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 ¹  during breeding season I saw ²  in a dream that the male goats mating with ³  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 ⁴  that all the male goats mating with ⁵  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, ⁶  where you anointed ⁷  the sacred stone and made a vow to me. ⁸  Now leave this land immediately ⁹  and return to your native land.’”

[31:10]  ¹ tn The sentence begins with the temporal indicator, “and it happened at the time of.”

[31:10]  ² tn Heb “in the time of the breeding of the flock I lifted up my eyes and I saw.”

[31:10]  ³ tn Heb “going up on,” that is, mounting for intercourse.

[31:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “lift up (now) your eyes and see.”

[31:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “going up on,” that is, mounting for intercourse.

[31:13]  ⁶ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[31:13]  ⁷ 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.

[31:13]  ⁸ 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.

[31:13]  ⁹ tn Heb “arise, leave!” The first imperative draws attention to the need for immediate action.