Genesis 31:43-54

Good News Translation

The Agreement between Jacob and Laban

⁴³ Laban answered Jacob, “These young women are my daughters; their children belong to me, and these flocks are mine. In fact, everything you see here belongs to me. But since I can do nothing to keep my daughters and their children, ⁴⁴ I am ready to make an agreement with you. Let us make a pile of stones to remind us of our agreement.”

⁴⁵ So Jacob got a stone and set it up as a memorial. ⁴⁶ He told his men to gather some rocks and pile them up. Then they ate a meal beside the pile of rocks. ⁴⁷ Laban named it Jegar Sahadutha,^[a] while Jacob named it Galeed.^{[b] 48} Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will be a reminder for both of us.” That is why that place was named Galeed. ⁴⁹ Laban also said, “May the Lord keep an eye on us while we are separated from each other.” So the place was also named Mizpah.^{[c] 50} Laban went on, “If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other women, even though I don't know about it, remember that God is watching us. ⁵¹ Here are the rocks that I have piled up between us, and here is the memorial stone. ⁵² Both this pile and this memorial stone are reminders. I will never go beyond this pile to attack you, and you must never go beyond it or beyond this memorial stone to attack me. ⁵³ The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor^[d] will judge between us.” Then, in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped, Jacob solemnly vowed to keep this promise. ⁵⁴ He killed an animal, which he offered as a sacrifice on the mountain, and he invited his men to the meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.