Chapter 31

1And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father, he has amassed this entire fortune."   אוַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָקַ֣ח יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ וּמֵֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה:
he has amassed. Heb. עָשָׂה, lit., made, acquired, like (I Sam. 14:48) “And he gathered (וַיַעַשׂ) an army, and he smote Amalek.”   עָשָׂה.  כָּנַס, כְּמוֹ וַיַּעַשׂ חַיִל וַיַּךְ אֶת עֲמָלֵק (שמואל א י"ד):
2And Jacob saw Laban's countenance, that he was not disposed toward him as [he had been] yesterday and the day before.   בוַיַּ֥רְא יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י לָבָ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נּוּ עִמּ֖וֹ כִּתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם:
3And the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your forefathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with you."   גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ:
Return to the land of your forefathers. And there I will be with you, but as long as you are still attached to the unclean one, it is impossible to cause My presence to rest upon you. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 36]   שׁוּב אֶל־אֶרֶץ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ.  וְשָׁם אהיה עמך, אֲבָל בְּעוֹדְךָ מְחֻבָּר לַטָּמֵא אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָתִי עָלֶיךָ (בראשית רבה):
4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flocks.   דוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֖א לְרָחֵ֣ל וּלְלֵאָ֑ה הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֶל־צֹאנֽוֹ:
and called Rachel and Leah. First Rachel and then Leah, because she (Rachel) was the mainstay of the household, because, on her account, Jacob had joined Laban. Even Leah’s children acknowledged this matter, for Boaz and his tribunal of the tribe of Judah say, “like Rachel and like Leah, both of whom built, etc.” (Ruth 4:11). They place Rachel before Leah. — [from Tanchuma Buber, Vayetze 15]   וַיִּקְרָא לְרָחֵל וּלְלֵאָה.  לְרָחֵל תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ לְלֵאָה, שֶׁהִיא הָיְתָה עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת שֶׁבִּשְׁבִילָהּ נִזְדַּוֵּג יַעֲקֹב עִם לָבָן, וְאַף בָּנֶיהָ שֶׁל לֵאָה מוֹדִים בַּדָּבָר, שֶׁהֲרֵי בֹּעַז וּבֵית דִּינוֹ מִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אוֹמְרִים כְּרָחֵל וּכְלֵאָה אֲשֶׁר בָּנוּ שְׁתֵּיהֶם וְגוֹ' – הִקְדִּימוּ רָחֵל לְלֵאָה:
5And he said to them, "I see your father's countenance, that he is not disposed toward me [as he was] yesterday and the day before, but the God of my father was with me.   הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ן רֹאֶ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י אֲבִיכֶ֔ן כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֵלַ֖י כִּתְמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֔י הָיָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי:
6And you know that with all my might I served your father.   ווְאַתֵּ֖נָה יְדַעְתֶּ֑ן כִּ֚י בְּכָל־כֹּחִ֔י עָבַ֖דְתִּי אֶת־אֲבִיכֶֽן:
7But your father mocked me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me.   זוַֽאֲבִיכֶן֙ הֵ֣תֶל בִּ֔י וְהֶֽחֱלִ֥ף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת מֹנִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְהָרַ֖ע עִמָּדִֽי:
ten times ten times. Heb. עִשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים. מֹנִים is not less than ten.   עֲשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים.  אֵין מוֹנִים פָּחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה:
ten times. Heb. מֹנִים, a term denoting the base number, which is ten. We learn that he (Laban) changed his stipulation a hundred times.   מֹנִים.  לְשׁוֹן סְכוּם, כְּלַל הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְהֵן עֲשִׂירִיּוֹת; לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהֶחֱלִיף תְּנָאוֹ ק' פְּעָמִים:
8If he would say thus, 'Speckled ones shall be your wages,' all the animals would bear speckled ones, and if he would say thus, 'Ringed ones shall be your wages,' all the animals would bear ringed ones.   חאִם־כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר נְקֻדִּים֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ וְיָֽלְד֥וּ כָל־הַצֹּ֖אן נְקֻדִּ֑ים וְאִם־כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר עֲקֻדִּים֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ וְיָֽלְד֥וּ כָל־הַצֹּ֖אן עֲקֻדִּֽים:
9Thus, God separated your father's livestock and gave it to me.   טוַיַּצֵּ֧ל אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־מִקְנֵ֥ה אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וַיִּתֶּן־לִֽי:
10And it came to pass at the time the animals came into heat, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the he goats that mounted the animals were ringed, speckled, and striped.   יוַיְהִ֗י בְּעֵת֙ יַחֵ֣ם הַצֹּ֔אן וָֽאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֛י וָאֵ֖רֶא בַּֽחֲל֑וֹם וְהִנֵּ֤ה הָֽעֲתֻּדִים֙ הָֽעֹלִ֣ים עַל־הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים:
