| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Genesis Chapter
Thirty-One
I.
Content of the Chapter
Jacob Left for Padan
A. Jacob wanted to return to the land of his
fathers and his family (v.1-16);
B. Jacob fled from Laban (v.17-21);
C. Laban overtook Jacob (v.22-29);
D. Conflicts between Jacob and Laban (v.30-42);
E. Jacob made a covenant with Laban and parted
from him (v.43-55);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 31:1 “Now Jacob
heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our
father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.””
YLT:
“And
he heareth the words of Laban's sons, saying, `Jacob hath taken all that our
father hath; yea, from that which our father hath, he hath made all this
honour;'”
Meaning
of Words: “wealth”: the weight of wealth;
Literal
Meaning: “has acquired all
this wealth”, Laban’s sons envied Jacob prosperity and complained that Jacob
had robbed their father’s possessions.
Jacob
seemed to be so happy to acquire all the wealth in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Laban’s sons’ word indicated that they though
Jacob was not worthy of the wages ---- the selfish man can only think of his
own profit instead of that of others.
2) If
men in the world provide some chances to make others become rich, they may
think others have robbed all that they have. This is because of envy. Only
those who have a wide mind are willing to share the chances with others.
3) As
far as those who know the heavenly things are concerned, wealth and glory in
the sight of the world cannot be compared with the eternal glory in surpassing
measure (2Cor. 4:17).
4)
Man’s evaluation of the worldly wealth is the source of all his covetousness
and envy and sins.
Gen. 31:2 “And Jacob saw the countenance of
Laban, and indeed it was not favorable
toward him as before.”
YLT:
“and
Jacob seeth the face of Laban, and lo, it is not with him as heretofore.”
Literal
Meaning: “countenance” refers to the expressions and attitudes.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Envy is a kind of sin manifest on one’s face.
Though many people do not say in their mouth, their inner words have been
unconsciously exposed through their attitudes.
2) God
often reveals his guidance through various environmental signs ---- the complaints of Laban’s sons and Laban’s countenance.
3) All
things work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28). Watching the
moods of men carefully is the secret for believers to search for external
information.
Gen. 31:3 “Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to
your family, and I will be with you.””
YLT:
“And
Jehovah saith unto Jacob, `Turn back unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy
kindred, and I am with thee.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The verse two verses mention the external
situations, but they cannot represent the whole guidance of God. The external
situation is merely a sign that reminds us of hearing the inner voice.
2) The
world is not an everlasting dwelling place for us, just as
3)
When we are in this world, God may give us many physical blessings or many
children. However, if we love the world, He will come to awake us ad call us
back to Him.
4)
Only when Jacob took the homeward journey, would God be with him. Likewise,
only when we obey the guidance of God and step forward, can we truly feel that
God is with us.
Gen. 31:4 “So Jacob sent and called Rachel and
Leah to the field, to his flock,”
YLT:
“And
Jacob sendeth and calleth for Rachel and for Leah to the field unto his flock;”
Literal
Meaning: “Rachel
and Leah” the name of sister
Rachel was mentioned earlier (see v.14).
Enlightenment
in the Word: that
Jacob sought the views of his wives spoke of the principle of fellowship. Even
though believers may have obtained clear guidance from God, it is still not
suitable for them to act alone. Instead, they have to have fellowship with the
family members or the saints.
Gen. 31:5 “and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it
is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been
with me.”
YLT:
“and
saith to them, `I am beholding your father's face -- that it is not towards me
as heretofore, and the God of my father hath been with me,”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers shall be assured of
the presence of God when walking in the world, just like they are living in the
sight of God.
2)
Even though the “countenance” of others is not favorable toward us, it is enough for us to have
the presence of God solely.
Gen. 31:6 “And you know that with all my might I have served your father.”
YLT: “and
ye -- ye have known that with all my power I have served your father,”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) No matter for the Lord or for men, believers
shall do everything faithfully.
2) Let
us not be with eyeservice, as men-pleasers. And whatever we do, do it heartiy,
as to the Lord and not to men (Col. 3:22-23).
