Saadia · Bereshit 31
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- Bereshit 31:1
וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת-דִּבְרֵי בְנֵי-לָבָן לֵאמֹר לָקַח יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ--עָשָׂה אֵת כָּל-הַכָּבֹד הַזֶּה
. . .
And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying: 'Jacob has taken all that belongs to our father; and from what was our father's he has acquired all this wealth.'
- Bereshit 31:2
וַיַּרְא יַעֲקֹב אֶת-פְּנֵי לָבָן וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ עִמּוֹ כִּתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם
.
And Jacob saw the face of Laban — and behold, it was not with him as before.
- Bereshit 31:3
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-יַעֲקֹב שׁוּב אֶל-אֶרֶץ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּךָ וְאֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ
. .
Then God said to Jacob: 'Return to the land of your fathers and your birthplace; and I shall be with you.'
- Bereshit 31:4
וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב וַיִּקְרָא לְרָחֵל וּלְלֵאָה הַשָּׂדֶה אֶל-צֹאנוֹ
. .
And Jacob sent and called for Rachel and Leah, to the wilderness, to his flock.
- Bereshit 31:5
וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶן רֹאֶה אָנֹכִי אֶת-פְּנֵי אֲבִיכֶן כִּי-אֵינֶנּוּ אֵלַי כִּתְמֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם וֵאלֹהֵי אָבִי הָיָה עִמָּדִי
. . . .
And he said to them: 'Behold, I see the face of your father — that it is not with me as before. But the God of my father has never ceased to be with me.
- Bereshit 31:6
וְאַתֵּנָה יְדַעְתֶּן כִּי בְּכָל-כֹּחִי עָבַדְתִּי אֶת-אֲבִיכֶן
. .
And you know that I have served him with all my strength.
- Bereshit 31:7
וַאֲבִיכֶן הֵתֶל בִּי וְהֶחֱלִף אֶת-מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי עֲשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים וְלֹא-נְתָנוֹ אֱלֹהִים לְהָרַע עִמָּדִי
. .
And your father has dealt deceitfully with me, and changed my wage ten times; but God did not let him do me harm.
- Bereshit 31:8
אִם-כֹּה יֹאמַר נְקֻדִּים יִהְיֶה שְׂכָרֶךָ--וְיָלְדוּ כָל-הַצֹּאן נְקֻדִּים וְאִם-כֹּה יֹאמַר עֲקֻדִּים יִהְיֶה שְׂכָרֶךָ--וְיָלְדוּ כָל-הַצֹּאן עֲקֻדִּים
. . .
If he said, 'Thus shall be your wage — the speckled ones,' all the flock bore speckled. And if he said, 'Thus shall be your wage — the striped,' all the flock bore striped.
- Bereshit 31:9
וַיַּצֵּל אֱלֹהִים אֶת-מִקְנֵה אֲבִיכֶם וַיִּתֶּן-לִי
.
So God has bestowed of your father's flock, and given to me.
- Bereshit 31:10
וַיְהִי בְּעֵת יַחֵם הַצֹּאן וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי וָאֵרֶא בַּחֲלוֹם וְהִנֵּה הָעַתֻּדִים הָעֹלִים עַל-הַצֹּאן עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים וּבְרֻדִּים
. . .
And it was at the time when the flock was in heat — I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream — and behold, the male goats mounting the flock were striped, and speckled, and dappled.
- Bereshit 31:11
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים בַּחֲלוֹם--יַעֲקֹב וָאֹמַר הִנֵּנִי
.
And the angel of God said to me in the dream: 'O Jacob.' I said: 'I am at your service.'
- Bereshit 31:12
וַיֹּאמֶר שָׂא-נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה כָּל-הָעַתֻּדִים הָעֹלִים עַל-הַצֹּאן עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים וּבְרֻדִּים כִּי רָאִיתִי אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָבָן עֹשֶׂה לָּךְ
. . . .
He said: 'Lift up your eyes and look — all the male goats mounting the flock are striped, and speckled, and dappled — for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
- Bereshit 31:13
אָנֹכִי הָאֵל בֵּית-אֵל אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ שָּׁם מַצֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתָּ לִּי שָׁם נֶדֶר עַתָּה קוּם צֵא מִן-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וְשׁוּב אֶל-אֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּךָ
. . . . .
I am the Power who appeared to you in Beth-El, where you anointed for Me the pillar, and vowed to Me there the vow. Now arise, go out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.'
- Bereshit 31:14
וַתַּעַן רָחֵל וְלֵאָה וַתֹּאמַרְנָה לוֹ הַעוֹד לָנוּ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה בְּבֵית אָבִינוּ
. . .
And Rachel and Leah answered, and said to him: 'Have we any portion or inheritance left in our father's house?
- Bereshit 31:15
הֲלוֹא נָכְרִיּוֹת נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ לוֹ כִּי מְכָרָנוּ וַיֹּאכַל גַּם-אָכוֹל אֶת-כַּסְפֵּנוּ
. . .
Are we not reckoned by him as strangers? For he has sold us, and even consumed our price.
- Bereshit 31:16
כִּי כָל-הָעֹשֶׁר אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֱלֹהִים מֵאָבִינוּ--לָנוּ הוּא וּלְבָנֵינוּ וְעַתָּה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמַר אֱלֹהִים אֵלֶיךָ--עֲשֵׂה
. . . .
All the wealth which God has bestowed from our father — it is ours and our children's. Now, whatever God has said to you, do.'
- Bereshit 31:17
וַיָּקָם יַעֲקֹב וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-נָשָׁיו עַל-הַגְּמַלִּים
.
Then Jacob arose, and lifted his sons and his wives upon the camels.
- Bereshit 31:18
וַיִּנְהַג אֶת-כָּל-מִקְנֵהוּ וְאֶת-כָּל-רְכֻשׁוֹ אֲשֶׁר רָכָשׁ--מִקְנֵה קִנְיָנוֹ אֲשֶׁר רָכַשׁ בְּפַדַּן אֲרָם לָבוֹא אֶל-יִצְחָק אָבִיו אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן
. . . . .
And he drove all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had acquired — with his livestock and the rest of his property which he had acquired in Paddan-Aram — to come to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
- Bereshit 31:19
וְלָבָן הָלַךְ לִגְזֹז אֶת-צֹאנוֹ וַתִּגְנֹב רָחֵל אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ
. . .
And Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel took the image-figurine which belonged to her father.
- Bereshit 31:20
וַיִּגְנֹב יַעֲקֹב אֶת-לֵב לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי--עַל-בְּלִי הִגִּיד לוֹ כִּי בֹרֵחַ הוּא
. .
And Jacob concealed [his plan] from Laban the Aramean — he did not tell him that he was leaving.
- Bereshit 31:21
וַיִּבְרַח הוּא וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ וַיָּקָם וַיַּעֲבֹר אֶת-הַנָּהָר וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-פָּנָיו הַר הַגִּלְעָד
. .
And he departed, he and all his property; and he arose, and crossed the Euphrates; and he set his course for Mount Gilead.
- Bereshit 31:22
וַיֻּגַּד לְלָבָן בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי כִּי בָרַח יַעֲקֹב
.
And on the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
- Bereshit 31:23
וַיִּקַּח אֶת-אֶחָיו עִמּוֹ וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וַיַּדְבֵּק אֹתוֹ בְּהַר הַגִּלְעָד
. . .
And he took his kinsmen with him, and pursued after him a journey of seven days; and he overtook him at Mount Gilead.
- Bereshit 31:24
וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי בַּחֲלֹם הַלָּיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן-תְּדַבֵּר עִם-יַעֲקֹב--מִטּוֹב עַד-רָע
. . .
And the angel of God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night; and he said to him: 'Beware lest you speak to Jacob from good to evil.'
- Bereshit 31:25
וַיַּשֵּׂג לָבָן אֶת-יַעֲקֹב וְיַעֲקֹב תָּקַע אֶת-אָהֳלוֹ בָּהָר וְלָבָן תָּקַע אֶת-אֶחָיו בְּהַר הַגִּלְעָד
. . . .
And Laban overtook Jacob; and Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain; and Laban encamped his kinsmen on Mount Gilead.
- Bereshit 31:26
וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן לְיַעֲקֹב מֶה עָשִׂיתָ וַתִּגְנֹב אֶת-לְבָבִי וַתְּנַהֵג אֶת-בְּנֹתַי כִּשְׁבֻיוֹת חָרֶב
. . . .
And Laban said to Jacob: 'What is this you have done to me — that you concealed it from me, and led my daughters away like captives of the sword?
- Bereshit 31:27
לָמָּה נַחְבֵּאתָ לִבְרֹחַ וַתִּגְנֹב אֹתִי וְלֹא-הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי וָאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשִׁרִים בְּתֹף וּבְכִנּוֹר
. . . .
Why did you hide and depart, and concealed it from me, and did not tell me — that I might have escorted you with joy and song, with timbrels and lutes?
- Bereshit 31:28
וְלֹא נְטַשְׁתַּנִי לְנַשֵּׁק לְבָנַי וְלִבְנֹתָי עַתָּה הִסְכַּלְתָּ עֲשׂוֹ
. .
And you did not let me kiss my sons and my daughters. Now, you have acted foolishly in what you have done.
- Bereshit 31:29
יֶשׁ-לְאֵל יָדִי לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּכֶם רָע וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבִיכֶם אֶמֶשׁ אָמַר אֵלַי לֵאמֹר הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ מִדַּבֵּר עִם-יַעֲקֹב--מִטּוֹב עַד-רָע
. . .
Is there strength in my hand to do you harm? But the God of your father last night said to me: 'Beware lest you speak to Jacob from good to evil.'
- Bereshit 31:30
וְעַתָּה הָלֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ כִּי-נִכְסֹף נִכְסַפְתָּה לְבֵית אָבִיךָ לָמָּה גָנַבְתָּ אֶת-אֱלֹהָי
. .
And now, you have gone — for you longed for your father's house. But why did you steal my objects of worship?'
- Bereshit 31:31
וַיַּעַן יַעֲקֹב וַיֹּאמֶר לְלָבָן כִּי יָרֵאתִי--כִּי אָמַרְתִּי פֶּן-תִּגְזֹל אֶת-בְּנוֹתֶיךָ מֵעִמִּי
. .
And Jacob answered him, and said: 'Because I was afraid, and said: lest you should take your daughters from me by force.
- Bereshit 31:32
עִם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶת-אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא יִחְיֶה--נֶגֶד אַחֵינוּ הַכֶּר-לְךָ מָה עִמָּדִי וְקַח-לָךְ וְלֹא-יָדַע יַעֲקֹב כִּי רָחֵל גְּנָבָתַם
. . . .
And whoever you find your worshipped-objects with — let him not live. In the presence of our kinsmen identify whatever you have of yours with me, and take it.' And Jacob did not know that Rachel had hidden them.
- Bereshit 31:33
וַיָּבֹא לָבָן בְּאֹהֶל יַעֲקֹב וּבְאֹהֶל לֵאָה וּבְאֹהֶל שְׁתֵּי הָאֲמָהֹת--וְלֹא מָצָא וַיֵּצֵא מֵאֹהֶל לֵאָה וַיָּבֹא בְּאֹהֶל רָחֵל
. . . .
And Laban entered Jacob's tent, and Leah's tent, and the tents of the two maidservants, and he found nothing. Then he came out from Leah's tent, and entered Rachel's tent.
- Bereshit 31:34
וְרָחֵל לָקְחָה אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים וַתְּשִׂמֵם בְּכַר הַגָּמָל--וַתֵּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ לָבָן אֶת-כָּל-הָאֹהֶל וְלֹא מָצָא
. . . .
And she had taken the image-figurine and placed it in the camel's saddle, and sat upon it. And Laban felt all over the tent, and did not find anything.
- Bereshit 31:35
וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל-אָבִיהָ אַל-יִחַר בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנִי כִּי לוֹא אוּכַל לָקוּם מִפָּנֶיךָ כִּי-דֶרֶךְ נָשִׁים לִי וַיְחַפֵּשׂ וְלֹא מָצָא אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים
. . . . .
And she said to him: 'Let it not press upon my lord — for I cannot rise from before you, since the way of women has come upon me.' And he searched, and did not find the image-figurine.
- Bereshit 31:36
וַיִּחַר לְיַעֲקֹב וַיָּרֶב בְּלָבָן וַיַּעַן יַעֲקֹב וַיֹּאמֶר לְלָבָן מַה-פִּשְׁעִי מַה חַטָּאתִי כִּי דָלַקְתָּ אַחֲרָי
. . .
And it grew hard upon Jacob; and he quarreled with him, and answered, and said: 'What is my crime? What is my offense? — that you have pursued me?
- Bereshit 31:37
כִּי-מִשַּׁשְׁתָּ אֶת-כָּל-כֵּלַי מַה-מָּצָאתָ מִכֹּל כְּלֵי-בֵיתֶךָ--שִׂים כֹּה נֶגֶד אַחַי וְאַחֶיךָ וְיוֹכִיחוּ בֵּין שְׁנֵינוּ
. . . .
And you have felt all my vessels; what have you found of all the vessels of your house? Set it here, before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may judge between the two of us.
- Bereshit 31:38
זֶה עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ רְחֵלֶיךָ וְעִזֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁכֵּלוּ וְאֵילֵי צֹאנְךָ לֹא אָכָלְתִּי
. .
Behold, twenty years have I been with you; your ewes and your she-goats have not miscarried; and the rams of your flock I have not eaten.
- Bereshit 31:39
טְרֵפָה לֹא-הֵבֵאתִי אֵלֶיךָ--אָנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה מִיָּדִי תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה גְּנֻבְתִי יוֹם וּגְנֻבְתִי לָיְלָה
. .
A torn beast — I did not bring it to you; from my own hand you would demand it; whatever was stolen by day or by night, you would demand.
