Genesis 31:21-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:29

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt ,.... Jacob and his family, wives, children, and servants, who were not able to stand against Laban and the men he brought with him; and so the Jerusalem Targum paraphrases it,"I have an army and a multitude;'a large force, which Jacob could not withstand: or, "my hand could have been for a god" F8 יש לאל ידי "esset mihi pro deo manus mea", Schmidt. to me: you could have no more escaped it, or got out of it, or withstood me, than you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:30

And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone ,.... Or, "in going wouldest go" F9 הלך הלכת "eundo ivisti", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius. , was determined upon it, and in haste to do it: because thou sore longedst after thy father's house , or "desiring didst desire it" F11 כסף נכספתה "desiderando desiderabis", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius, Piscator. ; had a vehement desire for it, which Laban signifies he should not have opposed, if he had let him know his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:21

Passed over the river - The Euphrates, as the Targum properly notices. But how could he pass such a river with his flocks, etc.? This difficulty does not seem to have struck critics in general. The rabbins felt it, and assert that God wrought a miracle for Jacob on this occasion, and that he passed over dry shod. As we know not in what other way he could pass, it is prudent to refer it to the power of God, which accompanied him through the whole of his journey. There might, however, have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:24

And God came to Laban - God's caution to Laban was of high importance to Jacob - Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad; or rather, as is the literal meaning of the Hebrew, רע עד מטוב mittob ad ra , from good to evil; for had he neither spoken good nor evil to Jacob, they could have had no intercourse at all. The original is, therefore, peculiarly appropriate; for when people meet, the language at first is the language of friendship; the command therefore implies, "Do... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:27

I might have sent thee away with mirth - בשמחה , besimchah , with rejoicing, making a feast or entertainment on the occasion; and with songs, בשרים beshirim , odes either in the praise of God, or to commemorate the splendid acts of their ancestors; with tabret, בתף bethoph , the tympanum used in the east to the present day, and there called diff , a thin broad wooden hoop, with parchment extended over one end of it, to which are attached small pieces of brass, tin, etc., which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:29

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt - Literally, My hand is unto God to do you evil, i.e., I have vowed to God that I will punish thee for thy flight, and the stealing of my teraphim; but the God of Your father has prevented me from doing it. It is a singular instance that the plural pronoun, when addressing an individual, should be twice used in this place - the God of your father, אביכם abichem , for אביך abicha , thy father. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:23

Verse 23 23.And pursued him seven days’ journey. Since the cruelty of Laban was now appeased, or at least bridled, he did not dare severely to threaten; but laying aside his ferocity, he descended to feigned and hypocritical blandishments. He complains that injury had been done him, because he had been kept in ignorance of Jacob’s departure, whom he would rather leave sent forth with customary tokens of joy, in token of his paternal affection. Thus hypocrites, when the power of inflicting... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:29

Verse 29 29.It is in the power of my hand. The Hebrew phrase is different, “my hand is to power;” yet the meaning is clear, that Laban declares he is ready to take vengeance. Some expound the words thus: “my hand is to God;” but from other places it appears that the word אל (el) is taken for power. But Laban, inflated with foolish boasting, contradicts himself; for whereas he had been forbidden by God to attempt anything against Jacob, where was the power of which he boasted? We see, therefore,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:30

Verse 30 30.Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? (96) The second head of accusation which is alleged against Jacob is, that he had not departed through love to his country, nor for any just and probable cause; but that, in fact, he was implicated in an act of robbery. Heavy and disgraceful charge, of which Jacob was far from being guilty! But we learn hence, that no one can live so innocently in the world, but he must sometimes bear undeserved reproach and marks of infamy. Whenever this may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob's flight from Laban. I. THE HOMEWARD DESIRE . The longing to revisit Canaan, which six years previously Laban's exactions and Joseph's birth ( Genesis 30:25 ) had combined to inspire within the heart of Jacob, returned upon him with an intensity that could no longer be resisted. Accelerated in its vehemence partly by the interposed delay to which it had been subjected, partly by his further acquaintance with the meanness and craft of his uncle, and partly by his own rapidly-... read more

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