Genesis 31:17-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:17-24

Here is, I. Jacob's flight from Laban. We may suppose he had been long considering of it, and casting about in his mind respecting it; but when now, at last, God had given him positive orders to go, he made no delay, nor was he disobedient to the heavenly vision. The first opportunity that offered itself he laid hold of, when Laban was shearing his sheep (Gen. 31:19), that part of his flock which was in the hands of his sons three days? journey off. Now, 1. It is certain that it was lawful for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:17

Then Jacob rose up ,.... And went with them to Laban's house, where his children were, as is plain from Rachel's theft, Genesis 31:19 , and set his sons and his wives upon camels ; which were his own, see Genesis 30:43 ; creatures fit for travelling; on these he set his wives, Rachel and Leah, and his concubine wives, Bilhah and Zilpah; for these went with him, as appears from Genesis 33:6 ; and "his sons", or rather "his children": for they were not all sons, there was one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:18

And he carried away all his cattle ,.... His sheep, camels, and asses: the Jews say F25 Pirke Eliezer, c. 37. fol. 41. he had 5,500 head of cattle: and all the goods which he had gotten : all the rest besides his cattle; his menservants, and maidservants, and all his gold and his silver, and whatsoever else he had: the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram : or Mesopotamia: this seems to be purposely observed, to show that he took nothing but what was his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:19

And Laban went to shear his sheep ,.... Which were under the care of his sons, and were three days' distance from Jacob's flocks; this gave Jacob a fair opportunity to depart with his family and substance, since Laban and his sons were at such a distance, and their servants with them also: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's ; afterwards called gods, which he made use of in an idolatrous and superstitious manner, one way or other: they seem to be a kind of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:20

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian ,.... Went away without his knowledge, or giving him any notice of it; he was too cunning for Laban the Syrian; notwithstanding his astrology and superstitious arts, which the Syrians are addicted to, he had no foresight of this matter: or he "stole away the heart of Laban" F2 יגנב־את לב "furatus est cor", Tigurine version, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Drasius, Cartwright. , that which his heart was set upon; not his gods,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:21

So he fled with all that he had ,.... His wives, his children, cattle and substance: and he rose up, and passed over the river ; the river Euphrates, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, which lay between Mesopotamia and Canaan: and set his face toward the mount Gilead : he travelled and bent his course that way: this, was a mountain on the border of the land of Canaan, adjoining to Lebanon, near which was a very fruitful country, which had its name from it: it is so called here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:19

Laban went to shear his sheep - Laban had gone; and this was a favorable time not only to take his images, but to return to Canaan without being perceived. Rachel had stolen the images - תרפים teraphim . What the teraphim were is utterly unknown. In Genesis 31:30 ; they are termed אלהי elohai , gods; and to some it appears very likely that they were a sort of images devoted to superstitious purposes, not considered as gods, but as representatives of certain Divine attributes,... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:17

Verse 17 17.Then Jacob rose up. The departure of Jacob Moses afterwards more fully relates, he now only briefly says that “he rose up;” by which he means, that as soon as he could obtain the consent of his wives to go with him, he yielded to no other obstacles. Herein appears the manly strength and constancy of his mind. For Moses leaves many things to be reflected upon by his readers; and especially that intermediate period, during which the holy man was doubtless agitated with a multiplicity... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:19

Verse 19 19.And Rachel had stolen. Although the Hebrews sometimes call those images תרפים (teraphim,) which are not set forth as objects of worship: yet since this term is commonly used in an ill sense, I do not doubt that they were the household gods of Laban. (93) Even he himself, shortly afterwards, expressly calls them his gods. It appears hence how great is the propensity of the human mind to idolatry: since in all ages this evil has prevailed; namely, that men seek out for themselves... read more

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