Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 31:36-41
This is a long chapter, and we are in a very long explanation of grievances listed by Jacob. The back and forth dialogue between these two men needs to be hashed out for the sake of the family members that will end up attending the future weddings and funerals of all concerned.
Today we find out exactly how long Jacob had worked for Laban, twenty years, and how many times Laban had changed his pay rate without notice. As of yet, neither of the men knows that Rachel is the one who has stolen the idols from her father, but she is still alive due to the excuse she used to get out of being searched while seated on her camel (last week's post).
I used to post snippets from a movie when I was still producing video readings every week. I was looking for an image that would depict Jacob and Laban at this crucial moment. I ended up finding another movie about Jacob - linked under the cover image for this post. I recommend several layers of ad-blockers if you go there to watch this great movie about our hero Jacob. When my computer becomes stable enough to edit videos again, I will start reading for you again and add clips to help the stories come alive.
Have a look at the passage from our bilingual Tanakh PDF.
Today's reading
English
Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, "What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times."
Hebrew
The story continues next week as Jacob continues...
Info on each letter starting at the beginning
If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here
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Thanks for reading.