Genesis 31:47-52

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:43-55

We have here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob. Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance: he could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, but was convicted by his own conscience of the wrong he had done him; and therefore desires to hear no more of the matter He is not willing to own himself in a fault, nor to ask Jacob's forgiveness, and make him satisfaction, as he ought to have done. But, I. He turns it off with a profession of kindness for Jacob's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:47

And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha ,.... Which in the Syriac and Chaldee languages signifies "an heap of witness"; it being, as after observed, a witness of the covenant between Laban and Jacob: but Jacob called it Galeed ; which in the Hebrew tongue signifies the same, "an heap of witness"; or "an heap, the witness", for the same reason. Laban was a Syrian, as he sometimes is called, Genesis 25:20 , wherefore he used the Syrian language; Jacob was a descendant of Abraham the Hebrew,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:48

And Laban said, this heap is a witness between me and thee this day. A witness of the covenant now about to be made between them that day, and a witness against them should they break it: therefore was the name of it called Galeed ; by Jacob, as before observed; See Gill on Genesis 31:47 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:49

And Mizpah ,.... Which being an Hebrew word, it looks as if the heap had also this name given it by Jacob, which signifies a "watch" or "watchtower"; though, by what follows, it seems to be given by Laban, who could speak Hebrew as well, as Syriac, or Chaldee: for he said, the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another ; or "hid one from another" F17 נסתר "abscondemur", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "absconditi erimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:50

If thou shall afflict my daughters ,.... In body or mind, by giving them hard blows, or ill words, and by withholding from them the necessaries of life, food and raiment, and the like: or if thou shall take other wives besides my daughters ; which also would be an affliction and vexation to them, see Leviticus 18:18 . Laban, though he had led Jacob into polygamy, and even obliged him to it, did not choose he should go further into it, for the sake of his daughters, to whom he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:51

And Laban said to Jacob ,.... Continued speaking to him, as follows: behold this heap, and behold this pillar which I have cast betwixt me and thee ; the heap of stones seems to be gathered and laid together by the brethren, and the pillar to be erected by Jacob; and yet Laban says of them both, that he cast them, or erected them, they being done by his order, or with his consent, as well as Jacob's; unless the pillar can be thought to design another beside that which Jacob set up, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:52

This heap be witness ,.... Agreeably to its name, which both he and Jacob gave unto it: and this pillar be witness : which was set up for the same purpose: 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 ; not that these were to be the boundaries of their respective countries; for neither of them at present were possessed of lands that reached hither, if of any at all; nor that it would be a breach of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:47

Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha - שהדותא יגר yegar sahadutha , the heap or round heap of witness; but Jacob called it גלעד galed , which signifies the same thing. The first is pure Chaldee, the second pure Hebrew. אגר agar signifies to collect, hence יגר yegar and אוגר ogar , a collection or heap made up of gathered stones; and hence also אגורא egora , an altar, used frequently by the Chaldee paraphrast . See 1 Kings 12:33 ; Judges 6:31 ; 2 Kings 21:3 ; ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:48-49

I think these two verses are badly divided, and should be read thus: Genesis 31:48 ; - And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Genesis 31:49 ; - Therefore was the name of it called Galeed and Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:50

No man is with us - Though all were present at the sacrifice offered, yet it appears that in making the contract Jacob and Laban withdrew, and transacted the business in private, calling on God to witness it. Jacob had already four wives; but Laban feared that he might take others, whose children would naturally come in for a share of the inheritance to the prejudice of his daughters and grandchildren. Though the Koran allows a man to have four wives if he can maintain them, yet we learn... read more

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