Gen. 31:7 “Yet your father has deceived me and changed
my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.”
YLT:
“and
your father hath played upon me, and hath changed my hire ten times; and God
hath not suffered him to do evil with me.”
Literal
Meaning: “changed
my wages ten times”, “ten” in the
Bible represents perfect, which indicated that Laban changed Jacob’s wages
“many times” (see Num. 14:22; Nehe. 4:12; Job. 19:3).
Gen. 31:8 “If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then
all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your
wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.”
YLT: “`If
he say thus: The speckled are thy hire, then bare all the flock speckled ones;
and if he say thus: The ring-straked are thy hire, then bare all the flock
ring-straked;”
Enlightenment
in the Word: God governs
everything. If He does not permit (v.7), all human counsels will be in vain.
Gen. 31:9 “So God has taken away the livestock of your father and
given them to me.”
YLT: “and
God taketh away the substance of your father, and doth give to me.”
Meaning
of Words: “take away”: rescue; “give”: chance the
ownership of something (a legal term);
Literal
Meaning: Jacob did not
emphasize that he obtained the speckled and spotted flock by setting the rods
in the gutters (see 31:37-43), but that all the flocks were given by God, which
revealed that he confessed that everything was governed and permitted by God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) No matter how hard we work, we still gain
nothing without God’s blessings. Even though we gain something, it is not of
God.
2)
There is a danger for those who are rich in this world ---- that is, they are
prone to be arrogant, relying on uncertain riches instead of the living God who
gives us richly all things to enjoy (1Tim. 6:17).
Gen. 31:10 ““And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived,
that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped
upon the flocks were streaked,
speckled, and gray-spotted.”
YLT:
“`And
it cometh to pass at the time of the flock conceiving, that I lift up mine eyes
and see in a dream, and lo, the he-goats, which are going up on the flock,
ring-straked, speckled, and grisled;”
Literal
Meaning: “the
rams which leaped upon the flocks”: the rams that were mating
with the flocks;
“Were
streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted”, it showed that the new-born lambs were also
streaked and speckled and gray-spotted.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Jacob’s dream
revealed that he did not gain the flocks by his own method (see 31:37-43), but
by the blessings of God.
Gen. 31:11 “Then the Angel of God spoke to me
in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’”
YLT:
“and
the messenger of God saith unto me in the dream, Jacob, and I say, Here I.”
Literal
Meaning: “the
Angel of God” is God Himself
(v.13).
Gen. 31:12 “And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams
which leap on the flocks are
streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing
to you.”
YLT:
“`And He saith, Lift up, I pray thee, thine eyes, and see -- all the he-goats
which are going up on the flock ring-straked, speckled, and grisled, for I have
seen all that Laban is doing to thee;”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God has seen all the afflictions we suffer. God
knows all our grievances, and He will stretch out His hands to deliver us out
of our tribulations (see Ex. 3:7).
2)
Christians need not to take our vengeance, for our Lord knows all the
sufferings inflicted upon us by the wicked. However, many times, the Lord makes
us learn to undergo some trials in order to train our character.
3) He
who has spiritual insight will be enabled to see what God sees. Man’s physical
eyes can only see his loss caused by others. However, spiritual eyes make us
see the compensation of God.
Gen. 31:13 “I am
the God of Bethel, where
you anointed the pillar and
where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this
land, and return to the land of your family.’””
YLT: “I
the God of Bethel where thou hast anointed a standing pillar, where thou hast
vowed a vow to me; now, arise, go out from this land, and turn back unto the
land of thy birth.'”
Literal
Meaning: “I am
the God of Bethel”: He was the Lord who manifested
to Jacob in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We may often forget the situation of our first
meeting God and devoting ourselves to God after many years, but God never
forgets our conditions in the beginning (see Rev. 2:4).
2)
Wherever man is favored and knows God, he has to return to the gracious ground
to fulfill his vow made unto God (see 28:16-22).
