Genesis 30 - Introduction

Jacob Prospers and Decides to Return Home (Genesis 30:25 to Genesis 32:2).

This passage is centred around two theophanies and two covenants. In the first theophany Yahweh appears to Jacob and tells him to return home (Genesis 31:3). Then Jacob, describing the theophany to his wives, amplifies what God said as the God of Bethel, emphasising the command to return home (Genesis 31:11). And the second is when he meets the angels of God at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1). The passage also contains details of the two covenants made between Jacob and Laban (Genesis 30:31 and Genesis 31:44). Originally separate covenant records may well have been involved.