Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 31:17 - 31:24

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 31:17 - 31:24


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Jacob Flees and is Pursued by Laban

v. 17. Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;


v. 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.
Jacob's plans had evidently been laid and all arrangements made with great care even before he summoned his wives for the conference which decided in favor of immediate flight. The text repeatedly emphasizes the fact that all the wealth in cattle and goods which Jacob had collected and took along with him on his flight was such as he had honestly gotten.

v. 19. And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
The fact that Laban, with his sons, was keeping the feast of sheep-shearing, which lasted several days, gave Jacob the opportunity which he had sought, for Laban would never have permitted him to go in peace. There is no wrong in fleeing from a tyrant and seeking a place where one may live in peace and security and tend to the works of his calling without interference. That Rachel, although a believer in the true God, stole the images, the small household gods of her father, probably because she feared that Laban might consult them as oracles, shows that she was not yet entirely free from heathen superstition.

v. 20. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban, the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Jacob took the opportunity to remove himself and his goods without the knowledge of Laban, 2Sa_15:6, neither was the fact told to the older man.

v. 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.
He forded the Euphrates, and then turned directly southwest toward Mount Gilead, on the farther side of the Jarmuk River, southeast of the Sea of Galilee.

v. 22. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

v. 23. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the Mount Gilead.
Jacob had a start of three days, but he was hampered by his large herds, whereas Laban, with his tribesmen, could travel very rapidly. Still Jacob had made excellent time in the ten days of his journey.

v. 24. And God came to Laban, the Syrian,
a name used to distinguish him from the members of God's own people, in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Literally, Laban should, in speaking to Jacob, not pass from good to bad, from a hasty greeting of his daughters and their children to reproaches and other indications of anger. The power of the enemies of God, so far as His children are concerned, is limited by God's permission.