Israel

And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law: Send me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land.

And Laban said: What shall I give thee? But he said: I require nothing; but if thou wilt do what I demand, I will feed and keep thy sheep again.

And he set the space of three days journey betwixt himself and his son-in-law, who fed the rest of his flock.

And Jacob took green rods of poplar, and of almond, and of plane-trees, and pilled them in part: so when the bark was taken off, in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whiteness: but the parts that were whole, remained green: and by this means the colour was divers.

And Jacob separated the flock, and put the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the rams; and all the white and the black were Laban's, and the rest were Jacob's, when the flocks were separated one from the other.

So when the ewes went first to ram, Jacob put the rods in the troughs of water before the eyes of the rams, and of the ewes, that they might conceive while they were looking upon them.

But when the later coming was, and the last conceiving, he did not put them. And those that were lateward, became Laban's; and they of the first time, Jacob's.

But after that he had heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying: Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's, and being enriched by his substance is become great.

And perceiving also, that Laban's countenance was not towards him as yesterday and the other day.

Especially the Lord saying to him: Return into the land of thy fathers and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee.

He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed the flocks,

And the angel of God said to me in my sleep: Jacob. And I answered: Here I am.

Then Jacob rose up, and having set his children and wives upon camels, went his way.

And Jacob would not confess to his father-in-law that he was flying away.

It was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob fled.

And he saw in a dream God, saying to him: Take heed thou speak not any thing harshly against Jacob.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and when he, with his brethren, had overtaken him, he pitched his tent in the same mount of Galaad.

And he said to Jacob: Why hast thou done thus, to carry away, without my knowledge, my daughters as captives taken with the sword?

It is in my power to return thee evil; but the God of your father said to me yesterday: Take heed thou speak not any thing harshly against Jacob.

Jacob answered: That I departed unknown to thee, it was for fear lest thou wouldst take away thy daughters by force.

But, whereas, thou chargest me with theft: with whomsoever thou shalt find thy gods, let him be slain before our brethren. Search, and if thou find any of thy things with me, take them away. Now when he said this, he knew not that Rachel had stolen the idols.

So Laban went into the tent of Jacob, and of Lia, and of both the handmaids, and found them not. And when he was entered into Rachel's tent,

And Jacob being angry, said in a chiding manner: For what fault of mine, and for what offence on my part hast thou so hotly pursued me,

Laban answered him: The daughters are mine, and the children, and thy flocks, and all things that thou seest are mine: what can I do to my children, and grandchildren?

And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a title.