The Household Departs

1He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father he has gained all this wealth.”

2And Jacob saw Laban’s face, and behold, it was not toward him as before.

3Then Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock,

5And he said to them, “I see that your father's face is not toward me as before, but the God of my father has been with me.”

6And you yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength.

7Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to harm me.

8If he said this, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled young; and if he said this, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked young.

9So God took away your father's livestock and gave it to me.

10And it happened at the time when the flock was mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats that were mounting the flock were striped, speckled, and mottled.

11Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’

12And he said, “Please lift up your eyes and see: all the male goats that are mating with the flock are striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.”

13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.

14Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Do we still have any share or inheritance in our father’s house?”

15Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us and has indeed completely consumed our money.

16For all the wealth that God has taken from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now, whatever God has said to you, do.

17Then Jacob arose and put his sons and his wives on the camels.

18And he drove all his livestock and all his possessions that he had acquired—the livestock he had acquired in Paddan-aram—to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.