Genesis 31
Summary for Gen 31:1-21: 31:1-21 a Jacob’s return journey precipitated a confrontation with Laban that set a permanent boundary between Israel (Jacob) and Aram (Laban). God kept his word to Jacob by prospering him in Paddan-aram and protecting him on his journey home.Summary for Gen 31:1-2: 31:1-2 b The animosity of Laban’s sons against Jacob grew because his flocks were multiplying faster than Laban’s. They were jealous of God’s blessing on Jacob and afraid that he would completely overrun them.
31:3 c The land of your father and grandfather was the land of Canaan, to which Abraham had previously been called (12:1-7 d; 17:8 e).
• Return ... I will be with you: See study notes on 26:2-5; 28:12-15. God protected Jacob (“Israel,” 32:28 f) as he brought his family back to the land that was promised to them. God later brought Israel back to Canaan after long years of service in Egypt. That great return had many elements similar to this passage: God defeated foreign gods and beliefs, used dreams for rescue and protection, gave victory over those who threatened them, and established boundaries between nations and tribes (see Deut 32:8 g).
Summary for Gen 31:4-13: 31:4-13 h Jacob explained to his wives how God had blessed him despite Laban’s opposition. He was not sure they would want to leave Laban and go to Canaan. He wanted to take a willing family, so he had to make an effective appeal. He rehearsed God’s leading and provision over the years and then told them that he had to keep the vow he had made at Bethel (28:20-22 i).
Summary for Gen 31:14-16: 31:14-16 j The women responded immediately that they would go with Jacob because God had blessed him. They were very willing to leave Laban, who had squandered their wealth (the property that would have provided for them). They knew that what God had given to Jacob would also be theirs.
Summary for Gen 31:17-21: 31:17-21 k Jacob left Laban secretly out of fear of reprisal (31:31 l).
Summary for Gen 31:19-20: 31:19-20 m Rachel stole her father’s household idols: Rachel probably wanted to regain some of the assets Laban had squandered; possibly she also worshiped idols (cp. 35:2-4 n). To have the idols may have signified claiming the family inheritance, as customs in subsequent periods indicate. Laban apparently felt vulnerable without them. Whatever her reasons, Rachel’s theft almost brought disaster on the fleeing family when Laban caught up with them.
• A wordplay shows that Rachel and Jacob were very much alike—Rachel stole (Hebrew wattignob) Laban’s household gods, and Jacob outwitted (Hebrew wayyignob, “stole the heart of, deceived”) Laban.
31:21 o The journey took the family from Haran southwest to the land of Gilead, just east of the Jordan River in the north of today’s kingdom of Jordan.
Summary for Gen 31:22-23: 31:22-23 p The theft of the idols (31:19 q) was probably the main reason that Laban and his men chased Jacob. It was one thing for Jacob to take his family and flocks—Laban probably still believed they were all his—but another matter entirely to take his household gods. Laban may have feared that Jacob would return someday to claim all of Laban’s estate. When he failed to find the gods, he asked for a treaty to keep Jacob away (31:43-53 r).
• It took Laban seven days to catch up with Jacob.
31:24 s leave Jacob alone! (literally Do not speak to Jacob either good or evil): God commanded Laban not to take justice into his own hands. When we try to enact our own sense of good and evil apart from God’s command, we always do evil (see study note on 2:9).
Summary for Gen 31:25-30: 31:25-30 t The dispute between the two men used the language of legal controversies and lawsuits (see also 31:36 u). In his first argument, Laban presented himself as a wounded party that Jacob had robbed.
31:32 v Jacob, so convinced that he didn’t have the gods, used an oath that unwittingly put Rachel under a death sentence.
Summary for Gen 31:33-35: 31:33-35 w Laban searched for the idols but found nothing. Laban never dreamed that a woman having her monthly period would desecrate the idols by sitting on them (cp. Lev 15:19-24 x).
Summary for Gen 31:36-42: 31:36-42 y Jacob retaliated by accusing Laban of false charges and humiliation. Laban now became the defendant, for his charges were demeaning and apparently groundless.
31:40 z Jacob, who preferred domestic life (25:27 aa), had for twenty years endured the rigors of the outdoors that Esau had loved.
31:42 ab The God that Isaac feared (see textual note) was with Jacob (31:3 ac), had seen his hard work and faithfulness despite Laban’s abuse, and had rewarded Jacob. Laban’s dream only proved to Jacob that he was in the right.
Summary for Gen 31:43-44: 31:43-44 ad Laban pushed for a treaty to settle the dispute—he felt vulnerable, so he wanted to secure the borders. Jacob did not need a treaty, since God had provided for him and protected him.
Summary for Gen 31:45-48: 31:45-48 ae The stone and the heap of stones were a monument to the border treaty between the two men, as a witness to future generations. Each man named the monument witness pile in his native language. It remained the perpetual border between Israel and the kingdom of Aram (Syria), two nations often at war.
31:49 af The witness pile was also called watchtower. God would watch over Jacob and Laban and keep them apart, for they could not trust each other.
Summary for Gen 31:50-53: 31:50-53 ag Laban added some face-saving stipulations to the treaty, using many words to cover up his own untrustworthiness and portray Jacob as the unethical party. He even took credit for the monument Jacob had erected (this monument I have set, 31:51 ah). The women and children would be much safer and better cared for with Jacob than they ever were with Laban.
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