Genesis 31:1
וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע
Now he heard
אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר
the words of Laban’s sons saying:
לָקַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב
“Jacob has taken —
אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ
all that belongs to our father,
וּמֵאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ
Since from that which belonged to our father,
עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה׃
He has created all this wealth!”
Genesis 31:2
וַיַּ֥רְא יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י לָבָ֑ן
And Jacob observed Laban’s face,
וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נּוּ עִמּ֖וֹ כִּתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃
And behold, it was not in harmony with him,
like two days prior;
Genesis 31:3
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב
Then the LORD said to Jacob:
שׁ֛וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ
“Return to the land of your fathers,
and to your birthplace,
וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃
And I shall be with you!”
Genesis 31:4
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֖א לְרָחֵ֣ל וּלְלֵאָ֑ה
So Jacob sent, and he called Rachel and Leah, —
הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֶל־צֹאנֽוֹ׃
to the field by his flock;
Genesis 31:5
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ן
Then he said to them:
רֹאֶ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י אֲבִיכֶ֔ן
“I have been observing the face of your father,
כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֵלַ֖י כִּתְמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם
In that it is not towards me,
like two days prior;
וֽ͏ֵאלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֔י הָיָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃
But the God of my father has been right beside me;”
Genesis 31:6
וְאַתֵּ֖נָה יְדַעְתֶּ֑ן
“And you yourselves know,
כִּ֚י בְּכָל־כֹּחִ֔י עָבַ֖דְתִּי אֶת־אֲבִיכֶֽן׃
That with all my strength
I have served your father;”
Genesis 31:7
וַאֲבִיכֶן֙ הֵ֣תֶל בִּ֔י
“But your father has cheated me,
וְהֶחֱלִ֥ף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת מֹנִ֑ים
And he has altered my wages ten times,
וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים
But God did not permit him
לְהָרַ֖ע עִמָּדִֽי׃
to perpetrate physical harm with regard to me.”
Genesis 31:8
אִם־כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר
“If he should say thus:
נְקֻדִּים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ
‘Speckled ones shall be your wages’,
וְיָלְד֥וּ כָל־הַצֹּ֖אן נְקֻדִּ֑ים
Then all the flocks would bear speckled;
וְאִם־כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר
And then if he should say thus:
עֲקֻדִּים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ
‘Striped ones shall be your wages’,
וְיָלְד֥וּ כָל־הַצֹּ֖אן עֲקֻדִּֽים׃
Then all the flocks would bear striped;”
Genesis 31:9
אֶת־מִקְנֵ֥ה אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וַיִּתֶּן־לִֽי׃ וַיַּצֵּ֧ל אֱלֹהִ֛ים
“And so God removed the livestock of your father,
and He gave it to me”;
Genesis 31:10
וַיְהִ֗י בְּעֵת֙ יַחֵ֣ם הַצֹּ֔אן
“Now it happened when the flocks were in heat,
וָאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֛י וָאֵ֖רֶא בַּחֲל֑וֹם
That I lifted my eyes, and I observed by dream,
וְהִנֵּ֤ה הָֽעַתֻּדִים֙ הָעֹלִ֣ים עַל־הַצֹּ֔אן
And behold, the he-goats were mounting up over the flocks, —
עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים׃
Striped, speckled and spotted;”
Genesis 31:11
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י מַלְאַ֧ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים בַּחֲל֖וֹם
“Then the Angel of The True God said to me through that dream:
יֽ͏ַעֲקֹ֑ב
‘Jacob!’
וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי׃
And I said: ‘Here I am!’”
Genesis 31:12
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר
And then He said:
שָׂא־נָ֨א עֵינֶ֤יךָ וּרְאֵה֙
“Now lift your eyes and see,
כָּל־הָֽעַתֻּדִים֙ הָעֹלִ֣ים עַל־הַצֹּ֔אן
All the he-goats are mounting up over the flocks,
עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּ֑ים
Striped, speckled and spotted;
כִּ֣י רָאִ֔יתִי אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָבָ֖ן עֹ֥שֶׂה לָּֽךְ׃
For I have seen everything that Laban
is doing to you;”
Genesis 31:13
אָנֹכִ֤י הָאֵל֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל
“I Am the God of Beth-El,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ שָּׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה
There where you anointed the pillar,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם נֶ֑דֶר
There, where you vowed to me the vow;
עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את
Now, arise and go forth from this land,
וְשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ׃
and return to the land of your birthplace.”
Genesis 31:14
וַתַּ֤עַן רָחֵל֙ וְלֵאָ֔ה וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה ל֑וֹ
Now Rachel testified, together with Leah,
and they said to him:
הַע֥וֹד לָ֛נוּ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽינוּ׃
“Is there still a share and a possession for us,
in our father’s house!?”
Genesis 31:15
הֲל֧וֹא נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ ל֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְכָרָ֑נוּ
“Are we not reckoned as foreigners by him,
for he has sold us!?, —
וַיֹּ֥אכַל גַּם־אָכ֖וֹל אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃
And he has completely devoured our money!”
Genesis 31:16
כִּ֣י כָל־הָעֹ֗שֶׁר
“Indeed all the wealth,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֤יל אֱלֹהִים֙ מֵֽאָבִ֔ינוּ
That which God has taken away from our father,
לָ֥נוּ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֵ֑ינוּ
It belongs to us, and to our children!
וְעַתָּ֗ה
And now,
כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֧ר אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃
All that God said to you, do!”
Genesis 31:17
וַיָּ֖קָם יַעֲקֹ֑ב
So Jacob arose to action,
וַיִּשָּׂ֛א אֶת־בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו עַל־הַגְּמַלִּֽים׃
And he took up his children and his wives on camels;
Genesis 31:18
וַיִּנְהַ֣ג אֶת־כָּל־מִקְנֵ֗הוּ
And he carried away all his livestock,
וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכֻשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁ
And all his possessions that he had acquired,
מִקְנֵה֙ קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם
Livestock— his property,
That he had acquired in Padan Aram;
לָב֛וֹא אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃
To go to Isaac his father,
to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 31:19
וְלָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִגְזֹ֖ז אֶת־צֹאנ֑וֹ
Now Laban had gone to shear his flock,
וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב רָחֵ֔ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָבִֽיהָ׃
And Rachel stole the personal gods
which belonged to her father;
Genesis 31:20
וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת־לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָאֲרַמִּ֑י
Furthermore Jacob deceived
the heart of Laban the Aramean,
עַל־בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא׃
Because he had not told him
that he was in process of getting way.
Genesis 31:21
וַיִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ
And he fled with all that he had,
וַיָּ֖קָם וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר אֶת־הַנָּהָ֑ר
And so arose, and crossed the Euphrates;
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו הַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד׃
And set his face in the direction of
the Gilead (rough) hill country.
Genesis 31:22
וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְלָבָ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י
Now it was reported to Laban on the third day,
כִּ֥י בָרַ֖ח יַעֲקֹֽב׃
That Jacob had slipped away;
Genesis 31:23
וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ
Then he took his brethren with him,
וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים
And went after him, — a journey of seven days,
וַיַּדְבֵּ֥ק אֹת֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד׃
And overtook him in the Gilead hill country.
Genesis 31:24
וַיָּבֹ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י
But God came to Laban the Aramaean,
בַּחֲלֹ֣ם הַלָּ֑יְלָה
by Dream of Night,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ
and said to him,
הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ פֶּן־תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־יַעֲקֹ֖ב
“Watch yourself, lest you should speak with Jacob,
מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־רָֽע׃ ס
From good to bad!”
Genesis 31:25
וַיַּשֵּׂ֥ג לָבָ֖ן אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב
Now Laban went beyond Jacob;
וְיַעֲקֹ֗ב תָּקַ֤ע אֶֽת־אָהֳלוֹ֙ בָּהָ֔ר
And Jacob,
He had pitched his tent on the mountain,
וְלָבָ֛ן תָּקַ֥ע אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד׃
And Laban had hunkered down with his brethren
in the Gilead hill country.
Genesis 31:26
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב
…And Laban said to Jacob,
מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ
“What have you done!?
וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֶת־לְבָבִ֑י
And so you pilfered my heart;
וַתְּנַהֵג֙ אֶת־בְּנֹתַ֔י כִּשְׁבֻי֖וֹת חָֽרֶב׃
And you lead off my daughters,
like ones captured by sword!?”
Genesis 31:27
לָ֤מָּה נַחְבֵּ֙אתָ֙ לִבְרֹ֔חַ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֹתִ֑י
“For what reason did you hide yourself in order to flee,
and then pilfer me!?
וְלֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים
And you did you inform me,
so that I could send you off with joy and with songs,
בְּתֹ֥ף וּבְכִנּֽוֹר׃
with hand-drum and with zither?”
Genesis 31:28
וְלֹ֣א נְטַשְׁתַּ֔נִי לְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְבָנַ֖י וְלִבְנֹתָ֑י
And you did not give me the possibility
to kiss goodbye to my grandchildren
and to my daughters;
עַתָּ֖ה הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּֽ עֲשֽׂוֹ׃
Now, you have acted foolishly
doing it;
Genesis 31:29
יֶשׁ־לְאֵ֣ל יָדִ֔י לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּכֶ֖ם רָ֑ע
“It is within the power of my hand
to wreak harm upon you,
וֽ͏ֵאלֹהֵ֨י אֲבִיכֶ֜ם אֶ֣מֶשׁ ׀ אָמַ֧ר אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֗ר
But the God of your father,
last night He said to me:
הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־יַעֲקֹ֖ב
‘Guard yourself from speaking with Jacob,
מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־רָֽע׃
from good to bad.’”
Genesis 31:30
וְעַתָּה֙ הָלֹ֣ךְ הָלַ֔כְתָּ
“Since now you have walked off,
כִּֽי־נִכְסֹ֥ף נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ
Because you had hankered
for your father’s house;
לָ֥מָּה גָנַ֖בְתָּ אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃
For what reason did you steal my gods!?”
Genesis 31:31
וַיַּ֥עַן יַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֑ן
Then Jacob replied, and said to Laban:
כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔אתִי כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי
“Because I feared, for I thought, ….
פֶּן־תִּגְזֹ֥ל אֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֖יךָ מֵעִמִּֽי׃
‘In case you should snatch
your daughters away from me;’”
Genesis 31:32
עִ֠ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֣א אֶת־אֱלֹהֶיךָ֮ לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶה֒
“With whom you shall find your gods,
he shall not live;
נֶ֣גֶד אַחֵ֧ינוּ הַֽכֶּר־לְךָ֛ מָ֥ה עִמָּדִ֖י וְקַֽח־לָ֑ךְ
In front of our brethren investigate
for yourself what is present with me,
and take them away to you.”
וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י רָחֵ֖ל גְּנָבָֽתַם׃
But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
Genesis 31:33
וַיָּבֹ֨א לָבָ֜ן בְּאֹ֥הֶל יַעֲקֹ֣ב ׀ וּבְאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֗ה
And so Laban went into the tent of Jacob
and into the tent of Leah,
וּבְאֹ֛הֶל שְׁתֵּ֥י הָאֲמָהֹ֖ת וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑א
then into the tent of the two bondwomen,
but had not found…
וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֵאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֹ֥הֶל רָחֵֽל׃
↻… and he came out of the tent of Leah,
Then he entered the tent of Rachel.
Genesis 31:34
וְרָחֵ֞ל לָקְחָ֣ה אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים
Now Rachel had taken the personal gods,
וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם
and she placed them in the camel saddle-chamber,
and she sat over them;
וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כָּל־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא׃
And Laban groped the whole tent,
but he found not;
Genesis 31:35
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אָבִ֗יהָ
Then she said to her father,
אַל־יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י
“Let not anger burn in the eyes of my lord,
כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא אוּכַל֙ לָק֣וּם מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ
Because I am not able to stand before you,
כִּי־דֶ֥רֶךְ נָשִׁ֖ים לִ֑י
For I have women’s condition.”
וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ וְלֹ֥א מָצָ֖א אֶת־הַתְּרָפִֽים׃
Then he searched,
and did not locate the personal gods;
Genesis 31:36
וַיִּ֥חַר לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב וַיָּ֣רֶב בְּלָבָ֑ן
Then anger welled up in Jacob,
and he contended with Laban;
וַיַּ֤עַן יַעֲקֹב֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֔ן
And so Jacob responded and he said to Laban:
מַה־פִּשְׁעִי֙ מַ֣ה חַטָּאתִ֔י
“What is my crime, what is my offence,
כִּ֥י דָלַ֖קְתָּ אַחֲרָֽי׃
So that you hotly pursued me!?”