3)
Every spiritual turn of believers is caused by hearing the divine words: “Now
arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family” ---- it equals to another verse: “remember
therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast and repent” (Rev.
3:3).
Gen. 31:14 “Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our
father’s house?”
YLT:
“And
Rachel answereth -- Leah also -- and saith to him, `Have we yet a portion and
inheritance in the house of our father?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) May we also say to ourselves like Rachel and
Leah: “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in this world?”
2)
Hopelessness toward the world and abandoning all the attachment
to the world will make us turn to spiritual realm.
Gen. 31:15 “Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us,
and also completely consumed our money.”
YLT:
“have
we not been reckoned strangers to him? for he hath sold us, and he also utterly
consumeth our money;”
Literal
Meaning: “he
has sold us”, Laban earned the fourteen-year
free labor of Jacob by giving Leah and Rachel as commodities (see 29:18, 27).
“And
also completely consumed our money”, Laban did not give all the betrothal gifts of the
bridegroom’s side to his daughters according to the local custom (see 24:53).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The avaricious desire may cause divisions in the
family.
2) All
our deeds are seen by all those who are around. Parents shall set themselves as
an example, or else the children will suffer loss.
3) It
is little wonder, but a great joy that believers are regarded as “strangers” by
the world.
Gen. 31:16 “For all these riches which God has taken from our father
are really ours and our
children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.””
YLT: “for
all the wealth which God hath taken away from our father, it ours, and our
children's; and now, all that God hath said unto thee -- do.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God is not unjust to forget our work and labor
of love which we have shown toward His name (Heb. 6:10) ---- whatever we have
devoted for the sake of Him, He will repay us much more than what we have
presented.
2) If
a wife desires to be a good helper of her husband, she has to learn not to
hinder his husband on the matter which God has called him to do.
Gen. 31:17 “Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.”
YLT:
“And
Jacob riseth, and lifteth up his sons and his wives on the camels,”
Enlightenment
in the Word: let us not only
love the Lord and seek the Lord ourselves but also bring the whole family unto
the Lord and serve Him (see Jos. 24:15).
Gen. 31:18 “And he carried away all his livestock and all his
possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in
Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.”
YLT: “and
leadeth all his cattle, and all his substance which he hath acquired, the
cattle of his getting, which he hath acquired in Padan-Aram, to go unto Isaac
his father, to the
Literal
Meaning: it was not right for
Jacob to flee without saying goodbye, but in that situation it might not be so
easy to leave freely.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we believers are not allowed to serve the
Lord freely under certain circumstances, as long as we are assured of the
calling of God, we need not to ask for permission of others.
2)
Property represents our body, spirit, time, talent, etc. All the spirit and
soul and body of each believer shall be presented to the Lord. Let us not draw
near to the Lord in spirit only but let all the rest remain in the world.
Gen. 31:19 “Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols
that were her father’s.”
YLT: “And
Laban hath gone to shear his flock, and Rachel stealeth the teraphim which her
father hath;”
The Background: at that time, every family of the Syrians worshiped
the sculptured idols and took then as their family gods. Such idols could be
used for divination (see 30:27), and the Syrians worshipped them for peace and
good fortune. It was also said that they could also be the proof of distributing
inheritances to the sons.
Literal
Meaning: “now Laban had
gone to shear his sheep”, he left home and went to the
place of his flocks, which was about three-days’ journey (see 30:36), so at
that time Laban could not go back instantly.
Enlightenment
in the Word: if we love
something besides Christ in our heart and replace God with it, it has become
our “idol”.
Gen. 31:20 “And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that
he did not tell him that he intended to flee.”
YLT: “and
Jacob deceiveth the heart of Laban the Aramaean, because he hath not declared
to him that he is fleeing;”
Gen. 31:21 “So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the
river, and headed toward the mountains of
YLT:
“and
he fleeth, he and all that he hath, and riseth, and passeth over the River, and
setteth his face the mount of
Meaning
of Words: “
Literal
Meaning: “he arose and
crossed the river”: the river
“And
headed toward the mountains of Gilead”, “the mountains of Gilead”: the mountainous region
on the east bank of
Gen. 31:22 “And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.”
