Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this aliyah, Yaakov Avinu packs up his entire family and all the wealth he worked so hard to acquire in Paddan-aram, setting out to return to his father Yitzchak in Eretz Canaan. Knowing Lavan would try to stop him, Yaakov leaves secretly without telling him. Meanwhile, Rachel takes Lavan's terafim (idols) to wean her father away from his idol worship. When Lavan hears three days later that Yaakov has fled, he gathers his kinsmen and pursues him, catching up to him at Har HaGilad, but Hashem warns Lavan in a dream at night not to say or do anything to Yaakov, whether good or bad.
Upon confronting Yaakov, Lavan complains about the secret departure and accuses him of stealing his terafim. Unaware that Rachel took them, Yaakov invites Lavan to search everything, declaring that whoever possesses the terafim shall not live. Lavan searches all the tents thoroughly but fails to find them because Rachel had hidden them inside the camel's saddle. After the search turns up nothing, Yaakov speaks up with great pain and righteousness, recounting his twenty years of total faithfulness, how he bore every loss himself, and how Hashem saw his affliction and protected him from Lavan's trickery.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
פָּסוּק א
Pasuk 1
וַיָּקָםAnd aroseיַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיִּשָּׂאand lifted upאֶת—בָּנָיוhis sonsוְאֶתand —נָשָׁיוhis wivesעַלuponהַגְּמַלִּים׃the camels
פָּסוּק ב
Pasuk 2
וַיִּנְהַגand he droveאֶת—כָּלallמִקְנֵהוּhis livestockוְאֶתand —כָּלallרְכֻשׁוֹhis wealthאֲשֶׁרthatרָכָשׁhe acquiredמִקְנֵהthe livestock ofקִנְיָנוֹhis purchaseאֲשֶׁרthatרָכַשׁhe acquiredבְּפַדַּןin PadanאֲרָםAramלָבוֹאto comeאֶלtoיִצְחָקYitzchakאָבִיוhis fatherאַרְצָהto the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Kanaan
פָּסוּק ג
Pasuk 3
וְלָבָןAnd Lavanהָלַךְhad goneלִגְזֹזto shearאֶת—צֹאנוֹhis sheepוַתִּגְנֹבand stoleרָחֵלRachelאֶת—הַתְּרָפִיםthe teraphimאֲשֶׁרwhich wereלְאָבִיהָ׃her father's
פָּסוּק ד
Pasuk 4
וַיִּגְנֹבAnd stoleיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶת—לֵבthe heart ofלָבָןLavanהָאֲרַמִּיthe Arameanעַלbyבְּלִיnotהִגִּידtellingלוֹhimכִּיthatבֹרֵחַfleeingהוּא׃he was
פָּסוּק ה
Pasuk 5
וַיִּבְרַחand he fledהוּאheוְכָלand allאֲשֶׁרthatלוֹwas hisוַיָּקָםand he aroseוַיַּעֲבֹרand he crossedאֶת—הַנָּהָרthe Riverוַיָּשֶׂםand he setאֶת—פָּנָיוhis faceהַרtoward the mountain ofהַגִּלְעָד׃Gilead
פָּסוּק ו
Pasuk 6
וַיֻּגַּדAnd it was toldלְלָבָןto Lavanבַּיּוֹםon the dayהַשְּׁלִישִׁיthe thirdכִּיthatבָרַחhad fledיַעֲקֹב׃Yaakov
פָּסוּק ז
Pasuk 7
וַיִּקַּחAnd he tookאֶת—אֶחָיוhis kinsmenעִמּוֹwith himוַיִּרְדֹּףand he pursuedאַחֲרָיוafter himדֶּרֶךְa distance ofשִׁבְעַתsevenיָמִיםdaysוַיַּדְבֵּקand he overtookאֹתוֹhimבְּהַרin the mountain ofהַגִּלְעָד׃Gilead
פָּסוּק ח
Pasuk 8
וַיָּבֹאAnd cameאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶלtoלָבָןLavanהָאֲרַמִּיthe Arameanבַּחֲלֹםin a dream ofהַלָּיְלָהthe nightוַיֹּאמֶרand He saidלוֹto himהִשָּׁמֶרguardלְךָyourselfפֶּןlestתְּדַבֵּרyou speakעִםwithיַעֲקֹבYaakovמִטּוֹבfrom goodעַדtoרָע׃bad
פָּסוּק ט
Pasuk 9
וַיַּשֵּׂגand overtookלָבָןLavanאֶת—יַעֲקֹבYaakovוְיַעֲקֹבand Yaakovתָּקַעhad pitchedאֶת—אָהֳלוֹhis tentבָּהָרon the mountainוְלָבָןand Lavanתָּקַעpitchedאֶתwithאֶחָיוhis kinsmenבְּהַרin the mountain ofהַגִּלְעָד׃the Gilad
פָּסוּק י
Pasuk 10
וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלָבָןLavanלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovמֶהwhatעָשִׂיתָhave you doneוַתִּגְנֹבthat you deceivedאֶת—לְבָבִיmy heartוַתְּנַהֵגand led awayאֶת—בְּנֹתַיmy daughtersכִּשְׁבֻיוֹתlike captives ofחָרֶב׃a sword
פָּסוּק יא
Pasuk 11
לָמָּהwhyנַחְבֵּאתָdid you hideלִבְרֹחַto fleeוַתִּגְנֹבand deceiveאֹתִיmeוְלֹאand notהִגַּדְתָּdid you tellלִּיmeוָאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָand I would send youבְּשִׂמְחָהwith joyוּבְשִׁרִיםand with songsבְּתֹףwith drumוּבְכִנּוֹר׃and with lyre
פָּסוּק יב
Pasuk 12
וְלֹאand notנְטַשְׁתַּנִיdid you allow meלְנַשֵּׁקto kissלְבָנַיmy sonsוְלִבְנֹתָיand my daughtersעַתָּהnowהִסְכַּלְתָּyou acted foolishlyעֲשׂוֹ׃to do
פָּסוּק יג
Pasuk 13
יֶשׁThere isלְאֵלin the power ofיָדִיmy handלַעֲשׂוֹתto doעִמָּכֶםwith youרָעharmוֵאלֹהֵיand the God ofאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherאֶמֶשׁlast nightאָמַרsaidאֵלַיto meלֵאמֹרsayingהִשָּׁמֶרbewareלְךָfor yourselfמִדַּבֵּרfrom speakingעִםwithיַעֲקֹבYaakovמִטּוֹבfrom goodעַדtoרָע׃bad
פָּסוּק יד
Pasuk 14
וְעַתָּהand nowהָלֹךְyou surelyהָלַכְתָּwentכִּיbecauseנִכְסֹףyou greatlyנִכְסַפְתָּהlongedלְבֵיתfor the house ofאָבִיךָyour fatherלָמָּהwhyגָנַבְתָּdid you stealאֶת—אֱלֹהָי׃my gods
פָּסוּק טו
Pasuk 15
וַיַּעַןAnd answeredיַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלְלָבָןto LavanכִּיbecauseיָרֵאתִיI was afraidכִּיforאָמַרְתִּיI saidפֶּןlestתִּגְזֹלyou would robאֶת—בְּנוֹתֶיךָyour daughtersמֵעִמִּי׃from me
פָּסוּק טז
Pasuk 16
עִםWithאֲשֶׁרwhomeverתִּמְצָאyou findאֶת—אֱלֹהֶיךָyour godsלֹאshall notיִחְיֶהliveנֶגֶדin front ofאַחֵינוּour kinsmenהַכֶּרidentifyלְךָfor yourselfמָהwhat isעִמָּדִיwith meוְקַחand takeלָךְfor yourselfוְלֹאand notיָדַעdid knowיַעֲקֹבYaakovכִּיthatרָחֵלRachelגְּנָבָתַם׃had stolen them
פָּסוּק יז
Pasuk 17
וַיָּבֹאAnd he enteredלָבָןLavanבְּאֹהֶלinto tent ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovוּבְאֹהֶלand into tent ofלֵאָהLeahוּבְאֹהֶלand into tent ofשְׁתֵּיthe twoהָאֲמָהֹתthe maidservantsוְלֹאand did notמָצָאfindוַיֵּצֵאand he went outמֵאֹהֶלfrom tent ofלֵאָהLeahוַיָּבֹאand he enteredבְּאֹהֶלinto tent ofרָחֵל׃Rachel
פָּסוּק יח
Pasuk 18
וְרָחֵלand Rachelלָקְחָהhad takenאֶת—הַתְּרָפִיםthe idolsוַתְּשִׂמֵםand placed themבְּכַרin the cushion ofהַגָּמָלthe camelוַתֵּשֶׁבand satעֲלֵיהֶםupon themוַיְמַשֵּׁשׁand rummaged throughלָבָןLavanאֶת—כָּלallהָאֹהֶלthe tentוְלֹאand did notמָצָא׃find
פָּסוּק יט
Pasuk 19
וַתֹּאמֶרAnd she saidאֶלtoאָבִיהָher fatherאַלlet notיִחַרburnבְּעֵינֵיin eyes ofאֲדֹנִיmy lordכִּיthatלוֹאnotאוּכַלI am ableלָקוּםto ariseמִפָּנֶיךָfrom before youכִּיforדֶרֶךְway ofנָשִׁיםwomenלִיis to meוַיְחַפֵּשׂAnd he searchedוְלֹאand notמָצָאdid he findאֶת—הַתְּרָפִים׃the terafim
פָּסוּק כ
Pasuk 20
וַיִּחַרAnd became incensedלְיַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיָּרֶבand he quarreledבְּלָבָןwith Lavanוַיַּעַןand answeredיַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלְלָבָןto Lavanמַהwhat isפִּשְׁעִיmy transgressionמַהwhat isחַטָּאתִיmy sinכִּיthatדָלַקְתָּyou pursuedאַחֲרָי׃after me
פָּסוּק כא
Pasuk 21
כִּיforמִשַּׁשְׁתָּyou rummaged throughאֶת—כָּלallכֵּלַיmy thingsמַהwhatמָּצָאתָhave you foundמִכֹּלfrom allכְּלֵיobjects ofבֵיתֶךָyour houseשִׂיםplaceכֹּהhereנֶגֶדbeforeאַחַיmy kinוְאַחֶיךָand your kinוְיוֹכִיחוּand let them decideבֵּיןbetweenשְׁנֵינוּ׃us two
פָּסוּק כב
Pasuk 22
זֶהThisעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsאָנֹכִיIעִמָּךְwith youרְחֵלֶיךָyour ewesוְעִזֶּיךָand your she-goatsלֹאdid notשִׁכֵּלוּmiscarryוְאֵילֵיand the rams ofצֹאנְךָyour flockלֹאI did notאָכָלְתִּי׃eat