Genesis 31:37
כִּֽי־מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת־כָּל־כֵּלַ֗י
“But yet you have fingered through all my goods…
מַה־מָּצָ֙אתָ֙ מִכֹּ֣ל כְּלֵי־בֵיתֶ֔ךָ
What did you find out of all your household belongings!!? —
שִׂ֣ים כֹּ֔ה נֶ֥גֶד אַחַ֖י וְאַחֶ֑יךָ
Place Here, in front of my brethren and your brethren,
וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ בֵּ֥ין שְׁנֵֽינוּ׃
And let them decide between the two of us!”
Genesis 31:38
זֶה֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ
“These altogether twenty years I was with you,
רְחֵלֶ֥יךָ וְעִזֶּ֖יךָ לֹ֣א שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ
Your female sheep and female goats did not miscarry,
וְאֵילֵ֥י צֹאנְךָ֖ לֹ֥א אָכָֽלְתִּי׃
and neither did I consume the rams of your flock;”
Genesis 31:39
טְרֵפָה֙ לֹא־הֵבֵ֣אתִי אֵלֶ֔יךָ
“A mauled animal I brought you not,
אָנֹכִ֣י אֲחַטֶּ֔נָּה מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נָּה
I myself would have to bear the loss, —
out of my hand you demanded it!
גְּנֻֽבְתִ֣י י֔וֹם וּגְנֻֽבְתִ֖י לָֽיְלָה׃
Whether having been stolen in broad daylight,
or stolen under cover of night!”
Genesis 31:40
הָיִ֧יתִי בַיּ֛וֹם אֲכָלַ֥נִי חֹ֖רֶב
“I had barely existed in the day, —
dry heat consumed me, —
וְקֶ֣רַח בַּלָּ֑יְלָה
And then frost in the night,
וַתִּדַּ֥ד שְׁנָתִ֖י מֵֽעֵינָֽי׃
And my sleep fled from my eyes!”
Genesis 31:41
זֶה־לִּ֞י עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָה֮ בְּבֵיתֶךָ֒
“This I had, twenty years in your household;
עֲבַדְתִּ֜יךָ אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתֶ֔יךָ
I served you fourteen years for your two daughters,
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים בְּצֹאנֶ֑ךָ
And six years with your flock:
וַתַּחֲלֵ֥ף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת מֹנִֽים׃
But you altered my wages ten times!”
Genesis 31:42
לוּלֵ֡י
“Surely if Not, —
אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִי֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם
The God of my father, the God of Abraham,
וּפַ֤חַד יִצְחָק֙ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י
And Isaac’s Reverential Fear had been with me,
כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה רֵיקָ֣ם שִׁלַּחְתָּ֑נִי
Indeed now, you would have sent me away empty-handed!
אֶת־עָנְיִ֞י
My oppressive situation,
וְאֶת־יְגִ֧יעַ כַּפַּ֛י
And the toil of my hands,
רָאָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיּ֥וֹכַח אָֽמֶשׁ׃
God has seen to, and He mediated last night.”
Genesis 31:43
וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב
Then Laban responded, and he said to Jacob,
הַבָּנ֨וֹת בְּנֹתַ֜י וְהַבָּנִ֤ים בָּנַי֙ וְהַצֹּ֣אן צֹאנִ֔י
“These daughters are my daughters,
and these children are my children,
and these flocks are my flocks,
וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לִי־ה֑וּא
and everything that you are seeing, It is mine!
וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י מָֽה־אֽ͏ֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה לָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם
But to my daughters, what could I do to these today?
א֥וֹ לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלָֽדוּ׃
Or to their children whom they have borne?”
Genesis 31:44
וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכָ֛ה נִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה
“So now, go to, let us cut for ourselves a covenant,
me and you:
וְהָיָ֥ה לְעֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃
Then it shall become a witness,
between me and between you!”