YLT:
“And
it is told to Laban on the third day that Jacob hath fled,”
Gen. 31:23 “Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for
seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of
YLT:
“and
he taketh his brethren with him, and pursueth after him a journey of seven
days, and overtaketh him in the mount of
Literal
Meaning: “his
brethren”: they were not
only his relatives but also his aligned brothers (see 14:13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When a believer purposes to step upon the
spiritual way, the worldly “human relationship” will come to chase us and
exhort us: “be not to too zealous, for it is enough to believe the Lord”.
2)
Satan often hides behind “human relationship” to hinder us from walking on the
way of the cross so that we will have the mind of man instead of that of God
(Matt. 16:22-23).
Gen. 31:24 “But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night,
and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.””
YLT:
“And
God cometh in unto Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night, and saith to
him, `Take heed to thyself lest thou speak with Jacob from good unto evil.'”
Literal
Meaning: “speak
to Jacob neither good nor bad”:
do not speak to Jacob any threatening words (see v.29).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When we are in the darkest and the most
difficult situation, God will come and keep us. Many believers are delivered
out of disasters for the sake of God’s intervention.
2)
There is always a time limit for the trials that believers undergo. When the
purpose of the trials is fulfilled, God will release us and not allow anyone or
anything to hold us.
Gen. 31:25 “So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in
the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of
YLT:
“And
Laban overtaketh Jacob; and Jacob hath fixed his tent in the mount; and Laban
with his brethren have fixed in the mount of
Gen. 31:26 “And Laban said to Jacob: “What have
you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my
daughters like captives taken
with the sword?”
YLT: “And
Laban saith to Jacob, `What hast thou done that thou dost deceive my heart, and
lead away my daughters as captives of the sword?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) People may commonly blame others “for what
have they
done”, but seldom
examine themselves: “it is caused by myself?”
2)
Laban thought his daughters were taken away by Jacob reluctantly, but it was
not so in fact (see v.14-16). Are we also subjective and stubborn
and ignorant of our observation of the circumstances and our understanding
of men’s heart?
Gen. 31:27 “Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and
not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?”
YLT:
“Why
hast thou hidden thyself to flee, and deceivest me, and hast not declared to
me, and I send thee away with joy and with songs, with tabret and with harp,”
The Background: “harp”, the harp in the ancient
Gen. 31:28 “And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters.
Now you have done foolishly in so
doing.”
YLT:
“and
hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? -- now thou hast acted
foolishly in doing ;”
Literal
Meaning: had Laban been truly
so generous as he said, Jacob would not have “fled away secretly” (v.27).
Gen. 31:29 “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your
father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob
neither good nor bad.’”
YLT: “my
hand is to God to do evil with you, but the God of your father yesternight hath
spoken unto me, saying, Take heed to thyself from speaking with Jacob from good
unto evil.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The peace of saints is often due to the restraint set by God on the wicked ones.
2)
God’s word did not change Laban’s “heart” but had bound his “hands”.
Gen. 31:30 “And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for
your father’s house, but why
did you steal my gods?””
YLT:
“`And now, thou hast certainly gone, because thou hast been very desirous for
the house of thy father; why hast thou stolen my gods?'”
Literal
Meaning: someone thought
according to the ancient customs the ownership of the properties
depended on the ownership of the gods. Therefore, Laban even made such a
long journey to take back the gods so that the properties would not outflow.
Gen. 31:31 “Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was
afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’”
YLT: “And
Jacob answereth and saith to Laban, `Because I was afraid, for I said, Lest
thou take violently away thy daughters from me;”
The Background: according to the ancient custom in the
Literal
Meaning: Jacob’s anxiety was
not groundless, for Laban himself also confess it was possible (see v.43).
Gen. 31:32 “With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In
the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know
that Rachel had stolen them.”
YLT:
“with
whomsoever thou findest thy gods -- he doth not live; before our brethren
discern for thyself what with me, and take to thyself:' and Jacob hath not
known that Rachel hath stolen them.”
Literal
Meaning: apparently Jacob did
not know the fact and was deceived by Rachel whom he loved most.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man often does not know himself and spouts off
big talk.
2)
Even though we believers deal with things right, we have to still speak
carefully. Otherwise we may unconsciously put others in an unfavorable
situation.
3) May
the Lord search the inner depth of us and see whether we have any hidden idol
within and whether our heart is entangled by anyone or anything so that we
cannot run the way before us (Heb. 12:1).
Gen. 31:33 “And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and
into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.”
YLT:
“And
Laban goeth into the tent of Jacob, and into the tent of Leah, and into the
tent of the two handmaidens, and hath not found; and he goeth out from the tent
of Leah, and goeth into the tent of Rachel.”
Gen. 31:34 “Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched
all about the tent but did not find them.”
YLT:
“And
Rachel hath taken the teraphim, and putteth them in the furniture of the camel,
and sitteth upon them; and Laban feeleth all the tent, and hath not found;”
Literal
Meaning: “the
camel’s saddle”, it was put on the
back of the camel, which had two bags on both sides.
Gen. 31:35 “And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord
that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but
did not find the household idols.”
YLT: “and
she saith unto her father, `Let it not be displeasing in the eyes of my lord
that I am not able to rise at thy presence, for the way of women on me;' and he
searcheth, and hath not found the teraphim.”
Literal
Meaning: “the
manner of women is with me”, it meant that it was
inconvenient for her to let Laban search for the sake of menstruation. The
ancient people thought a woman in menstruation was unclean and whoever touched
her or whatever was touched by her would be unclean (see Lev. 15:19-24)
Laban failed in searched out the
household idols, for God would keep the life of Rachel (see 32), not keep the
household idols. Therefore, later God dealt with them and forced them to remove
the false gods (see 35:2).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who deceives others is deceived. If one does
not want to be deceived, he shall not deceive others.
2)
Rachel did wrong to steal the household idols first and then she had to conceal
it with a lie. Therefore, sin may bear its son.
3)
Idols are vain and useless and cannot keep themselves. How can they keep men?
Gen. 31:36 “Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered
and said to Laban: “What is my
trespass? What is my sin, that
you have so hotly pursued me?”
YLT: “And
it is displeasing to Jacob, and he striveth with Laban; and Jacob answereth and
saith to Laban, `What my transgression? what my sin, that thou hast burned
after me?”
Gen. 31:37 “Although you have searched all my things, what part of your
household things have you found? Set it
here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!”
YLT:
“for
thou hast felt all my vessels: what hast thou found of all the vessels of thy
house? set here before my brethren, and thy brethren, and they decide between
us both.”
Gen. 31:38 “These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not
miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.”
YLT:
“`These
twenty years I with thee: thy ewes and thy she-goats have not miscarried, and
the rams of thy flock I have not eaten;”
Literal
Meaning: “these
twenty years I have been with
you”, please reach the
commentary of verse forty one.
Gen. 31:39 “That which was torn by
beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it
from my hand, whether stolen by
day or stolen by night.”
YLT:
“the
torn I have not brought in unto thee -- I, I repay it -- from my hand thou dost
seek it; I have been deceived by day, and I have been deceived by night;”
The Background: according to the custom at that time, if the sheep
were torn by beasts, the shepherds could bring the rest parts of the sheep to
the master to be a proof so that the master would bear the loss and the
shepherd needed not to compensate (see Ex. 22:12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Jacob’s faithfulness was an example for all
servants. Let us take care of all both that are of us and that are entrusted by
the master equally.
2) All
the children and properties and gifts etc. we have today are of the Lord. All
the faithful servants of the Lord shall take care of the children and
properties and gifts etc. entrusted by the Lord.
Gen. 31:40 “There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost
by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.”
YLT: “I
have been in the day consumed me hath drought, and frost by night, and wander
doth my sleep from mine eyes.”
Literal
Meaning: it was true that
there was a vast difference in temperature between day and night.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Our sufferings are not worthy to be compared
with that of Jacob. Suffering is a good helper that trains and perfects Jacob.
Likewise, it is also a good chance to edify us and make us increase.
2)
Sufferings make us have more trust in God (2Cor. 1:8-9).
3) Let
us commit ourselves into the hands of the Creator and wait for the fulfillment
of the purpose of our sufferings. Then God will surely lead us out of the
sufferings.
Gen. 31:41 “Thus I have been in your house twenty
years; I served
you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and
you have changed my wages ten times.”
YLT:
“`This
to me twenty years in thy house: I have served thee fourteen years for thy two
daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou changest my hire ten times;”
Literal
Meaning: “thus I have been
in your house twenty years”, the majority of the Bible expositors
think this “twenty years” are just that “twenty years” mentioned in verse
thirty-eight.
And some Bible expositors think “twenty
years” in the two verses represent different periods. “Twenty years” in this
verse represented the first twenty years of Jacob’s labor for Laban in Laban’s
house. And the “twenty years” in verse thirty eight referred to the period
during which Jacob shepherded the flocks of Laban three
days’ journey away, and at that time Laban often went to be with Jacob in order to watch
him (see 30:35-36). (Note though the editor does not agree with such
interpretation, it is just provided for readers just for reference.)
Gen. 31:42 “Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the
Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away
empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked
you last night.””
YLT:
“unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had
been for me, surely now empty thou hadst sent me away; mine affliction and the
labour of my hands hath God seen, and reproveth yesternight.'”
Meaning
of Words: “fear”: tremble;
Enlightenment
in the Word: thank God! He has
seen and known all our labor.
Gen. 31:43 “And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to
their children whom they have borne?”
YLT:
“And
Laban answereth and saith unto Jacob, `The daughters my daughters, and the sons
my sons, and the flock my flock, and all that thou art seeing mine; and to my
daughters -- what do I to these to-day, or to their sons whom they have born?”
Gen. 31:44 “Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and
let it be a witness between you and me.””
YLT:
“and
now, come, let us make a covenant, I and thou, and it hath been for a witness
between me and thee.'”
Gen. 31:45 “So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.”
YLT:
“And
Jacob taketh a stone, and lifteth it up a standing pillar;”
Literal
Meaning: “set up as a
pillar”, it was for the purpose of bearing witness of meeting God (see 28:19).
Here the stone of pillar was used to be a proof of mutual nonaggression (see
v.52).
Gen. 31:46 “Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they
took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.”
YLT: “and
Jacob saith to his brethren, `Gather stones,' and they take stones, and make a
heap; and they eat there on the heap;”
Enlightenment
in the Word: everyone who has
been favored is a stone. And all the stones are built up together (1Pet. 2:5)
to become a corporate testimony.
Gen. 31:47 “Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha,[a] but Jacob called it Galeed.”
YLT:
“and
Laban calleth it Jegar-Sahadutha; and Jacob hath called it Galeed.”
Literal
Meaning: “Jegar
Sahadutha … Galeed”, the former was in Aramaic, and the latter was in
Hebrew. Both of them mean “bearing witness by making a heap of stones”.
Gen. 31:48 “And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name
was called Galeed,”
YLT:
“And
Laban saith, `This heap witness between me and thee to-day;' therefore hath he
called its name Galeed;”
Gen. 31:49 “also Mizpah, because
he said, “May the Lord
watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.”
YLT:
“Mizpah
also, for he said, `Jehovah doth watch between me and thee, for we are hidden
one from another;”
Meaning
of Words: “Mizpah”: watch tower;
Literal
Meaning: this was
a word of Laban, which did not show trust, but suspicion. If justice is kept in
love, there is no need of testimony by a heap of stones, for “Mizpah” is used
to remind men that God searches them.
Controversial
Clarification: many believers use
“Mizpah” to be a word of comfort in the time of parting, thinking that God will
look on them. Actually, it is a misapplication of the Scriptures. “Mizpah”
means asking God to search both sides in case of hurting one another on account
of the lack of trust.
Gen. 31:50 “If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!””
YLT:
“if
thou afflict my daughters, or take wives beside my daughters -- there is no man
with us -- see, God witness between me and thee.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word: all we children of
God shall not treat with others bitterly or bully others.
Gen. 31:51 “Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed
between you and me.”
YLT: “And
Laban saith to Jacob, `Lo, this heap, and lo, the standing pillar which I have
cast between me and thee;”
Literal Meaning:
the heap of stones and the pillar became the
boundary between Jacob and Laban.
Gen. 31:52 “This heap is
a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass
beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar
to me, for harm.”
YLT:
“this heap witness, and the standing pillar witness, that I do not pass over
this heap unto thee, and that thou dost not pass over this heap and this
standing pillar unto me -- for evil;”
Literal
Meaning: they were making a
covenant of nonaggression.
Enlightenment
in the Word: God
has appointed to us the limits of the sphere (2Cor. 10:13). Let us not go
beyond the limits to infringe the right of others or trample others.
Gen. 31:53 “The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor,
and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob
swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.”
YLT: “the
God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, doth judge between us -- the God of their
father,' and Jacob sweareth by the Fear of his father Isaac.”
Literal
Meaning: “the
God of Nahor”, it is in the
plural in the original, referring to the false gods.
“And
Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac”, though Jacob did not confess God was his God, he
had known that there is only one God and no one is God beside Him.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Jacob could not
confess “the God of Nahor”,
but only swore by the God of his father Isaac, which indicated that the promise
of God started from His election. And His election was done by Himself, and no
one could have a hand in.
Gen. 31:54 “Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the
mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night
on the mountain.”
YLT: “And
Jacob sacrificeth a sacrifice in the mount, and calleth to his brethren to eat
bread, and they eat bread, and lodge in the mount;”
Literal
Meaning: “then
Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain”, note that here it was Jacob that
offered a sacrifice, and Laban did not.
“And
called his brethren to eat bread”, he called all to come to eat the sacrifice that
was offered. If the both sides of a covenant ate the sacrifice that was offered
together on the table of God, it showed mutual acceptance and fellowship.
Gen. 31:55 “And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons
and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.”
YLT: “and
Laban riseth early in the morning, and kisseth his sons and his daughters, and
blesseth them; and Laban goeth on, and turneth back to his place.”
Enlightenment
in the Word: Laban “returned to
his place”, and Judas also went to his own place (Acts 1:25). However we go to
the place which we should afterwards receive for an inheritance, namely a
better and heavenly country (Heb. 11:8, 16).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
How to Understand the Will of God
A. Through God’s guidance in the environment:
1. The complaints of Laban’s sons (v.1);
2. The unkind attitude of Laban (v.2, 5);
B. Through God’s direct revelation:
1. God’s word (v.3, 13);
2. The vision and calling in the dream ---- the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit (v.11-12);
C. Through the fellowship among the saints:
1. Tell the detailed situation to the wives
(v.4-13);
2. Obtain the agreement of the wives (v.14-16);
Jacob Typifies the Israelites
A. Who was far away from the promised land
(26:3);
B. Who was not welcomed among the Gentiles
(v.1-2);
C. Who was oppressed by the Gentiles but was
kept by God (v.6-7);
D. Who was beloved by God and greatly blessed
(v.8-10);
E. Who was brought by God to return to his
family (v.3, 13);
The Advantages of Jacob
A. He has spiritual sense of hearing and vision (v.1-2);
B. He has the word of God (v.3);
C. He has the presence of God (v.5);
D. He does everything diligently and faithfully
(v.6);
E. He has the protection of God (v.7);
F. He has the blessing of God (v.8-10);
G. He has a devoting heart toward God (v.13);
H. He has a right testimony before men (v.32,
37);
I. He does not struggle with others, but
withdraws (v.38-41);
J. He is willing to keep peaceful with others
(v.44-54);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou