Discovery BoxGenesis 31:31 
Context31:31 “I left secretly because I was afraid!” 1 Jacob replied to Laban. “I thought 2 you might take your daughters away from me by force. 3
Genesis 31:43
Context31:43 Laban replied 4 to Jacob, “These women 5 are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, 6 and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see belongs to me. But how can I harm these daughters of mine today 7 or the children to whom they have given birth?
1 tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘Because I was afraid.’” This statement is a not a response to the question about Laban’s household gods that immediately precedes, but to the earlier question about Jacob’s motivation for leaving so quickly and secretly (see v. 27). For this reason the words “I left secretly” are supplied in the translation to indicate the connection to Laban’s earlier question in v. 27. Additionally the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse have been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “for I said.”
3 tn Heb “lest you steal your daughters from with me.”
4 tn Heb “answered and said.”
5 tn Heb “daughters.”
6 tn Heb “children.”
7 tn Heb “but to my daughters what can I do to these today?”
