Genesis 31:9-13

31:9 In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

31:10 “Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 31:11 In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. 31:12 Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’”


tn The sentence begins with the temporal indicator, “and it happened at the time of.”

tn Heb “in the time of the breeding of the flock I lifted up my eyes and I saw.”

tn Heb “going up on,” that is, mounting for intercourse.

tn Heb “lift up (now) your eyes and see.”

tn Heb “going up on,” that is, mounting for intercourse.

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

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.

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.

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