come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go. 16 These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their castles and towns, twelve 59 So they sent her away, and her nurse, and princes of their tribes. Abraham's servant and his company; 17 And the years of Ismael's life were a hun60 Wishing prosperity to their sister, and say-dred and thirty-seven, and decaying he died, and ing: Thou art our sister, mayest thou increase to was gathered unto his people. thousands of thousands, and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies. 18 And he dwelt from Hevila as far as Sur, which looketh towards Egypt, to them that go 61 So Rebecca and her maids being set upon towards the Assyrians. He died in the presence camels followed the man: who with speed return-of all his brethren. ed to his master. 62 At the same time Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country: 63 And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent; and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off. 64 Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel, 65 And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all that he had done: 67 Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother's death. CHAP. XXV. Abraham's children by Cetura; his death, and that of Ismael. Isaac hath Esau and Jacob, twins. Esau selleth his first birth-right to Jacob. ND Abraham married another wife named A Cetura: 2 Who bore him Zamran, and Jecsan, and Madan, and Madian, and Jesboc, and Sue. 3 Jecsan also begot Saba and Dadan. The children of Dadan were Assurim, and Latusim and Loomim. 4 But of Madian was born Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa: all these were the children of Cetura. 5 And Abraham gave all his possessions to Isaac: 6 And to the children of the concubines he gave gifts, and separated them from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, to the east country. 7 And the days of Abraham's life were a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 And decaying he died in a good old age, and having lived a long time, and being full of days: and was gathered to his people. 9 And Isaac and Ismael his sons buried him in the double cave, which was situated in the field of Ephron the son of Seor the Hethite, overagainst Mambre, 19 These also are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac: 20 Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban. 21 And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive. 22 But the children struggled in her womb: and she said: If it were to be so with me, what need was there to conceive? And she went to consult the Lord. 23 And he answering said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other, and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her time was come to be delivered, behold, twins were found in her womb. 25 He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his brother's foot in his hand: and therefore he was called Jacob. 26 Isaac was threescore years old when the children were born unto him. 27 And when they were grown up, Esau became a skilful hunter, and a husbandman: but Jacob a plain man dwelt in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the field, 30 Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For which reason his name was called Edom. 31 And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birth-right. 32 He answered: Lo, I die; what will the first birth-right avail me? 33 Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold his first birth-right. 34 And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went his way; making little account of having sold his first birth-right. CHAP. XXVI. Isaac sojourneth in Gerara, where God reneweth to him the promise made to Abraham. King Abimelech maketh league with him. 10 Which he had bought of the children of AND when a famine came in the land, after Heth: there was he buried, and Sara his wife. 11 And after his death, God blessed Isaac his son, who dwelt by the well named Of the living and seeing. 12 These are the generations of Ismael the son of Abraham, whom Agar the Egyptian, Sara's servant, bore unto him:" 13 And these are the names of his children according to their calling and generations. The first-born of Ismael was Nabajoth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam, 14 And Masma, and Duma, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Thema, and Jethur, and Naphis, and Cedma. Concubines. Agar and Cetura are here called concubines (though they were lawful wives, and in other places are so called) because they were of an inferior degree; and such in scripture are usually called concubines. that barrenness which had happened in the days of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Palestines to Gerara. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said; Go not down into Egypt, but stay in the land that I shall tell thee. 3 And sojourn in it, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for to thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, to fulfil the oath which I swore to Abraham thy father. 4 And I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven: and I will give to thy posterity all these countries: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. 5 Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws. 6 So Isaac abode in Gerara. 7 And when he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his wife, he answered: She is my sister, for he was afraid to confess that she was his wife, thinking lest perhaps they would kill him because of her beauty. 8 And when very many days were passed, and be abode there, Abimelech king of the Palestines, looking out through a window, saw him playing with Rebecca his wife. 9 And calling for him, he said: It is evident she is thy wife: why didst thou feign her to be thy sister? He answered: I feared lest I should die for her sake. 10 And Abimelech said: Why hast thou deceived us? Some man of the people might have lain with thy wife, and thou hadst brought upon us a great sin. And he commanded all the people, saying: 11 He that shall touch this man's wife, shall surely be put to death. 12 And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found that same year a hundred-fold: and the Lord blessed him. 13 And the man was enriched, and he went on prospering and increasing, till he became exceeding great: 14 And he had possessions of sheep and of herds and a very great family. Wherefore the Palestines envying him, 15 Stopped up at that time all the wells, that the servants of his father Abraham had digged, filling them up with earth: 16 Insomuch that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: Depart from us, for thou art become much mightier than we. 17 So be departed, and came to the torrent* of Gerara, to dwell there: 18 And he digged again other wells, which the servants of his father Abraham had digged, and which, after his death, the Philistines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same names by which his father before had called them. 19 And they digged in the torrent, and found living water: 20 But there also the herdsmen of Gerara strove against the herdsmen of Isaac, saying: It is our water. Wherefore he called the name of the well, on occasion of that which had happened, Calumny. 