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Lea； by the favor of Rachel。 She bare then these sons： Issachar；
denoting one born by hire： and Zabulon； one born as a pledge of
benevolence towards her； and a daughter； Dina。 After some time
Rachel had a son； named Joseph； which signified there should be
another added to him。
9。 Now Jacob fed the flocks of Laban his father…in…law all this
time； being twenty years； after which he desired leave of his
father…in…law to take his wives and go home； but when his
father…in…law would not give him leave； he contrived to do it
secretly。 He made trial therefore of the disposition of his wives
what they thought of this journey； … when they appeared glad； and
approved of it。 Rachel took along with her the images of the
gods； which； according to their laws； they used to worship in
their own country； and ran away together with her sister。 The
children also of them both； and the handmaids； and what
possessions they had； went along with them。 Jacob also drove away
half the cattle； without letting Laban know of it beforehand But
the reason why Rachel took the images of the gods； although Jacob
had taught her to despise such worship of those gods； was this；
That in case they were pursued； and taken by her father； she
might have recourse to these images； in order obtain his pardon。
10。 But Laban； after one day's time； being acquainted with
Jacob's and his daughters' departure； was much troubled； and
pursued after them； leading a band of men with him； and on the
seventh day overtook them； and found them resting on a certain
hill； and then indeed he did not meddle with them； for it was
even…tide； but God stood by him in a dream； and warned him to
receive his son…in…law and his daughters in a peaceable manner；
and not to venture upon any thing rashly； or in wrath to but to
make a league with Jacob。 And he him； that if he despised their
small number； attacked them in a hostile manner； he would assist
them。 When Laban had been thus forewarned by God； he called Jacob
to him the next day； in order to treat with him； and showed him
what dream he had； in dependence whereupon he came confidently to
him； and began to accuse him； alleging that he had entertained
him when he was poor； and in want of all things； and had given
him plenty of all things which he had。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃I have
joined my daughters to thee in marriage； and supposed that thy
kindness to me be greater than before； but thou hast had no
regard to either thy mother's relations to me； nor to the
affinity now newly contracted between us； nor to those wives whom
thou hast married； nor to those children； of whom I am the
grandfather。 Thou hast treated me as an enemy； driving away my
cattle； and by persuading my daughters to run away from their
father； and by carrying home those sacred paternal images which
were worshipped by my forefathers； and have been honored with the
like worship which they paid them by myself。 In short； thou hast
done this whilst thou art my kinsman； and my sister's son； and
the husband of my daughters； and was hospiably treated by me； and
didst eat at my table。〃 When Laban had said this； Jacob made his
defense … That he was not the only person in whom God had
implanted the love of his native country； but that he had made it
natural to all men； and that therefore it was but reasonable
that； after so long time； he should go back to it。 〃But as to the
prey； of whose driving away thou accusest me； if any other person
were the arbitrator； thou wouldst be found in the wrong； for
instead of those thanks I ought to have had from thee； for both
keeping thy cattle； and increasing them； how is it that thou art
unjustly angry at me because I have taken； and have with me； a
small portion of them？ But then； as to thy daughters； take
notice； that it is not through any evil practices of mine that
they follow me in my return home； but from that just affection
which wives naturally have to their husbands。 They follow
therefore not so properly myself as their own children。〃 And thus
far of his apology was made； in order to clear himself of having
acted unjustly。 To which he added his own complaint and
accusation of Laban； saying； 〃While I was thy sister's son； and
thou hadst given me thy daughters in marriage； thou hast worn me
out with thy harsh commands； and detained me twenty years under
them。 That indeed which was required in order to my marrying thy
daughters； hard as it was； I own to have been tolerable； but as
to those that were put upon me after those marriages； they were
worse； and such indeed as an enemy would have avoided。〃 For
certainly Laban had used Jacob very ill； for when he saw that God
was assisting to Jacob in all that he desired； he promised him；
that of the young cattle which should be born； he should have
sometimes what was of a white color； and sometimes what should be
of a black color； but when those that came to Jacob's share
proved numerous； he did not keep his faith with him； but said he
would give them to him the next year； because of his envying him
the multitude of his possessions。 He promised him as before；
because he thought such an increase was not to be expected； but
when it appeared to be fact； he deceived him。
11。 But then； as to the sacred images； he bid him search for
them； and when Laban accepted of the offer； Rachel； being
informed of it； put those images into that camel's saddle on
which she rode； and sat upon it； and said； that her natural
purgation hindered her rising up： so Laban left off searching any
further； not supposing that his daughter in such circumstances
would approach to those images。 So he made a league with Jacob；
and bound it by oaths； that he would not bear him any malice on
account of what had happened； and Jacob made the like league； and
promised to love Laban's daughters。 And these leagues they
confirmed with oaths also； which the made upon certain as whereon
they erected a pillar； in the form of an altar： whence that hill
is called Gilead； and from thence they call that land the Land of
Gilead at this day。 Now when they had feasted； after the making
of the league； Laban returned home。
CHAPTER 20。
Concerning The Meeting Of Jacob And Esau。
1。 Now as Jacob was proceeding on his journey to the land of
Canaan； angels appeared to him； and suggested to him good hope of
his future condition； and that place he named the Camp of God。
And being desirous of knowing what his brother's intentions were
to him； he sent messengers； to give him an exact account of every
thing； as being afraid； on account of the enmities between them。
He charged those that were sent； to say to Esau； 〃Jacob had
thought it wrong to live together with him while he was in anger
against him； and so had gone out of the country； and that he now；
thinking the length of time of his absence must have made up
their differences； was returning； that he brought with him his
wives； and his children； with what possessions he had gotten； and
delivered himself； with what was most dear to him； into his
hands； and should think it his greatest happiness to partake
together with his brother of what God had bestowed upon him。〃 So
these messengers told him this message。 Upon which Esau was very
glad； and met his brother with four hundred men。 And Jacob； when
he heard that he was coming to meet him with such a number of
men； was greatly afraid： however； he committed his hope of
deliverance to God； and considered how； in his present
circumstances； he might preserve himself and those that were with
him； and overcome his enemies if they attacked him injuriously。
He therefore distributed his company into parts； some he sent
before the rest； and the others he ordered to come close behind；
that so； if the first were overpowered when his brother attacked
them； they might have those that followed as a refuge to fly
unto。 And when he had put his company in this order； he sent some
of them to carry presents to his brother。 The presents were made
up of cattle； and a great number of four…footed beasts； of many
kinds； such as would be very acceptable to those that received
them； on account of their rarity。 Those who were sent went at
certain intervals of space asunder； that； by following thick； one
after another； they might appear to be more numerous； that Esau
might remit of his anger on account of these presents； if he were
still in a passion。 Instructions were also given to those that
were sent to speak gently to him。
2。 When Jacob had made these appointments all the day； and night
came on； he moved on with his company； and； as they were gone
over a certain river called Jabboc； Jacob was left behind； and
meeting with an angel； he wrestled with him； the angel beginning
the struggle： but he prevailed over the angel； who used a voice；
and spake to him in words； exhorting him to be pleased with what
had happened to him； and not to suppose that his victory was a
small one； but that he had overcome a divine angel； and to esteem
the victory as a sign of great blessings that should come to him；
and that his offspring should never fall； and that no man should
be too hard for his power。 He also commanded him to be called
Israel； which in the Hebrew tongue sign