Genesis 31 Benson Commentary

31/01/2015
Genesis 31 Benson Commentary
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Genesis 31
Benson Commentary
Genesis 31:1
And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all
that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this
glory.
Genesis 31:1. He heard the words of Labans sons For it seems they spoke
them in Jacobs hearing. The last chapter began with Rachels envying Leah;
this begins with Labans sons envying Jacob. Hath taken away all that was our
fathers Not all, sure: what was become of those cattle which were
committed to the custody of Labans sons, and sent three days journey off? He
has gotten all this glory And what was this glory? It was a parcel of brown
sheep, and speckled goats, and some camels and asses. But they meant
wealth, which the possessors usually glory in, and whereby they gain much
esteem from others.
Genesis 31:2
And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward
him as before.
Genesis 31:3
And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy
kindred; and I will be with thee.
Genesis 31:3-4. The Lord said unto Jacob, Return God, who orders all
things aright, having blessed Jacob with greater substance in the house of
Laban than he could have obtained in his fathers house, without great
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inconveniences, perhaps irreconcilable, fatal hatred between him and his

brother Esau, now orders him to return. For, though Jacob had met with very
hard usage, yet he would not quit his place till God bid him. The direction he
had from Heaven is more fully related to his wives afterward. Unto the land of
thy fathers Not which was properly theirs, but only that in which they had
sojourned, and which was promised to them in their seed. And, as Jacob was
an inheritor of the promise, it was proper that he should sojourn in the land, to
keep alive the hopes of it in his posterity. Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to
the field That he might discourse with them more privately.
Genesis 31:4
And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
Genesis 31:5
And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as
before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
Genesis 31:6
And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
Genesis 31:7
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God
suffered him not to hurt me.
Genesis 31:7-8. Hath changed my wages ten times That is, oft-times, as is
often the signification of the number ten. It appears that Laban, through envy
and covetousness, often broke his agreement made with Jacob, and altered it
as he thought fit, and that Jacob patiently yielded to all such changes Then all
the cattle bare speckled This seems to put it out of doubt, that, as Jacob
says in the following verse, it was indeed God who ordered this matter; for it
can scarcely be supposed that any natural causes whatever, without his
peculiar providence, could produce so many different changes in a thing of this
nature, without once failing.
Genesis 31:8
If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare
speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all
the cattle ringstraked.
Genesis 31:9
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Genesis 31:9. God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to
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me Thus the righteous God paid Jacob for his hard service out of Labans
estate, as he afterward paid the seed of Jacob for the service of the Egyptians
with the spoils of that people.
Genesis 31:10
And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine
eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle
were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
Genesis 31:11
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said,
Here am I.
Genesis 31:11-13. The angel of the Lord spake, I am the God of Beth-el
This, no doubt, was the Word, or Song of Solomon of God, who now
condescended to be the angel or messenger of the Father to Jacob, and yet
styles himself the God of Beth-el. Thus was Jacob reminded of Beth-el, and of
the promises made to him there, by the same divine person, who now again
appeared to him in a dream, to his great comfort.
Genesis 31:12
And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the
cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban
doeth unto thee.
Genesis 31:12. I have seen all that Laban doeth to thee If we attend to this
vision we cannot but see reason to conclude that it was really communicated to
Jacob at this time to make use of the speckled rods; for here is a plain
declaration that God would effect the thing, and the reason why; because he
had seen Labans ungenerous and unfair dealing toward Jacob, and therefore
was resolved to punish him for it, and at the same time reward Jacob for his
fidelity and contentedness under these injuries.
Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou
vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto
the land of thy kindred.
Genesis 31:14
And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or
inheritance for us in our father's house?
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Genesis 31:14-15. Is there any portion Any hope of benefit; for us in our
fathers house? They both agree in acknowledging that his behaviour had
been extremely ungenerous and sordid, even to them, his own children. Are
we not counted of him strangers? Dealt with as strangers, rather than
children: for he hath sold us To thee for fourteen years service. And hath
quite devoured (wholly converted to his own use) our money That which in
equity was due to us for our portions, and for our husbands service. Whereas
Jacob looked upon the wealth which God had transferred from Laban to him as
his wages, they look upon it as their portions; so that, both ways, God forced
Laban to pay his debts, both to his servant and to his daughters.
Genesis 31:15
Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite
devoured also our money.
