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It may have been an ancient belief, but there really was nothing in the branches that would have affected the ani- mals’ offspring. Thus, we conclude that God made it all work out, not Jacob’s ploy. Needless to say, not only Laban but his sons were dismayed at these developments, and they turned angry toward Jacob, only fueling his desire to leave and return home to the Promised Land. Even more impor- tantly, God himself told him that the time had come to return (Genesis 31:3). Leah and Rachel agreed, having no love for their father. So Jacob again deceived Laban by stealing away without informing him. When Laban heard about Jacob and his family’s departure, he took off in hot pur- suit and overtook Jacob before he reentered the Promised Land. Laban was ready for vengeance, but was restrained by God him- self who told him not to harm Jacob (v. 24). Laban was particularly upset by the theft of his household idols. As readers, we have been informed that Rachel indeed did steal the idols, though she is the only one of her family who knew about it (v. 19). We are not told why she stole them. Later custom that might apply to this time period stated that the possessor of the idols would in- herit the estate, but it is more likely that she simply wanted to take something of value from her father out of spite toward him. It is also possible that Rachel herself was still worshiping idols (see Genesis 35:2-3). Whatever the reason, Jacob vehe- mently denied the charge, not knowing about Rachel’s act. Rachel deceives her fa- ther by hiding the idols in her saddle on which she sat, asking not to move because she was having her period. A later Israelite reader would understand that this de- meaned those idols, since a woman having her period was considered ritually unclean (Leviticus 15:19). After unsuccessfully searching for the idols, Laban then en- ters into a treaty relationship with Jacob, having implications for later Israelite- Aramean relationships. Having resolved the conflict with Laban in Paddan Aram, Jacob now returns to the Promised Land to face his brother, Esau, who is bearing down on him from the other direction. Rebekah had urged Jacob to flee his homeland to Paddan Aram in the first place because she had heard of Esau’s intention to kill Jacob for stealing the blessing from his father (Genesis 27:41-45). Jacob had alerted Esau about his return to the land. Perhaps he was encouraged to do so after he encountered angels from God as he moved on from his meeting with Laban. He named the place Maha- naim, which means “two camps,” refer- ring to his as well as to the angels’ (Gene- sis 32:1-2). Esau’s response to Jacob’s message was deeply unsettling. Jacob’s messengers in- formed him that Esau was moving toward him with four hundred men. Thinking that Esau was coming with hostile intent, Jacob took measures designed to mini- mize the damage. He divided his family, servants and property into two parts, so if one was attacked the other might escape.