Jacob Flees to Laban

12th-13th century
Mosaic
Cathedral of the Assumption, Monreale, Sicily

In Genesis 27:41-45 Rebecca fears that Esau may kill Jacob because of the stolen blessing, so she advises the latter to leave for a while. The inscription says rebecca dixit filio suo iacob fuge ad laban fratrem meum in haran, "Rebecca said to her son Jacob, ‘flee to Laban my brother in Haran.’"

Rebecca's words are quoted from verse 43. In sturdy boots, tunic, and trousers Jacob is on his way, carrying a pilgrim's staff with a pack and an amphora instead of the more usual gourd. The point of the amphora becomes clear in the next panel.

View this image in full resolution.
Read more about images of Jacob.

• Home Page
• Genesis iconography
• Monreale Cathedral's Genesis Mosaics
• This Mosaic

Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.