Genesis 31:16
For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our
children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
Genesis 31:17
Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Genesis 31:18
And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the
cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his
father in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 31:19
And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that
were her father's.
Genesis 31:19. Laban went to shear his sheep That part of his flock which
was in the hands of his sons, three days journey off. Now, 1st, It is certain it
was lawful for Jacob to leave his service suddenly: it was not only justified by
the particular instructions God gave him, but warranted by the fundamental law
of self-preservation, which directs us, when we are in danger, to shift for our
own safety, as far as we can do it without wronging our consciences. 2d, It was
his prudence to steal away unawares to Laban, lest if Laban had known, he
should have hindered him, or plundered him. 3d, It was honestly done to take
no more than his own with him, the cattle of his getting. He took what
Providence gave him, and would not take the repair of his damages into his
own hands. Yet Rachel was not so honest as her husband; she stole her
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fathers images, and carried them away. The Hebrew calls them teraphim.
Some think they were only little representations of the ancestors of the family
in statue or picture, which Rachel had a particular fondness for, and was
desirous to have with her, now she was going into another country. It should
rather seem they were images for a religious use, penates, household gods,
either worshipped, or consulted as oracles; and we are willing to hope that she
took them away, not out of covetousness, much less for her own use, or out of
any superstitions fear, lest Laban, by consulting his teraphim, might know
which way they were gone; but with a design to convince her father of the folly
of his regard to those as gods which could not secure themselves.
Genesis 31:20
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not
that he fled.
Genesis 31:21
So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and
set his face toward the mount Gilead.
Genesis 31:22
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
Genesis 31:23
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey;
and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
Genesis 31:23. He took his brethren That is, his relations, and pursues
Jacob to bring him back into bondage, or to strip him of what he had. They
overtook him in the mount Gilead This mount was about two hundred and
fifty miles from Haran; so that Jacob travelled twenty-five miles each day, and
Laban, in pursuing him, thirty-seven.
Genesis 31:24
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him,
Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Genesis 31:24. Speak not to Jacob either good or bad The Hebrew is, from
good to bad That is, enter into no altercations, and use no harsh language
with him, which may occasion a quarrel. Say nothing against his going on with
his journey, for the thing proceedeth from the Lord. The same Hebraism we
have, Genesis 24:50. The safety of good men is very much owing to the hold
God has on the consciences of bad men, and the access he has to them.
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Genesis 31:25
Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and
Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
Genesis 31:26
And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away
unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the
sword?
Genesis 31:27
Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not
tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with
tabret, and with harp?
Genesis 31:27. I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs Not
as Rebekah was sent away out of the same family above one hundred and
twenty years before, with prayers and blessings, but with sport and merriment;
which was a sign that religion was much decayed in the family.
Genesis 31:28
And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now
done foolishly in so doing.
Genesis 31:29
It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake
unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob
either good or bad.
Genesis 31:29. The God of your fathers spake to me yesterday We find
here that Laban, whatever his disposition was, and how great soever his
anger, paid regard to the heavenly vision. For though he supposed that he had
both right and strength on his side, either to revenge the wrong or recover the
right, yet he owns himself under the restraint of Gods power; he durst not
injure one whom he saw to be the particular care of Heaven. It seems probable
that God, who can change the heart in a moment, effected a sudden alteration
in his disposition toward Jacob.
Genesis 31:30
And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst
after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
Genesis 31:30. Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? Foolish man! to call
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those his gods that could be stolen! Could he expect protection from them that
could neither resist nor discover their invaders? Happy are they who have the
Lord for their God. Enemies may steal our goods, but not our God.
Genesis 31:31
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said,
Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
Genesis 31:31-32. Jacob clears himself by giving the true reason why he went
away unknown to Laban; he feared lest Laban should by force take away his
daughters, and so oblige him to continue in his service. As to the charge of
stealing Labans gods, he pleads not guilty. He not only did not take them
himself, but he did not know that they were taken. Let him not live This was
rashly said, and might have produced fatal effects.
Genesis 31:32
With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren
discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that
Rachel had stolen them.
Genesis 31:33
And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two
maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent,
and entered into Rachel's tent.
Genesis 31:34
Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and
sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
Genesis 31:35
And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up
before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found
not the images.
Genesis 31:36
And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to
Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued
after me?
Genesis 31:37
Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy
household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may
judge betwixt us both.
