The Genesis Project
Genesis 31

An Arrangement of Tents

90 words · November 30, 2025

וַיָּבֹ֨א לָבָ֜ן בְּאֹ֥הֶל יַעֲקֹ֣ב ׀ וּבְאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֗ה וּבְאֹ֛הֶל שְׁתֵּ֥י הָאֲמָהֹ֖ת וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑א וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֵאֹ֣הֶל לֵאָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֹ֥הֶל רָחֵֽל׃
So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and Leah’s tent and the tents of the two maidservants; but he did not find them. Leaving Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent.
Genesis 31:33 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

Using Genesis 31:33, try to diagram the arrangement of the tents, or parse out the order of events and see if you can make sense of it.

How are the tents arranged? It is a mystery.

Jacob Laban Rachel tents

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