Genesis 31:22-42

God revealed Himself to people other than the patriarchs in these days (Genesis 31:29; cf. Abimelech in Genesis 20:3). Many scholars believe that Job also lived in the patriarchal period.

"Jacob and Rachel are again two of a kind. This time both almost bring ruin on the family by their risk taking: she by her rash theft, he by his rash vow ([Genesis 31:32] cf. his sons’ rash vow in Genesis 44:6-12)." [Note: Waltke, Genesis, p. 430.]

The teraphim were already "nothing gods," but they became unclean and suffered humiliation when Rachel, who claimed to be unclean, sat on them while menstruating (Genesis 31:34-35; cf. Leviticus 15:20).

Under traditional ancient Near Eastern law, a shepherd was not held responsible for losses to his master’s flocks due to attacking wild beasts and, in some cases, thieves. [Note: Wenham, Genesis 16-50, p. 277.] Yet Jacob had borne these losses (Genesis 31:39). Laban had cheated Jacob.

"God has corked the bottle of his [Laban’s] aggressiveness." [Note: Fokkelman, p. 166.]

"Each of the three patriarchs had to be ingloriously extricated from some adventure." [Note: Kidner, p. 165.]

Note the similarity between Jacob’s escape from Laban and his descendants’ escape from Egypt in the Exodus.

Jacob believed that he was innocent until proved guilty, but Laban felt he was guilty until proved innocent. "The fear of Isaac" (Genesis 31:42; Genesis 31:53) is the God whom Isaac feared. Jacob’s words in Genesis 31:42 summarize his whole life in Harran.