Laban the Aramean

I’d lost one sister to these relatives
Already, wanderers and vagabonds.
Only my branch of the family stayed
And did well for itself, here in Haran.

I remember when they first came begging,
Or rather, sent someone else to do it;
If Abram was doing well in Canaan,
Then why send a servant to plead his suit?

I tell you, Jacob was a common thief.
I’m ashamed my sister had such a son.
After giving one girl to such scoundrels,
Why would I surrender another one?

And so I contrived to fool the trickster,
And in so doing, lost both my daughters,
And my best flocks. He sneaked off in the night
And they all crossed the Euphrates waters.

A heap of stones divided us. We swore
An oath by that old-fashioned God of his,
To do no harm to each other. Why should
Family have to take such an oath as this?



November 18, 2010
Copyright by the author