21 And they digged also another; and for that they quarrelled likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmity. 22 Going forward from thence he digged another well, for which they contended not: therefore he called the name thereof, Latitudet saying: Now hath the Lord given us room, and made us to increase upon the earth. 30 And he made them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunk: 31 Arising in the morning, they swore one to another: and Isaac sent them away peaceably to their own home. 32 And behold, the same day the servants of Isaac came, telling him of a well which they had digged, and saying: We have found water. 33 Whereupon he called it Abundance: and the name of the city was called Bersabee, even to this day. 34 And Esau being forty years old married wives, Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hethite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place. 35 And they both offended the mind of Isaac and Rebecca, CHAP. XXVII. Jacob, by his mother's counsel, obtaineth his father's blessing, instead of Esau. And by her is advised to fly to his uncle Laban. Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: and he called Esau his elder son, and said to him: My son. And he answered: Here I am. 2 And his father said to him: Thou seest that I am old, and know not the day of my death. 3 Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad: and when thou hast taken something by hunting, 4 Make me savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it that I may eat, and my soul may bless thee before I die. 5 And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field to fulfil his father's commandment, 6 She said to her son Jacob: I heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying to him: 7 Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die. 8 Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel: 9 And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth: 10 Which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless thee before he die. 11 And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am smooth: 12 If my father shall feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing. 23 And he went up from that place to Bersabee, 13 And his mother said to him: Upon me be 24 Where the Lord appeared to him that same this curse, my son: only hear thou my voice, and night, saying: I am the God of Abraham thy fa-go, fetch me the things which I have said. ther, do not fear, for I am with thee: I will bless 14 He went, and brought, and gave them to his thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abra- mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his ham's sake. father liked. 25 And he built there an altar: and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent: and commanded his servants to dig a well. 26 To which place when Abimelech, and Ochozath his friend, and Phicol chief captain of his soldiers came from Gerara, 27 Isaac said to them: Why are ye come to me a man whom you hate, and have thrust out from you? 15 And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her: 16 And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and covered the bare of his neck. 17 And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked. 18 Which when he had carried in, he said: My father. But he answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son? 28 And they answered: We saw that the Lord 19 And Jacob said: I am Esau thy first-born:‡ is with thee, and therefore we said: Let there be an oath between us, and let us make a covenant, I am Esau thy first-born. St. Augustine (L. 29 That thou do us no harm, as we on our part contra mendacium c. 10.) treating at large upon have touched nothing of thine, nor have done this place, excuseth Jacob from a lie, because any thing to hurt thee: but with peace have sent thee away increased with the blessing of the Lord. Torrent. That is, a channel where sometimes a torrent, or violent stream, had run. + Latitude. That is, wideness, or room. this whole passage was mysterious, as relating to the preference which was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews, which Jacob by prophetic light might understand. So far is certain, that the first birth-right, both by divine election, and by Esau's free cession belonged to Jacob: so that if there were any lie in the case, I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit,|| 41 Esau therefore always hated Jacob for the and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless blessing wherewith his father had blessed him: and he said in his heart: The days will come of the mourning for my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob. me. 20 And Isaac said to his son: How couldst thou find it so quickly, my son? He answered: It was the will of God that what I sought came quickly in my way: 21 And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no. 22 He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder. Then blessing him, 24 He said: Art thou my son Esau? He answered: I am. 42 These things were told to Rebecca: and she sent and called Jacob her son, and said to him: Behold, Esau thy brother threateneth to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, hear my voice, arise and flee to Laban my brother to Haran: 44 And thou shalt dwell with him a few days, till the wrath of thy brother be assuaged, 45 And his indignation cease, and he forget the things thou hast done to him: afterwards I will send, and bring thee from thence hither. Why shall I be deprived of both my sons in one day? 46 And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I choose not to live. CHAP. XXVIII. 25 Then he said: Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my soul may bless thee. And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he offered him wine also, which after he had Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia: his vision and drunk, vow. ND Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and 26 He said to him: Come near me, and give A charged him, saying: Take not a wife of me a kiss, my son. 27 He came near, and kissed him. And imme- the stock of Chanaan: diately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed. 28 God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine. 29 And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings. 30 Isaac had scarce ended his words, when Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came, 31 And brought in to his father meats made of what he had taken in hunting, saying: Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac said to him: Why! who art thou? He answered: I am thy first-born son Esau. 33 Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and wondering beyond what can be believed, said: Who is he then that even now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed. 2 But go, and take a journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house of Bathuel thy mother's father, and take thee a wife thence of the daughters of Laban thy uncle. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee to increase, and multiply thee: that thou mayest be a multitude of people. 4 And give the blessings of Abraham to thee, and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayest possess the land of thy sojournment, which he promised to thy grandfather. 5 And when Isaac had sent him away, he took his journey and went to Mesopotamia of Syria to Laban the son of Bathuel the Syrian, brother to Rebecca his mother. 6 And Esau seeing that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after the blessing he had charged him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Chanaan: 7 And that Jacob obeying his parents was gone into Syria: 8 Experiencing also that his father was not well pleased with the daughters of Chanaan: 9 He went to Ismael, and took to wife, besides them he had before, Maheleth the daughter of 34 Esau having heard his father's words, roar-Ismael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nabajoth. ed out with a great cry: and being in a consternation, said: Bless me also, my father. 35 And he said: Thy brother came deceitfully and got thy blessing. 36 But he said again: Rightly is his name called Jacob: for he hath supplanted me lo this second time: my first birth-right he took away before,| and now this second time he hath stolen away my blessing. And again he said to his father: Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing? 37 Isaac answered: I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn, and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son? 38 And Esau said to him: Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee bless me also. And when he wept with a loud cry, 39 Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above, 40 Shall thy blessing be. Thou shalt live by the sword, and shalt serve thy brother: and the time shall come, when thou shalt shake off, and loose his yoke from thy neck. 10 But Jacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran. 11 And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sun-set, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place. 12 And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the Angels also of God ascending and descending by it. 13 And the Lord leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: The land wherein thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed. 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and IN THEE and thy seed all the tribes of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED. 15 And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said. 16 And when Jacob awaked out of sleep, he it could be no more than an officious and venial said: Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew one. *Jacob. That is, a supplanter. it not. place! this is no other but the house of God, and will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngthe gate of heaven. er daughter. 18 And Jacob arising in the morning, took the stone, which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was called Luza. 20 And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall keep me in the way, by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 And I shall return prosperously to my father's house; the Lord shall be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called The house of God: and of all things that thou shalt give to me, I will offer tithes to thee. CHAP. XXIX. Jacob serveth Laban seven years for Rachel; but is deceived with Lia: he afterwards marrieth Rachel. Lia bears him four sons. THE HEN Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country. 2 And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone. 3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again. 4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran. 5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know bim. 6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock. 7 And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed. 19 Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me. 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days because of the greatness of his love. 21 And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage. 23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him, 24 Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come, he saw it was Lia: 25 And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me? 26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first. 27 Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years. 28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel: 29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant. 30 And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years. 31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb; but her sister remained barren. 32 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me. 33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived a third time, and bore 8 They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle another son: and said: Now also my husband be gathered together, and we remove the stone will be joined to me, because I have borne him from the well's mouth, that we may water the three sons: and therefore she called his name flocks. Levi. 9 They were yet speaking, and behold, Rachel 35 The fourth time she conceived and bore a came with her father's sheep: for she fed the son, and said: Now will I praise the Lord: and flock. for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing. 10 And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban his uncle, he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed. Il And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept: 12 And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father. 13 Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey, 14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired, 15 He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have. 16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel. 17 But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance. 18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I God CHAP. XXX. Rachel being barren, delivereth her handmaid to Jacob: she beareth two sons. Lia ceasing to bear, giveth also her handmaid, and she beareth two more. Then Lia beareth two other sons and one daughter. Rachel beareth Joseph. Jacob desirous to return home, is hired to stay for a certain part of the stock's increase, whereby he becometh exceeding rich. ND Rachel, seeing herself without children, envied her sister, and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die. 2 And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb? 3 But she said: I have here my servant Bala: go in unto her, that she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bala in marriage: who, 5 When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son. 6 And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan. 7 And again Bala conceived, and bore another, A title. That is, a pillar, or monument. 