Genesis 31:1

CHAPTER XXXI

Laban and his sons envy Jacob, 1, 2;

on which he is commanded by the Lord to return to his own country, 3.

Having called his wives together, he lays before them a detailed

statement of his situation in reference to their father, 4-5;

the services he had rendered him, 6;

the various attempts made by Laban to defraud him of his hire, 7;

how, by God's providence, his evil designs had been counteracted,

8-12;

and then informs them that he is now called to return to his

own country, 13.

To the proposal of an immediate departure, Leah and Rachel

agree; and strengthen the propriety of the measure by

additional reasons, 14-16;

on which Jacob collects all his family, his flocks and his goods,

and prepares for his departure, 17, 18.

Laban having gone to shear his sheep, Rachel secretes his images, 19.

Jacob and his family, unknown to Laban, take their departure, 20, 21.

On the third day Laban is informed of their flight, 22;

and pursues them to Mount Gilead, 23.

God appears to Laban in a dream, and warns him not to molest Jacob,

24.

He comes up with Jacob at Mount Gilead, 25;

reproaches him with his clandestine departure, 26-29;

and charges him with having stolen his gods, 30.

Jacob vindicates himself, and protests his innocence in the

matter of the theft, 31, 32.

Laban makes a general search for his images in Jacob's, Leah's,

Bilhah's, and Zilpah's tents; and not finding them, proceeds to

examine Rachel's, 33.

Rachel, having hidden them among the camel's furniture, sat

upon them, 34;

and making a delicate excuse for not rising up, Laban desists

from farther search, 35.

Jacob, ignorant of Rachel's theft, reproaches Laban for his

suspicions, 36, 37;

enumerates his long and faithful services, his fatigues, and

Laban's injustice, 38-41;

and shows that it was owing to God's goodness alone that he

had any property, 42.

Laban is moderated, and proposes a covenant, 43, 44.

Jacob sets up a stone, and the rest bring stones and make a heap,

which Laban calleth Jegar-Sahadutha, and Jacob Galeed, 45-47.

They make a covenant, and confirm it by an oath, 48-53.

Jacob offers a sacrifice; they eat together; and Laban and his

companions, having lodged in the mount all night, take a friendly

leave of Jacob and his family next morning, and depart, 54, 55.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI

Verse Genesis 31:1. And he heard the words of Laban's sons] The multiplication of Jacob's cattle, and the decrease and degeneracy of those of Laban, were sufficient to arouse the jealousy of Laban's sons. This, with Laban's unfair treatment, and the direction he received from God, determined him to return to his own country.

Hath he gotten all this glory.] All these riches, this wealth, or property. The original word כבד signifies both to be rich and to be heavy; and perhaps for this simple reason, that riches ever bring with them heavy weight and burden of cares and anxieties.