אֵת

If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.

Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.

He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.

In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.

I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me.

But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”

He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’

He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.

During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was struck near that tendon.

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.

When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.

And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.

So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.”

Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.

When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.

Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.

Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob’s sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully.