Chapter 12: Service in Haran and the Galeed Covenant

Study notes

Jacob serves Laban for Rachel, but Laban gives him Leah first, and after Laban also gives him Rachel, Jacob serves seven more years. When Jacob later flees, Laban pursues and overtakes him in Gilead, and they make a covenant, raising a heap of stones that Jacob calls Galeed.

From Genesis 29:25–26 (KoS), Genesis 29:27–30 (KoS), Genesis 31:22–26 (KoS), Genesis 31:44–49 (KoS).

These notes and questions are original study helps written for this site, not scripture. The verses shown with each question are quoted from the Kingdoms of Scripture Bible.

Notice and discuss

Read each passage, then think about the question on your own or talk it over with others. No answers are collected.

1. What does Jacob ask Laban when he finds Leah in the morning, and how does Laban explain it?

   In the morning, there was Leah. He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?” Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.

   Genesis 29:25–26 (KoS)

2. What does Jacob ask Laban for after Joseph is born, and what does Laban say he has learned?

   When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, so that I may go to my own place and my own land. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go. You yourself know the service I have given you.” Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes — I have learned by divination that Yahweh has blessed me because of you.” He said, “Name your wages to me, and I will give them.”

   Genesis 30:25–28 (KoS)

3. What does Laban warn Jacob against doing to his daughters, and what does he say the heap and stone are a witness to?

   If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, though no one else is with us, see: God is witness between you and me.” Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the standing stone that I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the standing stone is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this standing stone to me, to do harm.

   Genesis 31:50–52 (KoS)