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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 31:1 - 31:16
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The Plan to Flee
v. 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. That was the voice of envy, which begrudged Jacob the obvious blessing of God, incidentally revealing a very ugly suspicion, as is customary in such cases.
v. 2. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. Laban no longer concealed his selfishness and covetousness, with the resulting ill will against Jacob.
v. 3. And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. Canaan was the land of Jacob's fathers, Gen_17:8; Gen_26:3; there lived his nearest relatives. The Lord therefore not only bade him return, but also assured him of His protection.
v. 4. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
v. 5. and said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before. Yesterday and the day before, in the first years of Jacob's service, the gain which Jacob brought him had caused Laban to be kind enough, but now envy had taken possession of his heart also, together with covetousness. But the God of my father hath been with me; the God whom Isaac, his father, had worshiped, who had revealed Himself in mercy and with the promise of His blessing upon Jacob.
v. 6. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. As Jacob had emphasized his faithfulness over against Laban, Gen_30:30-33, so he could truthfully point to it in the presence of Laban's daughters, his wives.
v. 7. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times. This puts another ugly blot upon Laban's character, for as the contract was made, Gen_30:34, no changes were looked for. Yet Laban had frequently and in an arbitrary manner altered its provisions in favor of himself. But God suffered him not to hurt me, neither in body nor in goods.
v. 8. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled; and if he said thus, The ring-straked (banded) shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-straked. When Laban noted that his cattle were bearing in favor of Jacob, according to the original contract, he changed the stipulation from time to time, making it ever more difficult for Jacob to gain, since the provisions were narrowed more with every new agreement.
v. 9. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. Jacob thus confesses and acknowledges with thankfulness that it was the Lord who had watched over his interests, turned the evil intention in his favor, and multiplied that part of the flock which was set apart for his wages.
v. 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 ring-straked, speckled, and grisled (dappled). It was, accordingly, the dispensation of God which had governed the increase of Jacob's flocks, without which even the keenest business sagacity would have availed him nothing.
v. 11. And the Angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob; and I said, Here am I. This is again the Angel of the Lord in a special sense, Jehovah, the Son of God, as He often revealed Himself to His children in the Old Testament.
v. 12. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-straked, speckled, and grisled; for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. Apparently Jacob had had a number of visions in the course of the six years, the Lord indicating to him that He was looking out for his interests, but the climax had come in the recent dream.
v. 13. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto Me. The Angel of the Lord was identical with the God of Bethel, with the God who revealed Himself at Bethel as exalted above the angels. Jacob had confessed his faith in the true God both by consecrating the place at Bethel and by making his earnest vow. Now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Jacob thus urged not only the envy and injustice of Laban, but the direct command of God as well, for their immediate flight.
v. 14. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Laban's treatment of his daughters made it appear that he was glad to get rid of them.
v. 15. Are we not counted of him strangers? For he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. Laban's conduct toward his daughters made it seem that he considered them sold to Jacob for the fourteen years' service. And not only that, but the very price, the very money that their services were worth to him, he retained for himself; he devoured their very substance, wherein they received no share.
v. 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. Laban is an example of a covetous, hard-hearted, and tyrannical man, who has only his own advantage in mind and considers no one else's rights. It is from people of this stamp that pious, faithful men are obliged to endure much suffering. But God watches over His children and will permit no harm to strike them without His permission.