And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
And Laban said to Jacob, 'What have you done? You snuck away without telling me and took my daughters away like prisoners of war!'
Laban is angrily confronting Jacob for leaving secretly with his wives (Laban's daughters) without saying goodbye or asking permission.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Jacob had fled to his uncle Laban's household to escape the wrath of his brother Esau after deceiving him out of his birthright. After working for Laban for two decades, marrying his daughters Leah and Rachel, and facing ongoing disputes over wages and possessions, Jacob decided to leave secretly with his family and flocks to return to his homeland. Laban pursued Jacob, catching up with him and accusing him of theft and treating his daughters like war captives, highlighting the cultural emphasis on family honor and the consequences of deception in ancient Near Eastern societies.
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