and behold, the he-goats. Although Laban had separated them all, so that the animals would not conceive their likeness, the angels were bringing them from the flock that had been given over into the hands of Laban’s sons to the flock that was in Jacob’s hands. — [from Gen. Rabbah 73:10]   וְהִנֵּה הָֽעֲתֻּדִים.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִבְדִּילָם לָבָן כֻּלָּם שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַבְּרוּ הַצֹּאן דֻּגְמָתָן, הָיוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים מְבִיאִין אוֹתָן מֵעֵדֶר הַמָּסוּר בְּיַד בְּנֵי לָבָן לָעֵדֶר שֶׁבְּיַד יַעֲקֹב (בראשית רבה):
and striped. Heb. וּבְרֻדָּים [To be explained] as the Targum renders: וּפְצִיחִין and open, faissie in Old French, striped. A white thread encircles his body all around, and its stripes are open and penetrating from one to the other, but I have no evidence from Scripture.   וּבְרֻדִּֽים.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּפַצִּיחִין, פייש"יר בְּלַעַ"ז, חוּט שֶׁל לָבָן מַקִּיף אֶת גּוּפוֹ סָבִיב, חֲבַרְבּוּרוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ פְתוּחָה וּמְפֻלֶּשֶׁת מִזּוֹ אֶל זוֹ; וְאֵין לְהָבִיא עֵד מִן הַמִּקְרָא:
11And an angel of God said to me in a dream, 'Jacob!' And I said, 'Here I am.'   יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י מַלְאַ֧ךְ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛ים בַּֽחֲל֖וֹם יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וָֽאֹמַ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי:
12And he said, 'Now lift your eyes and see [that] all the he goats mounting the animals are ringed, speckled, and striped, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.   יבוַיֹּ֗אמֶר שָׂא־נָ֨א עֵינֶ֤יךָ וּרְאֵה֙ כָּל־הָֽעֲתֻּדִים֙ הָֽעֹלִ֣ים עַל־הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּ֑ים כִּ֣י רָאִ֔יתִי אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָבָ֖ן עֹ֥שֶׂה לָּֽךְ:
13I am the God of Beth el, where you anointed a monument, where you pronounced to Me a vow. Now, arise, go forth from this land and return to the land of your birth.'"   יגאָֽנֹכִ֤י הָאֵל֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ שָּׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם נֶ֑דֶר עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ:
I am the God of Beth-el. Heb. הָאֵל בֵּית-אֵל, like אֵל בֵּית-אֵל. The “hey” is superfluous, and it is the way of the Scriptures to speak this way, like “For you are coming to the land of (הָאָרֶץ) Canaan” (Num. 34:2).   הָאֵל בֵּֽית־אֵל.  כְּמוֹ אֵל בֵּית אֵל, הַהֵ"א יְתֵרָה, וְדֶרֶךְ מִקְרָאוֹת לְדַבֵּר כֵּן, כְּמוֹ כִּי אַתֶּם בָּאִים אֶל הָאָרֶץ כְּנָעַן (במדבר ל"ד):
where you anointed. This is an expression of grandeur and greatness, just as one is anointed king. So [is the meaning of] “and he poured oil on top of it” (above, 28:18), to be anointed as an altar. — [following Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]   מָשַׁחְתָּ שָּׁם.  לְ' רִבּוּי וּגְדֻלָּה כְּשֶׁנִּמְשָׁח לַמַּלְכוּת, כָּךְ וַיִּצֹק שֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשָׁהּ – לִהְיוֹת מְשׁוּחָה לְמִזְבֵּחַ:
where you pronounced to Me a vow. And you must pay it up, for you said, “it shall be the house of God” (Gen. 28:22), that you would offer up sacrifices there. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 35]   אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתָּ לִּי.  וְצָרִיךְ אַתָּה לְשַׁלְּמוֹ, שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ יִהְיֶה בֵּית אֱלֹהִים, שֶׁתַּקְרִיב שָׁם קָרְבָּנוֹת:
14And Rachel and Leah replied and said to him, "Do we still have a share or an inheritance in our father's house?   ידוַתַּ֤עַן רָחֵל֨ וְלֵאָ֔ה וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה ל֑וֹ הַע֥וֹד לָ֛נוּ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַֽחֲלָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽינוּ:
Do we still have. Why should we stop you from returning? Do we still hope to inherit anything of our father’s property among the males?   הַעוֹד לָנוּ.  לָמָּה נְעַכֵּב עַל יָדְךָ מִלָּשׁוּב? כְּלוּם אָנוּ מְיַחֲלוֹת לִירַשׁ מִנִּכְסֵי אָבִינוּ כְּלוּם בֵּין הַזְּכָרִים:
15Are we not considered by him as strangers, for he sold us and also consumed our money?   טוהֲל֧וֹא נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ ל֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְכָרָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֥אכַל גַּם־אָכ֖וֹל אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ:
Are we not considered by him as strangers. Even at a time when people usually give a dowry to their daughters, viz. at the time of marriage, he behaved toward us as [one behaves toward] strangers, for he sold us to you (for you served him fourteen years for us, and he gave us to you only) as wages for labor.   הלא נָכְרִיּוֹת נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ לוֹ.  אֲפִלּוּ בְשָׁעָה שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לָתֵת נְדוּנְיָה לִבְנוֹתָיו – בִּשְׁעַת נִשּׂוּאִין – נָהַג עִמָּנוּ כְּנָכְרִיּוֹת, כִּי מְכָרָנוּ לְךָ בִּשְׂכַר הַפְּעֻלָּה:
our money. For he kept the wages for your labor.   אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ.  שֶׁעִכֵּב דְּמֵי שְׂכַר פְּעֻלָּתְךָ:
16But all the wealth that God separated from our father is ours and our children's. So now, all that God said to you, do."   טזכִּ֣י כָל־הָעֹ֗שֶׁר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֤יל אֱלֹהִים֙ מֵֽאָבִ֔ינוּ לָ֥נוּ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֵ֑ינוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֧ר אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה:
But all the wealth. Heb. כִּי. This כִּי here means“but.” That is, we have nothing of our father’s, but what the Holy One, blessed be He, separated from our father is ours.   כִּי כָל־הָעֹשֶׁר.  כִּי זֶה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֶלָּא; כְּלוֹמַר, מִשֶּׁל אָבִינוּ אֵין לָנוּ כְּלוּם, אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁהִצִּיל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵאָבִינוּ שֶׁלָּנוּ הוּא:
separated. Heb. הִצִיל, a term meaning that he separated, and so every expression of הַצָלָה in Scripture means separation, that one separates another from harm or from the enemy.   הִצִּיל.  לְשׁוֹן הִפְרִישׁ, וְכֵן כָּל לְשׁוֹן הַצָּלָה שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְשׁוֹן הַפְרָשָׁה, שֶׁמַּפְרִישׁוֹ מִן הָרָעָה וּמִן הָאוֹיֵב:
17So Jacob rose, and he lifted up his sons and his wives upon the camels.   יזוַיָּ֖קָם יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וַיִּשָּׂ֛א אֶת־בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו עַל־הַגְּמַלִּֽים:
his sons and his wives. He put the males before the females, but Esau put the females before the males, as it is said (below, 36:6): “And Esau took his wives and his sons, etc.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 74:5].   אֶת־בָּנָיו וְאֶת־נָשָׁיו.  הִקְדִּים זְכָרִים לִנְקֵבוֹת, וְעֵשָׂו הִקְדִּים נְקֵבוֹת לִזְכָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיִּקַּח עֵשָׂו אֶת נָשָׁיו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְגוֹמֵר:
18And he led all his livestock and all his possessions that he had acquired, the purchase of his acquisition, which he had acquired in Padan aram, to come to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.   יחוַיִּנְהַ֣ג אֶת־כָּל־מִקְנֵ֗הוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכֻשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁ מִקְנֵה֙ קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם לָב֛וֹא אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
the purchase of his acquisition. What he had purchased from [the sale of] his animals, viz. manservants, maidservants, camels, and donkeys. — [from Gen. Rabbah 74:5]   מִקְנֵה קִנְיָנוֹ.  מַה שֶּׁקָּנָה מִצֹּאנוֹ, עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת וּגְמַלִּים וַחֲמוֹרִים:
19Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and [meanwhile] Rachel stole her father's teraphim.   יטוְלָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִגְזֹ֖ז אֶת־צֹאנ֑וֹ וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב רָחֵ֔ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָבִֽיהָ:
to shear his sheep. that he had given into the hands of his sons, a journey of three days between him and Jacob.   לגזוז אֶת־צֹאנוֹ.  שֶׁנָּתַן בְּיַד בָּנָיו דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין יַעֲקֹב:
and [meanwhile] Rachel stole her father’s teraphim. She intended to separate her father from idolatry. — [from Gen. Rabbah 74: 5]   וַתִּגְנֹב רָחֵל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִים.  לְהַפְרִישׁ אֶת אָבִיהָ מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה נִתְכַּוְּנָה (בראשית רבה):
20And Jacob concealed from Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.   כוַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת־לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָֽאֲרַמִּ֑י עַל־בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא:
21So he and all that were his fled, and he arose and crossed the river, and he directed his face toward Mount Gilead.   כאוַיִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֣ר אֶת־הַנָּהָ֑ר וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו הַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד:
22On the third day, Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.   כבוַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְלָבָ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י כִּ֥י בָרַ֖ח יַֽעֲקֹֽב:
On the third day. For there was a three-day journey between them.   בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי.  שֶׁהֲרֵי דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים הָיָה בֵינֵיהֶם:
