Verses 1-16, After twenty years (Verse 38, "This twenty years have I been with thee"), Jacob now prepares to go to Canaan, with his wives in complete agreement, and with God's blessings attending him.
31:1 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.
31:2 AND JACOB BEHELD THE COUNTENANCE OF LABAN, AND, BEHOLD, IT [WAS] NOT TOWARD HIM AS BEFORE.
31:3 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JACOB, RETURN UNTO THE LAND OF THY FATHERS, AND TO THY KINDRED; AND I WILL BE WITH THEE.
31:4 AND JACOB SENT AND CALLED RACHEL AND LEAH TO THE FIELD UNTO HIS FLOCK,
31:5 AND SAID UNTO THEM, I SEE YOUR FATHER'S COUNTENANCE, THAT IT [IS] NOT TOWARD ME AS BEFORE; BUT THE GOD OF MY FATHER HATH BEEN WITH ME.
31:6 AND YE KNOW THAT WITH ALL MY POWER I HAVE SERVED YOUR FATHER.
31:7 AND YOUR FATHER HATH DECEIVED ME, AND CHANGED MY WAGES TEN TIMES; BUT GOD SUFFERED HIM NOT TO HURT ME.
31:8 IF HE SAID THUS, THE SPECKLED SHALL BE THY WAGES; THEN ALL THE CATTLE BARE SPECKLED: AND IF HE SAID THUS, THE RINGSTRAKED SHALL BE THY HIRE; THEN BARE ALL THE CATTLE RINGSTRAKED.
31:9 THUS GOD HATH TAKEN AWAY THE CATTLE OF YOUR FATHER, AND GIVEN [THEM] TO ME.
31:10 AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE TIME THAT THE CATTLE CONCEIVED, THAT I LIFTED UP MINE EYES, AND SAW IN A DREAM, AND, BEHOLD, THE RAMS WHICH LEAPED UPON THE CATTLE [WERE] RINGSTRAKED, SPECKLED, AND GRISLED.
31:11 AND THE ANGEL OF GOD SPAKE UNTO ME IN A DREAM, [SAYING], JACOB: AND I SAID, HERE [AM] I.
31:12 AND HE SAID, LIFT UP NOW THINE EYES, AND SEE, ALL THE RAMS WHICH LEAP UPON THE CATTLE [ARE] RINGSTRAKED, SPECKLED, AND GRISLED: FOR I HAVE SEEN ALL THAT LABAN DOETH UNTO THEE.
31:13 I [AM] THE GOD OF BETH-EL, WHERE THOU ANOINTEDST THE PILLAR, [AND] WHERE THOU VOWEDST A VOW UNTO ME: NOW ARISE, GET THEE OUT FROM THIS LAND, AND RETURN UNTO THE LAND OF THY KINDRED.
31:14 AND RACHEL AND LEAH ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, [IS THERE] YET ANY PORTION OR INHERITANCE FOR US IN OUR FATHER'S HOUSE?
31:15 ARE WE NOT COUNTED OF HIM STRANGERS? FOR HE HATH SOLD US, AND HATH QUITE DEVOURED ALSO OUR MONEY.
31:16 FOR ALL THE RICHES WHICH GOD HATH TAKEN FROM OUR FATHER, THAT [IS] OURS, AND OUR CHILDREN'S: NOW THEN, WHATSOEVER GOD HATH SAID UNTO THEE, DO.
Verses 17-24, Beginning of the trip back to Canaan and to Isaac, Jacob's father.
31:17 THEN JACOB ROSE UP, AND SET HIS SONS AND HIS WIVES UPON CAMELS;
31:18 AND HE CARRIED AWAY ALL HIS CATTLE, AND ALL HIS GOODS WHICH HE HAD GOTTEN, THE CATTLE OF HIS GETTING, WHICH HE HAD GOTTEN IN PADAN-ARAM, FOR TO GO TO ISAAC HIS FATHER IN THE LAND OF CANAAN.
31:19 AND LABAN WENT TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP: AND RACHEL HAD STOLEN THE IMAGES THAT [WERE] HER FATHER'S.
A.Perhaps their custom was that the one who had the family heirlooms and keepsakes would receive the inheritance, and Rachel wanted to be the one.
B.Some see at this point the first hint of idolatry creeping into the midst of God's people.
31:20 AND JACOB STOLE AWAY UNAWARES TO LABAN THE SYRIAN, IN THAT HE TOLD HIM NOT THAT HE FLED.
31:21 SO HE FLED WITH ALL THAT HE HAD; AND HE ROSE UP, AND PASSED OVER THE RIVER, AND SET HIS FACE [TOWARD] THE MOUNT GILEAD.
31:22 AND IT WAS TOLD LABAN ON THE THIRD DAY THAT JACOB WAS FLED.
31:23 AND HE TOOK HIS BRETHREN WITH HIM, AND PURSUED AFTER HIM
SEVEN DAYS' JOURNEY; AND THEY OVERTOOK HIM IN THE MOUNT GILEAD.
31:24 AND GOD CAME TO LABAN THE SYRIAN IN A DREAM BY NIGHT, AND SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE HEED THAT THOU SPEAK NOT TO JACOB EITHER GOOD OR BAD.
A.This may be saying, "Be careful; don't meddle in his business."
B.Or it may be saying, "Don't curse him" (the marginal reading is FROM GOOD TO BAD).
C.The following shows that Laban did speak carefully, but he pointedly questioned, reproved, and accused.
31:25 THEN LABAN OVERTOOK JACOB. NOW JACOB HAD PITCHED HIS TENT IN THE MOUNT: AND LABAN WITH HIS BRETHREN PITCHED IN THE MOUNT OF GILEAD.
31:26 AND LABAN SAID TO JACOB, WHAT HAST THOU DONE, THAT THOU HAST STOLEN AWAY UNAWARES TO ME, AND CARRIED AWAY MY DAUGHTERS, AS CAPTIVES [TAKEN] WITH THE SWORD?
31:27 WHEREFORE DIDST THOU FLEE AWAY SECRETLY, AND STEAL AWAY FROM ME; AND DIDST NOT TELL ME, THAT I MIGHT HAVE SENT THEE AWAY WITH MIRTH, AND WITH SONGS, WITH TABRET, AND WITH HARP?
31:28 AND HAST NOT SUFFERED ME TO KISS MY SONS AND MY DAUGHTERS? THOU HAST NOW DONE FOOLISHLY IN [SO] DOING.
31:29 IT IS IN THE POWER OF MY HAND TO DO YOU HURT: BUT THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER SPAKE UNTO ME YESTERNIGHT, SAYING, TAKE THOU HEED THAT THOU SPEAK NOT TO JACOB EITHER GOOD OR BAD.
31:30 AND NOW, [THOUGH] THOU WOULDEST NEEDS BE GONE, BECAUSE THOU SORE LONGEDST AFTER THY FATHER'S HOUSE, [YET] WHEREFORE HAST THOU STOLEN MY GODS?
**Rachel had not just taken "keepsakes;" they were GODS, so Jacob's family is already tainted with idolatry.
31:31 AND JACOB ANSWERED AND SAID TO LABAN, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID: FOR I SAID, PERADVENTURE THOU WOULDEST TAKE BY FORCE THY DAUGHTERS FROM ME.
A.Jacob explains about the secret departure.
B.But he is not aware of Rachel's theft, so he now makes a statement which he thinks is safe to make.
31:32 WITH WHOMSOEVER THOU FINDEST THY GODS, LET HIM NOT LIVE: BEFORE OUR BRETHREN DISCERN THOU WHAT [IS] THINE WITH ME, AND TAKE [IT] TO THEE. FOR JACOB KNEW NOT THAT RACHEL HAD STOLEN THEM.
31:33 AND LABAN WENT INTO JACOB'S TENT, AND INTO LEAH'S TENT, AND INTO THE TWO MAIDSERVANTS' TENTS; BUT HE FOUND [THEM] NOT. THEN WENT HE OUT OF LEAH'S TENT, AND ENTERED INTO RACHEL'S TENT.
31:34 NOW RACHEL HAD TAKEN THE IMAGES, AND PUT THEM IN THE CAMEL'S FURNITURE, AND SAT UPON THEM. AND LABAN SEARCHED ALL THE TENT, BUT FOUND [THEM] NOT.
31:35 AND SHE SAID TO HER FATHER, LET IT NOT DISPLEASE MY LORD THAT I CANNOT RISE UP BEFORE THEE; FOR THE CUSTOM OF WOMEN [IS] UPON ME. AND HE SEARCHED, BUT FOUND NOT THE IMAGES.
31:36 AND JACOB WAS WROTH, AND CHODE WITH LABAN: AND JACOB ANSWERED AND SAID TO LABAN, WHAT [IS] MY TRESPASS? WHAT [IS] MY SIN, THAT THOU HAST SO HOTLY PURSUED AFTER ME?
**Here Jacob goes into a tirade, and unloads on Laban concerning twenty years of abuse at his hands.
31:37 WHEREAS THOU HAST SEARCHED ALL MY STUFF, WHAT HAST THOU FOUND OF ALL THY HOUSEHOLD STUFF? SET [IT] HERE BEFORE MY BRETHREN AND THY BRETHREN, THAT THEY MAY JUDGE BETWIXT US BOTH.
31:38 THIS TWENTY YEARS [HAVE] I [BEEN] WITH THEE; THY EWES AND THY SHE GOATS HAVE NOT CAST THEIR YOUNG, AND THE RAMS OF THY FLOCK HAVE I NOT EATEN.
31:39 THAT WHICH WAS TORN [OF BEASTS] I BROUGHT NOT UNTO THEE; I BARE THE LOSS OF IT; OF MY HAND DIDST THOU REQUIRE IT, [WHETHER] STOLEN BY DAY, OR STOLEN BY NIGHT.
31:40 [THUS] I WAS; IN THE DAY THE DROUGHT CONSUMED ME, AND THE FROST BY NIGHT; AND MY SLEEP DEPARTED FROM MINE EYES.
31:41 THUS HAVE I BEEN TWENTY YEARS IN THY HOUSE; I SERVED THEE FOURTEEN YEARS FOR THY TWO DAUGHTERS, AND SIX YEARS FOR THY CATTLE: AND THOU HAST CHANGED MY WAGES TEN TIMES.
31:42 EXCEPT THE GOD OF MY FATHER, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE FEAR OF ISAAC, HAD BEEN WITH ME, SURELY THOU HADST SENT ME AWAY NOW EMPTY. GOD HATH SEEN MINE AFFLICTION AND THE LABOUR OF MY HANDS, AND REBUKED [THEE] YESTERNIGHT.
**He credits God for blessing him and bringing him to his present status.
Verses 43-53, After their angry exchange of words, Jacob and Laban make a covenant of peace and set up a heap of stones as a witness before Jacob continues on to Canaan.
31:43 AND LABAN ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO JACOB, [THESE] DAUGHTERS [ARE] MY DAUGHTERS, AND [THESE] CHILDREN [ARE] MY CHILDREN, AND [THESE] CATTLE [ARE] MY CATTLE, AND ALL THAT THOU SEEST [IS] MINE: AND WHAT CAN I DO THIS DAY UNTO THESE MY DAUGHTERS, OR UNTO THEIR CHILDREN WHICH THEY HAVE BORN?
31:44 NOW THEREFORE COME THOU, LET US MAKE A COVENANT, I AND THOU; AND LET IT BE FOR A WITNESS BETWEEN ME AND THEE.
31:45 AND JACOB TOOK A STONE, AND SET IT UP [FOR] A PILLAR.
31:46 AND JACOB SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN, GATHER STONES; AND THEY TOOK STONES, AND MADE AN HEAP: AND THEY DID EAT THERE UPON THE HEAP.
31:47 AND LABAN CALLED IT JEGAR-SAHADUTHA: BUT JACOB CALLED IT GALEED.
A.GALEED is Hebrew for "The Heap Of Witnesses."
B.From this point on in Biblical history, the central portion of the highland east of the Jordan is called GILEAD.
31:48 AND LABAN SAID, THIS HEAP [IS] A WITNESS BETWEEN ME AND THEE THIS DAY. THEREFORE WAS THE NAME OF IT CALLED GALEED;
31:49 AND MIZPAH; FOR HE SAID, THE LORD WATCH BETWEEN ME AND THEE, WHEN WE ARE ABSENT ONE FROM ANOTHER.
A.MIZPAH: Beacon, or Watchtower.
B.Laban's words in this verse are beautiful when used between friends, but he probably intended this as a warning that Jacob had better not come upon him in a surprise attack.
31:50 IF THOU SHALT AFFLICT MY DAUGHTERS, OR IF THOU SHALT TAKE [OTHER] WIVES BESIDE MY DAUGHTERS, NO MAN [IS] WITH US; SEE, GOD [IS] WITNESS BETWIXT ME AND THEE.
31:51 AND LABAN SAID TO JACOB, BEHOLD THIS HEAP, AND BEHOLD [THIS] PILLAR, WHICH I HAVE CAST BETWIXT ME AND THEE;
31:52 THIS HEAP [BE] WITNESS, AND [THIS] PILLAR [BE] WITNESS, THAT I WILL NOT PASS OVER THIS HEAP TO THEE, AND THAT THOU SHALT NOT PASS OVER THIS HEAP AND THIS PILLAR UNTO ME, FOR HARM.
31:53 THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF NAHOR, THE GOD OF THEIR FATHER, JUDGE BETWIXT US. AND JACOB SWARE BY THE FEAR OF HIS FATHER ISAAC.
**Although Laban was an idolater, he recognized the True God.
31:54 THEN JACOB OFFERED SACRIFICE UPON THE MOUNT, AND CALLED HIS BRETHREN TO EAT BREAD: AND THEY DID EAT BREAD, AND TARRIED ALL NIGHT IN THE MOUNT.
31:55 AND EARLY IN THE MORNING LABAN ROSE UP, AND KISSED HIS SONS AND HIS DAUGHTERS, AND BLESSED THEM: AND LABAN DEPARTED, AND RETURNED UNTO HIS PLACE.
A.The separation is now complete: Laban goes back to Haran, and Jacob goes to Canaan.
B.Jacob had worked twenty years for his uncle Laban, and they had been difficult years.
C.But he had been blessed: he left Canaan with only his staff in his hand; now he is returning with four wives, eleven sons, one daughter, and a host of servants, flocks, herds, and possessions.
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