Genesis 31:1-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:1-16

Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, to take what he had and go back to Canaan. This resolution he took up upon a just provocation, by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his wives. I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and his sons had become very cross and ill-natured towards him, so that he could not stay among them with safety or satisfaction. 1. Laban's sons showed their ill-will in what they said, Gen. 31:1. It should seem they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:1

And he heard the words of Laban's sons ,.... That is, Jacob, as is expressed in the Septuagint and Syriac versions, either with his own ears, overhearing their discourse in their tents, or in the field, or from the report of others, his wives or some of his friends, who thought proper to acquaint him with it; these were the sons of Laban, who had the care of the cattle committed to them, separated by the direction of Jacob, and with the consent of Laban, Genesis 30:35 , saying, Jacob... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:2

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban ,.... Upon this he observed Laban's looks, that he might gather from thence how he took his prosperity; what were his thoughts about it, and what he might expect from him on that account: and, behold, it was not towards him as before ; he said nothing to Jacob, nor charged him with robbing of him, or any false dealing with him, yet was uneasy at his growing prosperity; he put on sour looks, and an envious countenance, sad, and surly, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:3

And the Lord said unto Jacob ,.... In answer to a prayer of his; or seeing what difficulties and discouragements Jacob laboured under, he appeared unto him for his encouragement and instruction how to proceed: return unto the land of thy fathers ; the land of Canaan, given to Abraham and Isaac by promise: and to thy kindred : his father and mother, and brother, who all dwelt in the land of Canaan at this time, or as many as were living: or "to thy nativity" F23 למולדתך "ad... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:4

And Jacob sent ,.... Having this encouragement and direction from the Lord, which seems to have been given him in the field, while he was attending his flocks, he dispatched a messenger home to his wives, one of his servants or under shepherds. The Targum of Jonathan says it was his son Naphtali, whom he sent, because he was a swift messenger; the Targumist alludes to Genesis 49:21 ; but the former is more probable: and called Rachel and Leah ; Rachel is mentioned first, as being his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:5

And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not towards me as before ,.... See Gill on Genesis 31:2 ; no notice is taken of what their brethren, the sons of Laban, had said: but the God of my father hath been with me ; not only by affording him his gracious presence with him, which supported him under all his troubles; but by his good providence prospering and succeeding him in his outward affairs, as well as he had lately appeared to him, and encouraged him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:6

And ye know, that with all my power I have served your father. With all faithfulness and uprightness; with all diligence and industry; with all wisdom and prudence; with all my might and main, contriving the best methods, and sparing no pains by day or night to take care of his flocks, and increase his substance: of this his wives had been witnesses for twenty years past, and to them he appeals for the truth of it; so that there was no just reason for their father's behaviour towards him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:7

And your father hath deceived me ,.... In the bargain he had made with him about his wages for keeping his cattle the six years past, after the fourteen years' servitude were ended: and changed my wages ten times ; that is, either very often, many times, as the number ten is sometimes. Used for many, see Leviticus 26:26 ; or precisely ten times, since he repeats it afterwards in the same form to Laban's face, Genesis 31:41 ; he had now served him six years upon a new bargain; that he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:8

If he said thus, the speckled shall be thy wages ,.... Sometimes Laban would say to Jacob, only the speckled lambs which the ewes shall bring forth shall be thine hire, and not the spotted; or the ringstraked, or the brown, which according to the bargain should have been his, the one and the other: then all the cattle bare speckled ; that season, God ordering it so in his providence, that Laban might be disappointed, and Jacob might have his full hire; that is, the greatest part of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:9

Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father ,.... Not all of them, see Genesis 31:19 ; but a great part of them; his flock was much lessened by those means, and more were taken away, and came to Jacob's share, than if Laban had abode by the original agreement: and gave them to me ; who has the disposing of all things in the world, whose the world, and all in it, are, and gives of it to the sons of men as he pleases. Jacob takes no notice of any artifice of his, or of any means... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:1-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:9

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