Jacob and Laban

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The narrative of the encounter between Jacob and Laban occurs at an important juncture in the Jacob cycle (Gen. xxv 19-xxxvi 43). Jacob is in the midst of his journey home from Paddan-aram, the setting for the major events of his life up to this point. His final direct dealings with his kinsman Laban are described, under whose service he has been engaged for twenty years (xxxi 38, 41). The immediately preceding chapter concludes (v. 43) with a description of Jacob's rise to growing economic prosperity while in Laban's household. This creates the situation (vv. 1+2) out of which Jacob's departure is motivated (v. 3). The motivation plays a key role in the story because it is Yahweh himself who finally ensures the safety of Jacob and his household in the face of his accuser (and judicial authority)-Laban. Cf. vv. 24, 29, and 42. Jacob's return is recorded in xxxi 4-xxxiii 20 1). This return home is the major unit under which the smaller units, such as the one under discussion, is subsumed. That the encounter with Esau in chapter xxxii is a new episode is obvious and need not detain us. With these introductory observations, let us turn to a structural analysis of Jacob's return home, detailing his legal encounter with Laban.