23So he took his kinsmen with him, and he pursued him seven days' journey, and he overtook him at Mount Gilead.   כגוַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף אַֽחֲרָ֔יו דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיַּדְבֵּ֥ק אֹת֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד:
his kinsmen. Heb. אֶחָיו, lit., his brothers, his kinsmen.   אֶת־אֶחָיו.  קְרוֹבָיו:
seven-days’ journey. All those three days [during the time] the reporter went to tell Laban, Jacob went on his way. We find that Jacob was six days distant from Laban, and on the seventh day, Laban overtook him. We find that the entire distance that Jacob had traversed in seven days, Laban traversed in one day (as it is said: “and he pursued him seven-days’ journey,” but it does not say: “and he pursued him seven days.”) - [from Gen. Rabbah 74:6]   דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים.  כָּל אוֹתָן ג' יָמִים שֶׁהָלַךְ הַמַּגִּיד לְהַגִּיד לְלָבָן הָלַךְ יַעֲקֹב לְדַרְכּוֹ, נִמְצָא, יַעֲקֹב רָחוֹק מִלָּבָן שִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי הִשִּׂיגוֹ לָבָן. לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁהָלַךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּשִׁבְעָה יָמִים הָלַךְ לָבָן בְּיוֹם אֶחָד (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר וַיִרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו שִׁבְעַת יָמִים):
24And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and He said to him, "Beware lest you speak with Jacob either good or evil."   כדוַיָּבֹ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־לָבָ֥ן הָֽאֲרַמִּ֖י בַּֽחֲלֹ֣ם הַלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ פֶּן־תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִם־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־רָֽע:
either good or evil. All the good of the wicked is considered evil to the righteous. — [from Yev. 103]   מִטּוֹב עַד־רָֽע.  כָּל טוֹבָתָן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים רָעָה הִיא אֵצֶל הַצַּדִּיקִים (יבמות ק"ג):
25And Laban overtook Jacob, and Jacob pitched his tent on the mountain, and Laban pitched with his kinsmen on Mount Gilead.   כהוַיַּשֵּׂ֥ג לָבָ֖ן אֶת־יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְיַֽעֲקֹ֗ב תָּקַ֤ע אֶת־אָֽהֳלוֹ֙ בָּהָ֔ר וְלָבָ֛ן תָּקַ֥ע אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד:
26And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you concealed from me, and led away my daughters like prisoners of war?   כווַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֶת־לְבָבִ֑י וַתְּנַהֵג֙ אֶת־בְּנֹתַ֔י כִּשְׁבֻי֖וֹת חָֽרֶב:
like prisoners of war. lit., like captives of a sword. Every army that goes to war is called חָרֶב, sword.   כִּשְׁבֻיוֹת חָֽרֶב.  כָּל חַיִל הַבָּא לַמִּלְחָמָה קָרוּי חֶרֶב:
27Why have you fled secretly, and concealed from me, and not told me? I would have sent you away with joy and with songs, and with drum and with harp.   כזלָ֤מָּה נַחְבֵּ֨אתָ֙ לִבְרֹ֔חַ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֹתִ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים בְּתֹ֥ף וּבְכִנּֽוֹר:
and concealed from me. [lit., you stole me, meaning] you concealed from me.   וַתִּגְנֹב אֹתִי.  גָּנַבְתָּ אֶת דַּעְתִּי:
28And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and daughters. Now, you have acted foolishly.   כחוְלֹ֣א נְטַשְׁתַּ֔נִי לְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְבָנַ֖י וְלִבְנֹתָ֑י עַתָּ֖ה הִסְכַּ֥לְתָּ עֲשֽׂוֹ:
29I have the power to inflict harm upon you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Beware of speaking with Jacob either good or bad.'   כטיֶשׁ־לְאֵ֣ל יָדִ֔י לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּכֶ֖ם רָ֑ע וֵֽאלֹהֵ֨י אֲבִיכֶ֜ם אֶ֣מֶשׁ | אָמַ֧ר אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֗ר הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר עִם־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־רָֽע:
I have the power. There is strength and power in my hand to inflict harm upon you. Also, every אל that refers to the Deity means that He is mighty and has much strength.   יֶשׁ־לְאֵל יָדִי.  יֵשׁ כֹּחַ וְחַיִל בְּיָדִי לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּכֶם רַע, וְכָל אֵל שֶׁהוּא לְ' קֹדֶש עַל שֵׁם עִזּוּז וְרֹב אוֹנִים הוּא:
30But now, you have gone away, for you longed for your father's house, [but]why have you stolen my gods?"   לוְעַתָּה֙ הָלֹ֣ךְ הָלַ֔כְתָּ כִּֽי־נִכְסֹ֥ף נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ לָ֥מָּה גָנַ֖בְתָּ אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי:
you longed. You wished. There are many words in Scripture (Ps. 84:3): “My soul yearns, yea, yea, it pines” ; (Job:14:15) “You desire the work of Your hands.”   נִכְסַפְתָּה.  חָמַדְתָּ, וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ בַּמִּקְרָא, נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי (תהילים פ"ד), לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ תִכְסֹף (איוב י"ד):
31And Jacob replied, and he said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, because I said, 'Lest you steal your daughters from me.'   לאוַיַּ֥עַן יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֑ן כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔אתִי כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־תִּגְזֹ֥ל אֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֖יךָ מֵֽעִמִּֽי:
Because I was afraid, etc. He answered him the first [question] first, that he said to him (verse 26), “and you led away my daughters, etc.” - [from Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan , 37:11-13]   כִּי יָרֵאתִי וגו'.  הֱשִׁיבוֹ עַל רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ, וַתְּנַהֵג אֶת בְּנֹתַי וְגוֹ':
32The one with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our brothers, recognize for yourself what is with me, and take [it] for yourself." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.   לבעִ֠ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֣א אֶת־אֱלֹהֶ֘יךָ֘ לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶה֒ נֶ֣גֶד אַחֵ֧ינוּ הַכֶּר־לְךָ֛ מָ֥ה עִמָּדִ֖י וְקַח־לָ֑ךְ וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֣ע יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י רָחֵ֖ל גְּנָבָֽתַם:
shall not live. And from that curse, Rachel died on the way (Gen. Rabbah 74:4).   לֹא יִֽחְיֶה.  וּמֵאוֹתָהּ קְלָלָה מֵתָה רָחֵל בַּדֶּרֶךְ (בראשית רבה)
what is with me. of yours. — [from Targum Jonathan]   מָה עִמָּדִי.  מִשֶּׁלְּךָ:
33So Laban entered Jacob's tent and Leah's tent and the tent[s] of the two handmaids, but he did not find [them]; and he had come out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent.   לגוַיָּבֹ֨א לָבָ֜ן בְּאֹֽהֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב | וּבְאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֗ה וּבְאֹ֛הֶל שְׁתֵּ֥י הָֽאֲמָהֹ֖ת וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑א וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֵאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֹ֥הֶל רָחֵֽל:
Jacob’s tent. That is, Rachel’s tent, for Jacob was usually with her, and so Scripture states: (below, 46:19): “The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife.” In reference to all of them, however, it does not say, “Jacob’s wife.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 74:9]   בְּאֹֽהֶל־יַֽעֲקֹב.  הוּא אֹהֶל רָחֵל, שֶׁהָיָה יַעֲקֹב תָּדִיר אֶצְלָהּ; וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּנֵי רָחֵל אֵשֶׁת יַעֲקֹב וּבְכֻּלָּן לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֵשֶׁת יַעֲקֹב:
and entered Rachel’s tent. when he came out of Leah’s tent, he went back into Rachel’s tent before he searched the tent[s] of the handmaids. Why [did he bother to do] all this? Because he was aware that she was one who touches everything. — [from Gen. Rabbah 74:9]   וַיָּבֹא בְּאֹֽהֶל־רָחֵֽל.  כְּשֶׁיָּצָא מֵאֹהֶל לֵאָה חָזַר לוֹ לְאֹהֶל רָחֵל קֹדֶם שֶׁיְּחַפֵּשׂ בְּאֹהֶל הָאֲמָהוֹת, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה? שֶׁהָיָה מַכִּיר בָּהּ שֶׁהִיא מַשְׁמְשָׁנִית:
34But Rachel had taken the teraphim and placed them into the camel saddle and sat upon them; so Laban felt about the entire tent but did not find [them].   לדוְרָחֵ֞ל לָֽקְחָ֣ה אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כָּל־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא:
into the camel saddle. Heb. בְּכַר, an expression of pillows (כָּרִים) and cushions וּכְסָתוֹת, as the Targum renders: בָּעִבִיטָא דְגַמְלָא, which is a saddle, made like a pillow, and (in Eruvin 15b, 16a) we learned: “If they encircled it with pillows (עִבִיטִין).” These are the pack-saddles of the camels, bastel in French, pack-saddle.   בְּכַר הַגָּמָל.  לְשׁוֹן כָּרִים וּכְסָתוֹת, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ בַּעֲבִיטָא דְגַמְלָא, וְהִיא מַרְדַּעַת הָעֲשׂוּיָה כְּמִין כַּר; וּבְעֵרוּבִין (דף ט"ז) שָׁנִינוּ הִקִּיפוּהָ בַּעֲבִיטִין, וְהֵן עֲבִיטֵי גְמַלִּים, בשט"ו בְּלַעַז:
35And she said to her father, "Let my lord not be annoyed, for I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me." So he searched, but did not find the teraphim.   להוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אָבִ֗יהָ אַל־יִ֨חַר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא אוּכַל֙ לָק֣וּם מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ כִּי־דֶ֥רֶךְ נָשִׁ֖ים לִ֑י וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ וְלֹ֥א מָצָ֖א אֶת־הַתְּרָפִֽים:
36And Jacob was annoyed, and he quarreled with Laban, and he said to Laban, "What is my transgression? What is my sin, that you have pursued me?   לווַיִּ֥חַר לְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב וַיָּ֣רֶב בְּלָבָ֑ן וַיַּ֤עַן יַֽעֲקֹב֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְלָבָ֔ן מַה־פִּשְׁעִי֙ מַ֣ה חַטָּאתִ֔י כִּ֥י דָלַ֖קְתָּ אַֽחֲרָֽי:
that you have pursued. Heb. דָלַקְתָּ, you pursued, like (Lam. 4:19): “they chased us (דָּלָקֻנוּ) on the mountains,” and like (I Sam. 17:53):“from pursuing (מִדְּלוֹק) the Philistines.” - [from Targum Onkelos]   דָלַקְתָּ.  רָדַפְתָּ, כְּמוֹ עַל הֶהָרִים דְּלָקֻנוּ (איכה ד'), וּכְמוֹ מִדְּלֹק אַחֲרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים (שמואל א י"ז):
37For you have felt about all my things. What have you found of all the utensils of your house? Put it here, in the presence of my kinsmen and your kinsmen, and let them decide between the two of us.   לזכִּֽי־מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת־כָּל־כֵּלַ֗י מַה־מָּצָ֨אתָ֙ מִכֹּ֣ל כְּלֵֽי־בֵיתֶ֔ךָ שִׂ֣ים כֹּ֔ה נֶ֥גֶד אַחַ֖י וְאַחֶ֑יךָ וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ בֵּ֥ין שְׁנֵֽינוּ:
and let them decide. Let them clarify who is right, aprover in Old French, prove, clarify. — [from Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]   וְיוֹכִיחוּ.  וִיבָרְרוּ עִם מִי הַדִּין, אפרובי"ר בְּלַעַז:
38Already twenty years have I been with you, and your ewes and she goats have not aborted, neither have I eaten the rams of your flocks.   לחזֶה֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ רְחֵלֶ֥יךָ וְעִזֶּ֖יךָ לֹ֣א שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ וְאֵילֵ֥י צֹֽאנְךָ֖ לֹ֥א אָכָֽלְתִּי:
have not aborted. They have not aborted their fetuses, like: (Hos. 9:14): “a miscarrying (מַשְׁכִּיל) womb” (Job 21:10): “his cow bears young and does not abort (תְּשַׁכֵּל).”   לֹא שִׁכֵּלוּ.  לֹא הִפִּילוּ עִבּוּרָם, כְּמוֹ רֶחֶם מַשְׁכִּיל (הושע ט'), תְּפַלֵּט פָּרָתוֹ וְלֹא תְשַׁכֵּל (איוב כ"א):
the rams of your flocks. From here they deduced that even a one-day-old ram is called a ram. Otherwise, what is his boast? He did not eat rams, but he ate lambs. If so, he is a thief. — [from B.K. 65b].   וְאֵילֵי צֹֽאנְךָ.  מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אַיִל בֶּן יוֹמוֹ קָרוּי אַיִל, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן, מַה שִּׁבְחוֹ? אֵלִים לֹא אָכַל, אֲבָל כְּבָשִׂים אָכַל, אִם כֵּן גַּזְלָן הוּא (בבא קמא ס"ה):
39I have not brought home to you anything torn [by other animals]; I would suffer its loss; from my hand you would demand it, what was stolen by day and what was stolen at night.   לטטְרֵפָה֙ לֹֽא־הֵבֵ֣אתִי אֵלֶ֔יךָ אָֽנֹכִ֣י אֲחַטֶּ֔נָּה מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נָּה גְּנֻֽבְתִ֣י י֔וֹם וּגְנֻֽבְתִ֖י לָֽיְלָה:
anything torn. By a lion or a wolf. — [from Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]   טְרֵפָה.  עַל יְדֵי אֲרִי וּזְאֵב:
I would suffer its loss. Heb. אִחַטֶּנָה, an expression similar to (Jud. 20:16): “and not miss (יַחֲטִיא);” (I Kings 1: 21): “My son Solomon and I will be lacking (חַטָּאִים).” I would suffer the loss; if it was missing, it was missing to me, for you would demand it from my hand.   אָֽנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה.  לְשׁוֹן קֹלֵעַ בָּאֶבֶן אֶל הַשַּׂעֲרָה וְלֹא יַחֲטִא (שופטים כ'), אֲנִי וּבְנִי שְׁלֹמֹה חַטָּאִים (מלכים א א') – חֲסֵרִים, אָנֹכִי אַחְסְרֶנָּה, אִם חָסְרָה חָסְרָה לִי, שֶׁמִּיָּדִי תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה:
I would suffer its loss. The Targum renders: דַּהִוַת שַׁגְיָא מִמִנְיָנָא, what was missing (נִפְקֶדֶת) and lacking from the count, like (Num. 31:49): “and no man was missing (נִפְקַד) from us,” which the Targum renders: לָא שְׁגָא.   אָֽנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה.  תַּרְגּוּמוֹ דַּהַוַת שָׁגְיָא מִמִּנְיָנָא, שֶׁהָיתָה נִפְקֶדֶת וּמְחֻסֶּרֶת, כְּמוֹ וְלֹא נִפְקַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ (במדבר ל"א), תַּרְגּוּמוֹ לָא שְׁגָא):
what was stolen by day and what was stolen at night. לַיְלָה גְנֻבְתִי יוֹם וּגְנֻבְתִי, [similar to] גְנוּבַת יוֹם או ֹגְנוּבַת לַיְלָה, what was stolen by day and what was stolen at night, I paid all.   גְּנֻֽבְתִי יוֹם וּגְנֻֽבְתִי לָֽיְלָה.  גְנוּבַת יוֹם אוֹ גְנוּבַת לַיְלָה, הַכֹּל שִׁלַּמְתִּי:
what was stolen. Heb. גְּנֻבְתִי Similar to (Lam. 1:1): “great (רַבָּתִי) among the nations, a princess (שָׂרָתִי) among the provinces;” (Isa. 1:21): “full (מְלֵאִתִי) of justice;” (Hos. 10:11): “that loves (אוֹהַבְתִּי) to thresh.”   גְּנֻֽבְתִי.  כְּמוֹ רַבָּתִי בַגּוֹיִם שָׂרָתִי בַּמְּדִינוֹת (איכה א'), מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט (ישעיהו א') אֹהַבְתִּי לָדוּשׁ (הושע י'):
40I was [in the field] by day when the heat consumed me, and the frost at night, and my sleep wandered from my eyes.   מהָיִ֧יתִי בַיּ֛וֹם אֲכָלַ֥נִי חֹ֖רֶב וְקֶ֣רַח בַּלָּ֑יְלָה וַתִּדַּ֥ד שְׁנָתִ֖י מֵֽעֵינָֽי:
the heat consumed me. An expression of (Deut. 4:24): “a consuming (אֹכְלָה) fire.”   אֲכָלַנִי חֹרֶב.  לְשׁוֹן אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה:
and the frost. Heb. וְקֶרַח, like (Ps. 147:17): “He hurls His ice (קַרְחוֹ).” The Targum renders: גְלִידא, ice, or frost.   וְקֶרַח.  כְּמוֹ מַשְׁלִיךְ קַרְחוֹ (תהילים קמ"ז), תַּרְגּוּמוֹ גְּלִידָא:
my sleep. Heb. שְׁנָתִי. An expression of שֵׁנָה, sleep.   שְׁנָתִי.  לְשׁוֹן שֵׁנָה:
41This is twenty years that I have spent in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your animals, and you changed my wages ten times.   מאזֶה־לִּ֞י עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָה֘ בְּבֵיתֶ֒ךָ֒ עֲבַדְתִּ֜יךָ אַרְבַּע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ בִּשְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתֶ֔יךָ וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים בְּצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וַתַּֽחֲלֵ֥ף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת מֹנִֽים:
and you changed my wages. You would change the stipulation between us from speckled to spotted and from ringed to striped.   וַתַּֽחֲלֵף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי.  הָיִיתָ מְשַׁנֶּה תְּנַאי שֶׁבֵּינֵינוּ, מִנָּקֹד לְטָלוּא, וּמֵעֲקוּדִים לִבְרֻדִּים:
42Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, been for me, you would now have sent me away empty handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and He reproved [you] last night."   מבלוּלֵ֡י אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִי֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וּפַ֤חַד יִצְחָק֙ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה רֵיקָ֣ם שִׁלַּחְתָּ֑נִי אֶת־עָנְיִ֞י וְאֶת־יְגִ֧יעַ כַּפַּ֛י רָאָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיּ֥וֹכַח אָֽמֶשׁ:
and the Fear of Isaac. He did not wish to say, “the God of Isaac,” because the Holy One, blessed be He, does not associate His name with the righteous while they are alive. Although He said to him upon his departure from Beer-sheba (above, 28:13): “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac,” since his eyes had become dim and a blind man is like a dead man, Jacob was afraid to say, “the God of,” and said, “and the Fear of.”   וּפַחַד יִצְחָק.  לֹא רָצָה לוֹמַר אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עַל הַצַּדִּיקִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ בְּצֵאתוֹ מִבְּאֵר שֶׁבַע אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ וֵאלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁכָּהוּ עֵינָיו, וַהֲרֵי הוּא כַּמֵּת; יַעֲקֹב נִתְיָרֵא לוֹמַר אֱלֹהֵי, וְאָמַר וּפַחַד:
and He reproved [you] last night. Heb. וַיוֹכַח, an expression of reproof, but it is not an expression of clarification.   וַיּוֹכַח.  לְשׁוֹן תּוֹכָחָה הוּא וְלֹא לְשׁוֹן הוֹכָחָה:
43And Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the animals are my animals, and all that you see is mine. Now, what would I do to these daughters of mine today, or to their children, whom they have borne?   מגוַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב הַבָּנ֨וֹת בְּנֹתַ֜י וְהַבָּנִ֤ים בָּנַי֙ וְהַצֹּ֣אן צֹאנִ֔י וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לִי־ה֑וּא וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י מָה־אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֤ה לָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם א֥וֹ לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלָֽדוּ:
Now, what would I do there?. How could I entertain the thought of harming them?   מָה־אֶֽעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה.  אֵיךְ תַּעֲלֶה עַל לִבִּי לְהָרַע לָהֶן:
44So now, come, let us form a covenant, you and I, and may He be a witness between me and you."   מדוְעַתָּ֗ה לְכָ֛ה נִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה וְהָיָ֥ה לְעֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ:
may He be a witness. [I.e.] the Holy One, blessed be He [will be a witness].   וְהָיָה לְעֵד.  הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
45So Jacob took a stone and set it up [as] a monument.   מהוַיִּקַּ֥ח יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה:
46And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones," and they took stones and made a pile, and they ate there by the pile.   מווַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹ֤ב לְאֶחָיו֙ לִקְט֣וּ אֲבָנִ֔ים וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־גָ֑ל וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽל:
to his kinsmen. [lit., to his brothers.] They are his sons, who were to him like brothers, drawing near him for trouble or for war (Gen. Rabbah 74:13).   לְאֶחָיו.  הֵם בָּנָיו שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ אַחִים, נִגָּשִׁים אֵלָיו לְצָרָה וּלְמִלְחָמָה (בראשית רבה):
47And Laban called it Yegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Gal ed.   מזוַיִּקְרָא־ל֣וֹ לָבָ֔ן יְגַ֖ר שָֽׂהֲדוּתָ֑א וְיַ֣עֲקֹ֔ב קָ֥רָא ל֖וֹ גַּלְעֵֽד:
Yegar Sahadutha. The Aramaic translation of Gal-ed.   יְגַר שָֽׂהֲדוּתָא.  תַּרְגּוּמוֹ שֶׁל גַּלְעֵד:
48And Laban said, "This pile is a witness between me and you today." Therefore, he called it Gal ed.   מחוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן הַגַּ֨ל הַזֶּ֥ה עֵ֛ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָֽרָא־שְׁמ֖וֹ גַּלְעֵֽד:
Therefore, he called it Gal-ed. The pile is a witness.   גלעד. גלעד:
49And Mizpah, because he said, "May the Lord look between me and you when we are hidden from each other.   מטוְהַמִּצְפָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר יִ֥צֶף יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֥י נִסָּתֵ֖ר אִ֥ישׁ מֵֽרֵעֵֽהוּ:
And Mizpah, because he said, etc.. And Mizpah, which is on Mount Gilead, as it is written (Jud. 11:29): “and he passed over Mizpeh of Gilead.” Now, why was it named Mizpah? Because each one said to the other, “May the Lord look (יִצֶף) between me and you if you transgress the covenant.”   וְהַמִּצְפָּה אֲשֶׁר אָמַר וגו'.  וְהַמִּצְפָּה אֲשֶׁר בְּהַר הַגִּלְעָד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וַיַּעֲבֹר אֶת מִצְפֵּה גִלְעָד (שופטים י"א), וְלָמָּה נִקְרֵאת שְׁמָהּ מִצְפָּה? לְפִי שֶׁאָמַר אֶחָד מֵהֶם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, יִצֶף ה' בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ אִם תַּעֲבֹר אֶת הַבְּרִית:
when we are hidden. And we do not see each other.   כִּי נִסָּתֵר.  וְלֹא נִרְאֶה אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ:
50If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters when no one is with us, behold! God is a witness between me and you."   נאִם־תְּעַנֶּ֣ה אֶת־בְּנֹתַ֗י וְאִם־תִּקַּ֤ח נָשִׁים֙ עַל־בְּנֹתַ֔י אֵ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ עִמָּ֑נוּ רְאֵ֕ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים עֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ:
…my daughters…my daughters. Twice. Bilhah and Zilpah were also his daughters from a concubine. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 36]   בְּנֹתַי בְּנֹתַי.  שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים, אַף בִּלְהָה וְזִלְפָּה בְּנוֹתָיו הָיוּ מִפִּילֶגֶשׁ:
If you afflict my daughters. By depriving them of their conjugal rights (Yoma 77).   אִם־תְּעַנֶּה אֶת־בְּנֹתַי.  לִמְנֹע מֵהֶן עוֹנַת תַּשְׁמִישׁ (יומא ע"ז):
51And Laban said to Jacob, "Behold this pile and behold this monument, which I have cast between me and you.   נאוַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָבָ֖ן לְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב הִנֵּ֣ה | הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ הַמַּצֵּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרִ֖יתִי בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ:
which I have cast. Heb. יָרִיתִי, similar to (Exod. 15:4): “He cast (יָרָה) into the sea,” like one who shoots an arrow. — [from Gen. Rabbah 74:15]   יָרִיתִי.  כְּמוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם, כְּזֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹרֶה הַחֵץ:
52This pile is a witness, and this monument is a witness, that I will not pass this pile [to go] to you and that you shall not pass this pile and this monument to [come to] me to [do] harm.   נבעֵ֚ד הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵדָ֖ה הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה אִם־אָ֗נִי לֹא־אֶֽעֱבֹ֤ר אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ אֶת־הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְאִם־אַ֠תָּ֠ה לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹ֨ר אֵלַ֜י אֶת־הַגַּ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה וְאֶת־הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְרָעָֽה:
that I. Heb. אִם. Here אִם is used as an expression of אִשֶׁר, that, like (above 24:33): “until (אִם) I have spoken my words.”   אִם־אָנִי.  הֲרֵי אִם מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, כְּמוֹ עַד אִם דִּבַּרְתִּי דְּבָרָי:
to [do] harm. To do harm you may not pass, but you may pass to do business. — [from Gen. Rabbah 74:15]   לְרָעָֽה.  לְרָעָה אִי אַתָּה עוֹבֵר, אַבָל אַתָּה עוֹבֵר לִפְרַקְמַטְיָה:
53May 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.   נגאֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י נָחוֹר֙ יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב בְּפַ֖חַד אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק:
the God of Abraham. This is holy. [I.e., it refers to the Deity.]- [from Gen. Rabbah 74:16]   אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם.  קֹדֶשׁ (בראשית רבה):
and the god of Nahor. Profane. [I.e., it refers to pagan deities.]- [from Gen. Rabbah 74:16]   וֵֽאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר.  חֹל:
the god of their father. Profane. [I.e., it refers to pagan deities.]   אֱלֹהֵי אֲבִיהֶם.  חֹל:
54And Jacob slaughtered a slaughtering on the mountain, and he invited his friends to eat a meal, and they ate bread and lodged on the mountain.   נדוַיִּזְבַּ֨ח יַֽעֲקֹ֥ב זֶ֨בַח֙ בָּהָ֔ר וַיִּקְרָ֥א לְאֶחָ֖יו לֶֽאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֣אכְלוּ לֶ֔חֶם וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בָּהָֽר:
And Jacob slaughtered a slaughtering. He slaughtered animals for a feast.   וַיִּזְבַּח יַֽעֲקֹב זֶבַח.  שָׁחַט בְּהֵמוֹת לְמִשְׁתֶּה:
his friends. [Heb. לְאֶחָיו, lit., to his brothers.] To his friends who were with Laban.   לְאֶחָיו.  לְאוֹהֲבָיו שֶׁעִם לָבָן:
to eat a meal. Heb. לָחֶם. Any kind of foodstuff is called לֶחֶם [not only bread], like (Dan. 5:1): “made a great feast (לֶחֶם);” (Jer. 11:19): “Let us destroy his food (בְּלַחְמוֹ) with wood.”   לֶֽאֱכָל־לָחֶם.  כָּל דְּבַר מַאֲכָל קָרוּי לֶחֶם, כְּמוֹ עֲבַד לְחֶם רַב (דניאל ה'), נַשְׁחִיתָה עֵץ בְּלַחְמוֹ (ירמיהו י"א):