ers, take notice, that
it is not through any evil practices of mine that they follow me in my
return home, but from that just affection which wives naturally have to
their husbands. They follow therefore not so properly myself as their
own children." And thus far of his apology was made, in order to clear
himself of having acted unjustly. To which he added his own complaint
and accusation of Laban; saying, "While I was thy sister's son, and thou
hadst given me thy daughters in marriage, thou hast worn me out with
thy harsh commands, and detained me twenty years under them. That indeed
which was required in order to my marrying thy daughters, hard as it
was, I own to have been tolerable; but as to those that were put upon
me after those marriages, they were worse, and such indeed as an enemy
would have avoided." For certainly Laban had used Jacob very ill; for
when he saw that God was assisting to Jacob in all that he desired, he
promised him, that of the young cattle which should be born, he should
have sometimes what was of a white color, and sometimes what should
be of a black color; but when those that came to Jacob's share proved
numerous, he did not keep his faith with him, but said he would give
them to him the next year, because of his envying him the multitude of
his possessions. He promised him as before, because he thought such an
increase was not to be expected; but when it appeared to be fact, he
deceived him.

11. But then, as to the sacred images, he bid him search for them; and
when Laban accepted of the offer, Rachel, being informed of it, put
those images into that camel's saddle on which she rode, and sat upon
it; and said, that her natural purgation hindered her rising up: so
Laban left off searching any further, not supposing that his daughter in
such circumstances would approach to those images. So he made a league
with Jacob, and bound it by oaths, that he would not bear him any malice
on account of what had happened; and Jacob made the like league, and
promised to love Laban's daughters. And these leagues they confirmed
with oaths also, which the made upon certain as whereon they erected a
pillar, in the form of an altar: whence that hill is called Gilead; and
from thence they call that land the Land of Gilead at this day. Now when
they had feasted, after the making of the league, Laban returned home.

CHAPTER 20. Concerning The Meeting Of Jacob And Esau.

1. Now as Jacob was proceeding