Israel (Jacob) agreed to his son’s invitation to move to Egypt and began the journey to see Joseph. He and his family took everything they owned. When he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God. God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “I am God, the God
Jacob and his family moved from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath (ancient Jerusalem), Rachel went into labor. She had great difficulty during labor but a midwife comforted her and said, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As Rachel took her last breath, she named her son Ben-Oni, but Jacob named
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, saying “Jacob is taking all of our father’s wealth from us.” Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him had changed too. Then God told Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers. Go to your relatives. I will be with you.” Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah,
After Jacob had lived with Laban for a month, Laban offered to pay him for his work telling Jacob, “Just because you are a relative of mine does not mean you should have to work for no pay.” Laban asked Jacob what he thought a fair wage would be. Laban had two daughters – an older