Genesis
Verse 1. After that six years were expired, and calumnies and ill-will attended Jacob in Laban’s family, God ordered him to retire, verse 3. Bible.
EXPLANATIONS
Genesis 31
Historical chapter commentary
Genesis
Verse 7. Ten times. Very often, or perhaps this exact number of times, verse 41.
Genesis
Verse 8. All, or the far greatest part, so that I was exceedingly enriched. Menochius.—The Septuagint here agrees with the Vulg. But the Hebrew and other versions, instead of white ones, read of divers colours, or ring-streaked, which takes away th intended opposition. Calmet.
Genesis
Verse 12. Are of divers colours. Their fancy was strongly impressed with thee various colours, in consequence of the pilled rods, which they beheld: and which Jacob was directed by the angel to place in the troughs.—I have seen with displeasure, the injustice of Laban; ( Bible.) and therefore, I, the Lord of all things, authorize thee to act in this manner. By this vision, the justice of Jacob would appear; and the authority for removing, given in a second vision, would suffice to induce the two principal wives of Jacob to give their consent to leave their father’s house, and to begin a long journey. During the last six years, Providence had given no increase of family, that the little children might be no impediment to the removal. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 15. Eaten up. Laban kept for himself the dowry paid by Jacob for his wives, though he ought to have allotted it to them, with the addition of something more, in proportion to his immense wealth. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 18. Gotten. Hebrew expresses over again, the cattle of his getting, and so forth which is omitted in one MS. as well as in the Septuagint Syr. and Arab. versions, though yet used in the Samarit. copy. Kennicott.—To Isaac, who was still living, though he had apprehended death was at hand 20 years before. He continued to live other 20 years after. Salien.—Jacob spent about 10 years at Sichem and at Bethel, before he went to dwell with Isaac. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 19. Her father’s idols. By this it appears that Laban was an idolater: and some of the fathers are of opinion, that Rachel stole away these idols, to withdraw him from idolatry, by removing the occasion of his sin. Challoner.—Others think she was herself infected with this superstition, until Jacob entirely banished it from his family in Chanaan. Calmet. 35:2. Tirinus.—The Hebrew Teraphim, is translated images by the Protestants in this place, though it certainly denotes idols. But Ose. 3:4, they leave it untranslated, lest they should be forced to allow that images pertain to religious service, as well as sacrifice, and so forth which are mentioned together, ( Worthington.) though they now indeed have images in the same verse of Osee for what the Vulgate renders altar. These teraphims are consequently taken in a good as well as in a bad sense. They were, perhaps, made of rich metal, and taken by Rachel and Lia to indemnify them for the want of a dowry. This, however, was wrong, and done without the participation of their husband. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 20. Away. Hebrew “Jacob stole the heart of Laban,” concealing his flight from him. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 21. The river Euphrates.—Galaad, as it was called afterwards, verse 48. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 22. Third day. He was gone to shear his sheep, distant three days’ journey.
Genesis
Verse 24. Speak not. Laban did not comply exactly, but he used no violence. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 32. Slain. Homer says, “the father judges his children and wives;” and thus Jacob pronounces sentence. The Rabbins pretend it and its effect soon after in the death of Rachel. Calmet. 35:18. Calmet.
Genesis
Verse 35. Vain. For who would imagine, that a woman should treat in this manner the objects of her father’s adoration? Calmet.—It would hence appear, that she did not herself adore them, unless fear overcame her religion. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 36. Angry. He was extremely quiet. But patience abused, turns to fury. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 39. Exact it. Laban acted in opposition both to custom and to justice, ( Calmet.) while Jacob forebore to claim what he might have done, agreeably to both. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 42. The fear of Isaac; or of that God, whom Isaac fears, on account of the danger to which he is exposed of losing his friendship; a thing which, Abraham being now departed in peace, has not to dread. Calmet.
Genesis
Verse 43. Are mine, or proceed from me originally; so that if I were to injure them, I should disregard the dictates of nature. Menochius.
Genesis
Verse 47. Testimony. Hebrew makes Laban give this etymology, Jegar-saha-dutha; while Galaad means the hill or the witness. The Syrian language had now begun to deviate some little from the Hebrew of Jacob.—Each, and so forth This is added by the Vulgate. Calmet.
Genesis
Verse 49. Behold. Hebrew “and Mitspah,” or “Hammitspah,” the watch-tower, whence God will see us. Calmet.
Genesis
Verse 50. Over them. A wise precaution, which the rich Turks still observe when they give their daughters in marriage. Busbeq. ep. 3.
Genesis
Verse 51. I have, and so forth One Sam. copy reads very properly, “thou hast set up,” (yarithi), verse 45. Kennicott.
Genesis
Verse 53. God of Nachor. Hebrew uses Elohim, which is often applied to idols, such as Nachor worshipped along with the true God. Calmet.—Jacob swears by the one only God, whom his father revered. Menochius.—The God of their father, is omitted in the Septuagint and is deemed an interpolation by Kennicott. The Sam. reads again the God of Abraham. Bible.
Genesis
Verse 55. Night (de nocte) when it was just at an end, and day-light appeared.—His daughters, with Dina, and so forth Thus all ended well and in peace, by the divine interposition, after the most serious alarms. Bible.
Genesis
teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.
Genesis
“Jegar Sahadutha” means “Witness Heap” in Aramaic.
Genesis
“Galeed” means “Witness Heap” in Hebrew.