This is where we find Jacob. He is returning home to his father. He knows that Esau is probably still there and, for all he knows, Esau may still want to kill him. It’s been twenty years since he left in a panic, fleeing to Laban for sanctuary. What is Esau going to do when he sees Jacob? Jacob has 12 children, 11 sons and 1 daughter, 2 wives, huge flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, camels and donkeys and possibly hundreds of servants, shepherds and herdsmen. He can’t sneak back home. The huge mass of life that he is travelling with is impossible to hide. Jacob is shaking in his sandals. How can he protect his family and possessions?
Tag: flocks
AND THE RACE IS ON
Jacob packed up all he had, put his wives and children on camels and drove all his livestock away from Laban and his home without even telling him they were leaving. Laban was not even at home when he left. Laban didn’t know that Jacob and his family had left until three days after the fact. He gathered his clansmen and took off after them. It took them another seven days to catch up to them.