So Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Then he separated them from Jacob by a three-day journey, while Jacob was taking care of the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Laban overtook Jacob, and when Jacob pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, Laban and his relatives set up camp there too.

Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. “What did I do wrong?” he demanded of Laban. “What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit?

When Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent until they came in.

All the direct descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt with him were sixty-six in number. (This number does not include the wives of Jacob’s sons.)

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; the years of Jacob’s life were 147 in all.

For there is no spell against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel. At this time it must be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘Look at what God has done!’

and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

The Lord will certainly have compassion on Jacob; he will again choose Israel as his special people and restore them to their land. Resident foreigners will join them and unite with the family of Jacob.

All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion and the sins of the nation of Israel. How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask? They are right in Jerusalem!

“I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?” “Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob

But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.

Then Leah’s servant Zilpah gave Jacob another son.

Leah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a son for the sixth time.

So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah to come to the field where his flocks were.

In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied.

Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left.