Genesis 31:7-55 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

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:25-35

We have here the reasoning, not to say the rallying, that took place between Laban and Jacob at their meeting, in that mountain which was afterwards called Gilead, Gen. 31:25. Here is, I. The high charge which Laban exhibited against him. He accuses him, 1. As a renegade that had unjustly deserted his service. To represent Jacob as a criminal, he will have it thought that he intended kindness to his daughters (Gen. 31:27, 28), that he would have dismissed them with all the marks of love and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:36-42

See in these verses, I. The power of provocation. Jacob's natural temper was mild and calm, and grace had improved it; he was a smooth man, and a plain man; and yet Laban's unreasonable carriage towards him put him into a heat that transported him into a heat that transported him into some vehemence, Gen. 31:36, 37. His chiding with Laban, though it may admit of some excuse, was not justifiable, nor is it written for our imitation. Grievous words stir up anger, and commonly do but make bad... read more

Matthew Henry

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 31:7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:10

And it came to pass, at the time that the cattle conceived ,.... Whether in spring or in autumn cannot be said, for it seems this was twice a year; this probably was at the beginning of the six years' servitude, or just before the agreement was made between Laban and Jacob, and was an instruction to the latter how to make his bargain with the former: that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream ; in a vision of the night, so things were represented to his fancy and imagination: and,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:11

And the Angel of God spake unto me in a dream ,.... In the same dream before related, and to direct him to observe what was presented to him, and to confirm what he saw, and lead him to the design and use of it. This was not a created angel, but the eternal one, the Son of God, and who is afterwards called God, and to whom Jacob had made a vow, which he would never have done to an angel; but to God only, as Ben Melech observes: saying , Jacob; and I said, here am I ; the Angel called... read more

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:25-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:36-42

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:11

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