Laban's Covenant with Jacob
Genesis 31:43-55
I. Laban Claims as His all that Jacob has (vs. 43-44)
a. How does Laban respond to Jacob’s angry response from vs. 36-42?
b. Is Laban’s claim that he wants to leave with everything or that Jacob would have none of it if it had not been for him?
c. Does Laban see that God’s blessing on Jacob also blesses his daughters and their children (his grandchildren)?
d. What does Laban call Jacob to enter into with him?
II. The Witness to the Covenant (vs. 44-48)
a. Who is the first to begin setting up stones?
b. Why do you think stones were used and not wood, sand, etc.?
c. Was this a small stack or does the Scripture suggest something larger?
d. After the heap is gathered what do Laban and Jacob do on the heap?
e. What does Laban, speaking Aramaic call the heap?
f. What does Jacob, speaking Hebrew, call the heap?
Is there any conflict here?
III. God is Witness (vs. 48-55)
a. What additional name is given to the place and why?
b. With God as witness how does Laban instruct Jacob to conduct himself?
c. Is Jacob forbidden from returning to see Laban again?
d. How does Laban appeal to the same God that Jacob does?
e. Is it significant that Laban does not declare God to be his God?
f. How does Jacob refer to God in verse 53?
g. Does the ratifying of the covenant by sacrifice and eating together signify that Laban and Jacob can depart on good terms?
APPLICATION: Conflict resolution can be difficult. What can we learn from this passage to help the next time we have a conflict?