- Bereshit 31:41
זֶה-לִּי עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה בְּבֵיתֶךָ עֲבַדְתִּיךָ אַרְבַּע-עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה בִּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתֶיךָ וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים בְּצֹאנֶךָ וַתַּחֲלֵף אֶת-מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי עֲשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים
. . . .
Behold, twenty years have I been in your house: I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flocks; and you changed my wage ten times.
- Bereshit 31:42
לוּלֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וּפַחַד יִצְחָק הָיָה לִי--כִּי עַתָּה רֵיקָם שִׁלַּחְתָּנִי אֶת-עָנְיִי וְאֶת-יְגִיעַ כַּפַּי רָאָה אֱלֹהִים--וַיּוֹכַח אָמֶשׁ
. . . .
Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, been my helper, by now you would have sent me away empty. My weakness and the toil of my hands — God saw, and reproved you last night.'
- Bereshit 31:43
וַיַּעַן לָבָן וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-יַעֲקֹב הַבָּנוֹת בְּנֹתַי וְהַבָּנִים בָּנַי וְהַצֹּאן צֹאנִי וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה רֹאֶה לִי-הוּא וְלִבְנֹתַי מָה-אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה הַיּוֹם אוֹ לִבְנֵיהֶן אֲשֶׁר יָלָדוּ
. . . .
And Laban answered him, and said to him: 'The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flock is my flock; and all that you see is mine. And what would I do this day to my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?
- Bereshit 31:44
וְעַתָּה לְכָה נִכְרְתָה בְרִית--אֲנִי וָאָתָּה וְהָיָה לְעֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ
. .
Now come, let us make a covenant — I and you; and let it be a witness between me and you.'
- Bereshit 31:45
וַיִּקַּח יַעֲקֹב אָבֶן וַיְרִימֶהָ מַצֵּבָה
.
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up as a pillar.
- Bereshit 31:46
וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לְאֶחָיו לִקְטוּ אֲבָנִים וַיִּקְחוּ אֲבָנִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-גָל וַיֹּאכְלוּ שָׁם עַל-הַגָּל
. .
And Jacob said to his kinsmen: 'Gather stones.' And they gathered stones, and made a cairn; and they ate there upon the cairn.
- Bereshit 31:47
וַיִּקְרָא-לוֹ לָבָן יְגַר שָׂהֲדוּתָא וְיַעֲקֹב קָרָא לוֹ גַּלְעֵד
.
And Laban named it Cairn-of-Witness (Yegar-Sahaduta); and Jacob named it in Hebrew, Gal-Ed.
- Bereshit 31:48
וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן הַגַּל הַזֶּה עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינְךָ הַיּוֹם עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמוֹ גַּלְעֵד
. . .
And Laban said: 'This cairn is witness between me and you this day.' Therefore he named it Gal-Ed.
- Bereshit 31:49
וְהַמִּצְפָּה אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יִצֶף יְהוָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ כִּי נִסָּתֵר אִישׁ מֵרֵעֵהוּ
. .
And [it is also called] the Watcher — for he said: 'May God watch between me and you, when we are concealed each one from his fellow:
- Bereshit 31:50
אִם-תְּעַנֶּה אֶת-בְּנֹתַי וְאִם-תִּקַּח נָשִׁים עַל-בְּנֹתַי--אֵין אִישׁ עִמָּנוּ רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ
. . . .
that you shall not afflict my daughters, and shall not take wives in addition to them; no human stranger is with us; look — God is witness between me and you.'
- Bereshit 31:51
וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן לְיַעֲקֹב הִנֵּה הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְהִנֵּה הַמַּצֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר יָרִיתִי בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ
. .
And he said to him also: 'Behold this cairn and this pillar, which I have set up between me and you.
- Bereshit 31:52
עֵד הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְעֵדָה הַמַּצֵּבָה אִם-אָנִי לֹא-אֶעֱבֹר אֵלֶיךָ אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאִם-אַתָּה לֹא-תַעֲבֹר אֵלַי אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאֶת-הַמַּצֵּבָה הַזֹּאת לְרָעָה
. .
This cairn is witness, and the pillar — that I shall not pass over them to you, and that you shall not pass over them to me — for evil.
- Bereshit 31:53
אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר יִשְׁפְּטוּ בֵינֵינוּ--אֱלֹהֵי אֲבִיהֶם וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק
. . .
May the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor — judge between us — the God of their father.' And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
- Bereshit 31:54
וַיִּזְבַּח יַעֲקֹב זֶבַח בָּהָר וַיִּקְרָא לְאֶחָיו לֶאֱכָל-לָחֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ לֶחֶם וַיָּלִינוּ בָּהָר
. .
And Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to eat bread; and they ate bread, and lodged on the mountain.
English is a working draft — author revising