Genesis 31:3

31:3 The Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers ¹  and to your relatives. I will be with you.” ² 

Genesis 31:13

31:13 I am the God of Bethel, ³  where you anointed ⁴  the sacred stone and made a vow to me. ⁵  Now leave this land immediately ⁶  and return to your native land.’”

Genesis 31:24

31:24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, ⁷  “Be careful ⁸  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” ⁹ 

¹ tn Or perhaps “ancestors” (so NRSV), although the only “ancestors” Jacob had there were his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac.

² sn I will be with you. Though Laban was no longer “with him,” the Lord promised to be.

³ map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

⁴ sn You anointed the sacred stone. In Gen 28:18 the text simply reported that Jacob poured oil on top of the stone. Now that pouring is interpreted by the Lord as an anointing. Jacob had consecrated the place.

⁵ sn And made a vow to me. The second clause reminds Jacob of the vow he made to the Lord when he anointed the stone (Gen 28:20-22). God is now going to take him back to the land, and so he will have to fulfill his vow.

⁶ tn Heb “arise, leave!” The first imperative draws attention to the need for immediate action.

⁷ tn Heb “said to him.”

⁸ tn Heb “watch yourself,” which is a warning to be on guard against doing something that is inappropriate.

⁹ tn Heb “lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil.” The precise meaning of the expression, which occurs only here and in v. 29, is uncertain. Since Laban proceeded to speak to Jacob at length, it cannot mean to maintain silence. Nor does it seem to be a prohibition against criticism (see vv. 26-30). Most likely it refers to a formal pronouncement, whether it be a blessing or a curse. Laban was to avoid saying anything to Jacob that would be intended to enhance him or to harm him.