Genesis 31:1-3

"And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and, of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. And Jehovah said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee."

The three-fold reason for Jacob's forthcoming departure is here outlined:

1. Jacob had heard the ominous and hostile words of Laban's sons, a development rising out of Jacob's prosperity; and
   
2. the fact that trouble was brewing was confirmed by the attitude of Laban, which toward Jacob had changed to hostility from friendliness; and
   
3. Jehovah commanded him to leave. All this together signaled to Jacob that the hour for leaving Paddan-aram had struck. He moved at once to procure the aid of his wives and to inform them of the basis for his decision. Jacob's age at this time was "either ninety-seven or seventy-seven," depending upon which method of calculating it is followed.[6]