Genesis 31:20-25

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:22

And it was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob was fled. Three days after Jacob was gone he had the report of it, by some means or another; by some of his neighbours, or servants left at home, and sooner he could not well have it, since the flock he went to shear was three days' distance from Jacob's, Genesis 30:36 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:23

And he took his brethren with him ,.... Some of his relations, the descendants of his father's brethren, the sons of Nahor, of whom there were seven, besides Bethuel; and who all perhaps lived in Haran the city of Nahor, see Genesis 22:20 ; or some of his neighbours and acquaintance whom he might call to: and pursued after him seven days' journey ; which must be reckoned, not from Jacob's departure from Haran, but from Laban's; for Laban being three days' journey from thence, whither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:24

And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night ,.... It is probable that Laban came to Mount Gilead late in the evening, and so had no sight of, or conversation with Jacob until the morning; and that night God came to him, and in a dream advised him as follows: or it may be rendered, "and God had come", &c.; F6 ויבא "et venerat", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version; so Aben Ezra. ; in one of the nights in which he had lain upon the road; though the former seems best to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:25

Then Laban overtook Jacob ,.... He was come to the mount the overnight, but now in the morning he came nearer to him, so as to hold a conversation with him: now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead ; both on the same mount; one perhaps at the bottom, and the other at the top; or one on one hill of it, and the other on another, or right over against one another. 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:24

And God came to Laban - God's caution to Laban was of high importance to Jacob - Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad; or rather, as is the literal meaning of the Hebrew, רע עד מטוב mittob ad ra , from good to evil; for had he neither spoken good nor evil to Jacob, they could have had no intercourse at all. The original is, therefore, peculiarly appropriate; for when people meet, the language at first is the language of friendship; the command therefore implies, "Do... read more

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