Genesis 31:45
וַיִּקַּ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן
Then Jacob took stone;
וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה׃
And he set it up
as a monumental pillar;
Genesis 31:46
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב לְאֶחָיו֙ לִקְט֣וּ אֲבָנִ֔ים
Then Jacob said to his brethren,
“Gather stones,
וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־גָ֑ל
and take the stones, and make a heap;”
וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽל׃
And they ate there, by that heap;
Genesis 31:47
וַיִּקְרָא־ל֣וֹ לָבָ֔ן יְגַ֖ר שָׂהֲדוּתָ֑א
And Laban called it,
“Yegar Shahaduta” (Aramaic) “The Heap of Witness”,
וְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב קָ֥רָא ל֖וֹ גַּלְעֵֽד׃
But Jacob, he had called it
“GalEd” (Hebrew) “Heap of Witness”, —
Genesis 31:48
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן
Since Laban said,
הַגַּ֨ל הַזֶּ֥ה עֵ֛ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם
“This heap is witness
between me and between you today”:
עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמ֖וֹ גַּלְעֵֽד׃
That is why he had named it
GalEd (Heap of Witness),
Genesis 31:49
וְהַמִּצְפָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר
Moreover “The Mizpah (The Observation Tower)”
in that he had said:
יִ֥צֶף יְהוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ
“May the LORD keep watch
between me and between you,
כִּ֥י נִסָּתֵ֖ר אִ֥ישׁ מֵרֵעֵֽהוּ׃
When we are hidden, —
each from his neighbour;”
Genesis 31:50
אִם־תְּעַנֶּ֣ה אֶת־בְּנֹתַ֗י
“If you should oppress my daughters,
וְאִם־תִּקַּ֤ח נָשִׁים֙ עַל־בְּנֹתַ֔י
And if you should take wives against my daughters,
אֵ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ עִמָּ֑נוּ
when there isn’t anyone beside us —
רְאֵ֕ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים עֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃
Look! God is witness, between me and between you!”
Genesis 31:51
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָבָ֖ן לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב
“Furthermore, Laban said to Jacob:
הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ הַמַצֵּבָ֔ה
Behold! this heap,
And behold! that pillar,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרִ֖יתִי בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃
Which I have cast
between myself and between yourself;”
Genesis 31:52
עֵ֚ד הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵדָ֖ה הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה
“This heap is testimony,
and that pillar is witness:
אִם־אָ֗נִי
I definitely,
לֹֽא־אֽ͏ֶעֱבֹ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה
I shall not pass beyond this heap towards you,
וְאִם־אַ֠תָּה
And certainly you,
לֹא־תַעֲבֹ֨ר אֵלַ֜י אֶת־הַגַּ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה
You shall not pass beyond this heap towards me,
וְאֶת־הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְרָעָֽה׃
And this pillar, for evil intent.”
Genesis 31:53
אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י נָחוֹר֙
“The God of Abraham,
and the gods of Nahor,
יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם
May they judge between us…
the gods of their father;”
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּפַ֖חַד אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק׃
But Jacob pledged himself,
by the Godly Fear of his father Isaac.
Genesis 31:54
וַיִּזְבַּ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֥ב זֶ֙בַח֙ בָּהָ֔ר
Then Jacob slaughtered a sacrifice on the mountain,
וַיִּקְרָ֥א לְאֶחָ֖יו לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם
And he called his brethren to eat bread;
וַיֹּ֣אכְלוּ לֶ֔חֶם וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בָּהָֽר׃
And so they consumed the food,
and they stayed overnight on that mountain;
Genesis 32:1
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם לָבָ֜ן בַּבֹּ֗קֶר
And Laban rose early in the morning,
וַיְנַשֵּׁ֧ק לְבָנָ֛יו וְלִבְנוֹתָ֖יו וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶתְהֶ֑ם
And he kissed his grandsons and his daughters,
and he blessed them.
וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ וַיָּ֥שָׁב לָבָ֖ן לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃
And Laban went and returned to his own place.
Genesis 32:2
וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב הָלַ֣ךְ לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ
Now Jacob had gone on his way;
וַיִּפְגְּעוּ־ב֖וֹ מַלְאֲכֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
And the Angels (Messengers) of God encountered him;
Genesis 32:3
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם
And Jacob said after that he had seen them,
מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה
“This is the Camp of God!”
וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מֽ͏ַחֲנָֽיִם׃ פ
And he named that place Mahanaim “Two Camps.”
Website translation into English by E.G. Van Gent
The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode/XML version 1.3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26.4 from tanach.us
Dramatized Modern Hebrew Audio Version, Genesis 31:1 to 32:3
Copyright to Hebrew Audio of Old Testament
℗ 2014 Bible Society in Israel and Hosanna
Distributed by and Available from The Bible Society In Israel
This Hebrew Dramatized Audio was produced with the assistance of
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