8 For whom Rachel said: God hath compared Bethel. This name signifies the house of me with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called him Nephtali. 9 Lia perceiving that she had left off bearing, divers colours, and spotted: and all the flock of gave Zelpha her handmaid to her husband. one colour, that is, of white and black fleece, he delivered into the hands of his sons. 10 And when she had conceived and brought forth a son, 11 She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad. 12 Zelpha also bore another. 13 And Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me blessed. Therefore she called him Aser. 36 And he set the space of three days journey betwixt himself and his son-in-law, who fed the rest of his flock. 37 And Jacob took green rods of poplar, and of almond, and of plane-trees, and pilled them in part: so when the bark was taken off, in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whiteness: but 14 And Ruben going out in the time of the the parts that were whole, remained green: and wheat harvest into the field, found mandrakes: by this means the colour was divers. which he brought to his mother Lia. And 38 And he put them in the troughs, where the Rachel said: Give me part of thy son's man-water was poured out; that when the flocks should drakes. come to drink, they might have the rods before their eyes, and in the sight of them might conceive. 15 She answered: Dost thou think it a small matter, that thou hast taken my husband from me, unless thou take also my son's mandrakes? Rachel said: He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And when Jacob returned at even from the field, Lia went out to meet him, and said: Thou shalt come in unto me, because I have hired thee for my son's mandrakes. And he slept with her that night. 17 And God heard her prayers: and she conceived, and bore the fifth son, 18 And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar. 19 And Lia conceived again, and bore the sixth son, 20 And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry: this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and therefore she called his name Zabulon. 21 After whom she bore a daughter, named Dina. 22 The Lord also remembering Rachel, heard her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bore a son, saying: God hath taken away my reproach. 24 And she called his name Joseph, saying: The Lord give me also another son. 39 And it came to pass that in the very heat of coition, the sheep beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of divers colours, and speckled. 40 And Jacob separated the flock, and put the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the rams: and all the white and the black were Laban's: and the rest were Jacob's, when the flocks were separated one from the other. 41 So when the ewes went first to ram, Jacob put the rods in the troughs of water before the eyes of the rams, and of the ewes, that they might conceive while they were looking upon them: 42 But when the later coming was, and the last conceiving, he did not put them. And those that were lateward, became Laban's; and they of the first time, Jacob's. 43 And the man was enriched exceedingly, and he had many flocks, maid-servants and men-servants, camels and asses. CHAP. XXXI. Jacob's departure: he is pursued and overtaken by Laban. They make a covenant. B of Laban, saying: Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's, and being enriched by his substance is become great: UT after that he heard the words of the sons 25 And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to 2 And perceiving also that Laban's countehis father-in-law: Send me away that I may re-nance was not towards him as yesterday and the turn into my country, and to my land. other day. 26 Give me my wives, and my children, for whom I have served thee, that I may depart: thou knowest the service that I have rendered thee. 27 Laban said to him: Let me find favour in thy sight: I have learned by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake: 28 Appoint thy wages which I shall give thee. 29 But he answered: Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how great thy possession hath been in my hands. 30 Thou hadst but little before I came to thee, and now thou art become rich: and the Lord hath blessed thee at my coming. It is reasonable therefore that I should now provide also for my own house. 31 And Laban said: What shall I give thee? But he said: I require nothing: but if thou wilt do what I demand, I will feed and keep thy sheep again. 32 Go round through all thy flocks, and separate all the sheep of divers colours, and speckled: and all that is brown and spotted, and of divers colours, as well among the sheep, as among the goats, shall be my wages. 33 And my justice shall answer for me to-morrow before thee when the time of the bargain shall come: and all that is not of divers colours, and spotted, and brown, as well among the sheep as among the goats, shall accuse me of theft. 34 And Laban said: I like well what thou demandest. 35 And he separated the same day the she-goats, and the sheep, and the he-goats, and the rams of 3 Especially the Lord saying to him: Return into the land of thy fathers and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee. 4 He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed the flocks, 5 And said to them: I see your father's countenance is not towards me as yesterday and the other day: but the God of my father hath been with me. 6 And you know that I have served your father to the uttermost of my power. 7 Yea, your father also hath over-reached me, and hath changed my wages ten times: and yet God hath not suffered him to hurt me. 8 If at any time he said: The speckled shall be thy wages, all the sheep brought forth speckled: but when he said on the contrary: Thou shalt take all the white ones for thy wages: all the flocks brought forth white ones. 9 And God hath taken your father's substance, and given it to me. 10 For after the time came of the ewes conceiving, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in my sleep that the males which leaped upon the females were of divers colours, and spotted, and speckled. 11 And the Angel of God said to me in my sleep: Jacob? And I answered: Here I am. 12 And he said: Lift up thy eyes, and see that all the males leaping upon the females, are of divers colours, spotted and speckled. For I have seen all that Laban hath done to thee. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou didst anoint the stone, and make a vow to me. Now |