פָּסוּק כג
Pasuk 23
טְרֵפָהthat torn by beastsלֹאnotהֵבֵאתִיI broughtאֵלֶיךָto youאָנֹכִיIאֲחַטֶּנָּהwould bear its lossמִיָּדִיfrom my handתְּבַקְשֶׁנָּהyou would demand itגְּנֻבְתִיstolen byיוֹםdayוּגְנֻבְתִיor stolen byלָיְלָה׃night
פָּסוּק כד
Pasuk 24
הָיִיתִיI wasבַיּוֹםby dayאֲכָלַנִיconsumed meחֹרֶבdroughtוְקֶרַחand frostבַּלָּיְלָהby nightוַתִּדַּדand fledשְׁנָתִיmy sleepמֵעֵינָי׃from my eyes
פָּסוּק כה
Pasuk 25
זֶהthisלִּיto meעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsבְּבֵיתֶךָin your houseעֲבַדְתִּיךָI served youאַרְבַּעfourעֶשְׂרֵהteenשָׁנָהyearsבִּשְׁתֵּיfor your twoבְנֹתֶיךָdaughtersוְשֵׁשׁand sixשָׁנִיםyearsבְּצֹאנֶךָfor your flockוַתַּחֲלֵףand you changedאֶת—מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּיmy wagesעֲשֶׂרֶתtenמֹנִים׃times
פָּסוּק כו
Pasuk 26
לוּלֵיwere it notאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאָבִיmy fatherאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamוּפַחַדand the Fear ofיִצְחָקYitzchakהָיָהwasלִיfor meכִּיsurelyעַתָּהnowרֵיקָםempty-handedשִׁלַּחְתָּנִיyou would have sent meאֶת—עָנְיִיmy afflictionוְאֶתand —יְגִיעַthe toil ofכַּפַּיmy handsרָאָהsawאֱלֹהִיםGodוַיּוֹכַחand He admonishedאָמֶשׁ׃last night
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
Yaakov leaves Paddan-aram secretly with his family and possessions to return to Yitzchak in Canaan, while Rachel takes Lavan's terafim to separate her father from idolatry. Lavan pursues Yaakov for seven days and overtakes him at Har HaGilad after Hashem warns him in a dream not to harm Yaakov. Lavan accuses Yaakov of fleeing secretly and stealing his terafim, prompting Yaakov—who did not know Rachel took them—to declare that whoever has the terafim will not live and to bid Lavan search his entire camp. Lavan searches all the tents in vain because Rachel hid the terafim under a camel saddle, after which Yaakov defends his complete integrity over twenty years of grueling service, noting that only Hashem's intervention prevented Lavan from sending him away penniless.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
Look at the cheshbon Yaakov Avinu makes when he answers Lavan. For twenty years, he worked in scorching heat by day and freezing cold by night. If a sheep was torn by a wild beast, Yaakov absorbed the loss himself. He treated every single sheep as if it were his own absolute responsibility. The Torah is coming to show us what true ne'emanus, genuine honesty and devotion, looks like in the eyes of Yaakov Avinu.
Lichoira, a person could say, "Lavan is a crook who keeps changing my wages, why should I break my back for his flock?" But that was not Yaakov's sevara. Yaakov knew that a Yid's integrity in business and in daily responsibilities is not dependent on how the other guy acts. When you take on a job or a commitment, you do it b'shlaimusz, with total yiras Shamayim, because Hashem sees "the toil of my hands" and ultimately He is the One who protects you and pays your true reward.
When we go out into the world, whether in our parnassah, in our homes, or in our bein adam l'chavero, we have to carry that same Yiddish ne'emanus. Give an honest day's work, keep your word down to the last detail, and take full responsibility without making cheap excuses.
Today, pick one commitment or task at work or at home, and fulfill it with extra care and complete honesty, just like Yaakov Avinu.