob from day one of this new arrangement.

Also, by removing the existing streaked and spotted male goats and the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep from his flock Laban believed that he greatly reduced the probability of more of this type being reproduced.

Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

 ³⁷ Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. ³⁸ Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. ³⁹ And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ⁴⁰ Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock.

Scholars differ as to how Jacob is using sticks with peeled white streaks in them to do this.

The NIV concordance explained this outcome “because of Jacob’s superstition”.

And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.

 ⁴¹ Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. ⁴² But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. 

Jacob practiced selective breeding.

• Jacob’s actions are somewhat questionable.

• God uses flawed people.

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behavior.

⁴³ As a result,

Genesis 31:9 (NLT)
In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me. 

• Jacob knew his prosperity came from God. 

Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

• God blessed Jacob with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

Summary/Review:

• God’s blessings are not a promise of an easy, carefree life.
• God uses flawed people.
• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behavior.
• God always does what He says He will do.

Genesis 28:15 (NLT)
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:14 (NLT)
Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

Psalm 89:34 (NLT)
No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
… For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

 Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

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Jacob’s Many Children

A story of sin, conflict, and emotions.

Words included in this passage:

Unloved                                              Absence of:

Misery                                                             Affection

Jealous                                                             Love

Plight

Disgrace

Furious

Struggle

Winning

Stole

Leviticus 18:18 (NLT)
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.

Note:
Polygyny is found in the Old Testament and over 40 important figures had more than one wife, but it almost always resulted in struggles and jealousies.

Jacob’s Many Children
 Genesis 29:31 – 30:24 (NLT)
³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. ³² So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”
³³ She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”
³⁴ Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”
³⁵ Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.
^30:1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
² Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”
³ Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.” ⁴ So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. ⁵ Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. ⁶ Rachel named him Dan, for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” ⁷ Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. ⁸ Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”
⁹ Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. ¹⁰ Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. ¹¹ Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!” ¹² Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. ¹³ And Leah named him Asher, for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”
¹⁴ One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
¹⁵ But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”
Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”
¹⁶ So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. ¹⁷ And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. ¹⁸ She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” ¹⁹ Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. ²⁰ She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” ²¹ Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.
²² Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. ²⁴ And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”

Examine the Scriptures

Jacob’s Many Children 

Genesis 29:31 – 30:24 (NLT)

³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children,

God intervened.

• God enabled Leah to have children.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.

 but Rachel could not conceive. 

Rachel was barren.

Note the pattern:

Abraham and Sarah
Genesis 11:30 (NLT)
But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.

Isaac and Rebekah
Genesis 25:21 (NLT)
Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

•  God opens and closes the womb. 

³² So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”

³³ She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”

God acted on behalf of Leah.

Leah recognized that God was working in her life.

³⁴ Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”

• Leah mistakenly thought Jacob would love her if she gave him sons. 

³⁵ Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.

Judah is an ancestor of Jesus the Messiah

Matthew 1:1-2 & 16 NLT
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
² Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 

¹⁶ Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

Luke 3:33-34 (NLT)
³³ Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Admin.
Admin was the son of Arni.
Arni was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
³⁴ Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Terah.
Terah was the son of Nahor. 

• Jacob is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke.

^30:1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister.

Leviticus 18:18 (NLT)
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals. 

• Rachel became jealous of Leah.

She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

Women in the Near Eastern culture believed that they were an embarrassment to their husband if they remained childless.

Childless women felt disgraced.
See verse 23:
²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 

² Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked.

Rachel was devastated and Jacob was deeply frustrated.

• Jacob became furious with Rachel.

“He’s the one who has kept you from having children!” 

³ Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.”

This did not work for Abraham and Sarah.
Genesis 16 Sarai and Hagar

• Rachel came up with a plan similar to a plan that did not work out well for Abraham and Sarah. 

⁴ So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. ⁵ Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. ⁶ Rachel named him Dan, for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” 

Rachel claimed this son as her own. 

Rachel named the son.

God has given me a son.

 ⁷ Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. ⁸ Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”

Winning!!!

• When Bilhah gave Jacob sons, Rachel felt vindicated by God and said she was “winning” in her struggle with Leah. 

⁹ Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. ¹⁰ Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. ¹¹ Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!”

Leah claimed Gad as her son.

Leah named the son.

 ¹² Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. ¹³ And Leah named him Asher, for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”

Now the other women will celebrate with me.

• Leah was ready to celebrate when Zilpah gave Jacob a second son.

¹⁴ One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

• Rachel believed mandrakes would help her become pregnant.
  (Review Genesis 29:31)

¹⁵ But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”

Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”

Simply put, Leah pays Rachel so that Rachel would let her sleep with Jacob.

¹⁶ So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. ¹⁷ And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. ¹⁸ She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” 

 ¹⁹ Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. ²⁰ She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” 

Now my husband will treat me with respect.

²¹ Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

 ²² Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 

God has removed my disgrace.

²⁴ And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”

•  Joseph became a major figure in the book of Genesis.

 Rachel gave birth to Benjamin at a later date, just before her death.
Genesis 35:16-20 (NLT)
¹⁶ Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. ¹⁷ After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” ¹⁸ Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). ¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). ²⁰ Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.

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