Summary

Jacob is fleeing his home after tricking his brother Esau and his father Isaac. On his way to Haran, he stops for the night. He falls asleep and has a dream in which he sees angels ascending and descending a ladder. God appears to Jacob and repeats the blessing given to his grandfather Abraham and Isaac. God promises to protect Jacob and return him to his home in Canaan. Jacob promises that follow God.

He arrives in Haran and is welcomed by his uncle Laban. Jacob sees Rachel, one of Laban’s two daughters. He falls in love with her and asks for her hand in marriage, saying that he will work for Laban for seven years and then marry her. Laban agrees. However Laban tricks Jacob and on the wedding night his other daughter, Leah is substituted for Rachel. After the ceremony Jacob discovers the trick and becomes angry. Laban the offers Rachel to Jacob if he worked for another seven years. Jacob agrees.

Leah and Jacob have 7 sons. Rachel is at first unable to have children, so her servant, Bilhah bears Jacob 2 sons. Leah’s maid also bears him 2 more sons. Leah then gives birth to 2 boys and one daughter and Rachel finally is able to have a son.

Jacob worked for Laban for 20 years. He asks Laban to allow him to return to his home in Canaan. Laban agrees and back wages tells Jacob to build a flock from Laban’s herd of goats and sheep. Jacob chooses the animals, and his flock grows.

While Laban is out of his house, Rachel steals her father’s idols, and his entire household flees. Laban follows them but is warned by God that he can’t take revenge for the theft. He confronts Jacob who promises him that whoever stole the idols would not stay alive. The idols are not found and in the end, Jacob and Laban make a peace pact.

Torah Portion in English

10) Jacob left Beer-sheba, and set out for Haran. 11) He came upon a certain place and stopped there for the night, for the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of that place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12) He had a dream; a stairway was set on the ground and its top reached to the sky, and angels of God were going up and down on it. 13) And the Lord was standing beside him and He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac: the ground on which you are lying I will assign to you and to your offspring. 14) Your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants. 15) Remember, I am with you: I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Getting to Know my Parasha

What Does my Parasha Say?

1. Why was Jacob running away?
2. What did Jacob see in his dream?
3. What did God promise him?
4. What was Jacob’s uncle’s name?
5. Who did Jacob fall in love with?
6. What was the other daughter’s name?
7. How many children did Jacob, his wives and their maids have?
8. Make a family tree – showing the names of the children and who their mothers were.
9. Why did Laban chase after Jacob and his household?