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Genesis 31:38
This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not
cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
Genesis 31:39
That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of
my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Genesis 31:39-40. That which was torn I brought not unto thee What Jacob
here affirms, and for the truth of which he appeals to Laban, shows him to have
been of a very industrious and faithful disposition, and that Labans temper was
exceedingly selfish and sordid: for though Jacob was his relation, and his
substance had increased so greatly under his hand, yet he was very rigid
toward him, and required him to make good all the cattle that were lost, by
whatever accident it happened. In the day the drought consumed me In
Europe, says Sir John Chardin, quoted by Harmer, vol. 1. p. 74, the days and
nights resemble each other, with respect to the qualities of heat and cold; but it
is quite otherwise in the East. In the lower Asia, in particular, the day is always
hot, and, as soon as the sun is fifteen degrees above the horizon, no cold is
felt in the depth of winter itself. On the contrary, in the height of summer, the
nights are as cold as at Paris in the month of March. It is for this reason that in
Persia and Turkey they always make use of furred habits in the country, such
only being sufficient to resist the cold of the nights.
Genesis 31:40
Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and
my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Genesis 31:41
Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for
thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my
wages ten times.
Genesis 31:42
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had
been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen
mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
Genesis 31:42. Except God had been with me Jacob, on every mention of
his substance, attributes all the increase of it to the care that God had of him.
And he here speaks of God, as the God of his father, intimating, that he
thought himself unworthy to be thus regarded, but was beloved for his fathers
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sake. He calls him the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac: for Abraham
was dead, and gone to that world where there is no fear; but Isaac was yet
alive, sanctifying the Lord in his heart as his fear and his dread.
Genesis 31:43
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my
daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle,
and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my
daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
Genesis 31:43-44. All is mine That is, came by me. Let us make a covenant
It was made and ratified with great solemnity, according to the usages of
those times. 1st, A pillar was erected, a heap of stones raised to perpetuate
the memory of the thing, writing being then not known. 2d, A sacrifice was
offered, a sacrifice of peace-offerings. 3d, They ate bread together, jointly
partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice. This was in token of a hearty
reconciliation. Covenants of friendship were anciently ratified by the parties
eating and drinking together.
Genesis 31:44
Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for
a witness between me and thee.
Genesis 31:45
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
Genesis 31:46
And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and
made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
Genesis 31:47
And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
Genesis 31:47-53. But Jacob called it Galeed The name Laban gave it
signifies the heap of witness, in the Syrian tongue, which he used, and Galeed
signifies the same in Hebrew, the language which Jacob used. It appears that
the name which Jacob gave it remained to it, and not the name which Laban
gave it. And Mizpah (Genesis 31:49,) This name in Hebrew signifies a
watchtower. And they agreed to give it this second name to remind them and
their posterity of the solemn appeal they had now mutually made to the allseeing eye of God, whose providence watches over the actions of mankind,
rewarding sincerity and punishing deceitfulness. They appeal to him, 1st, As a
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witness, The Lord judge between thee and me That is, the Lord take
cognizance of every thing that shall be done on either side in violation of this
league. 2d, As a judge. The God of Abraham, (Genesis 31:53,) from whom
Jacob was descended; and the God of Nahor Labans progenitor; the God
of their father From whom they were both descended; judge betwixt us.
Gods relation to them is thus expressed, to intimate that they worshipped one
and the same God, upon which consideration there ought to be no enmity
betwixt them. Those that have one God, should have one heart: God is judge
between contending parties, and he will judge righteously. Whoever does
wrong, it is at his peril. Jacob sware by the Fear of his father Isaac The God
whom his father Isaac feared, who had never served other gods, as Abraham
and Nahor had done: to this only living and true God he offered a sacrifice,
(Genesis 31:54,) in gratitude for the peace he had obtained with Laban.
Genesis 31:48
And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.
Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
Genesis 31:49
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are
absent one from another.
Genesis 31:50
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my
daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
Genesis 31:51
And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have
cast betwixt me and thee;
Genesis 31:52
This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, 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.
Genesis 31:53
The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge
betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
Genesis 31:54
Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat
bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
Genesis 31:55
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And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his
place.
Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bible Hub
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Paddan-aram
Paddan-aram and Region
Genesis 31:1 NASB
Genesis 31:1 KJV
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5
Piyash
Bangladesh
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