Genesis 31

• These chapters describe how God fulfilled his promise by greatly blessing Jacob with a family and possessions. God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years. Laban was Jacob’s match in deception, and thus a means of correction.

• The story of Jacob and Laban is similar to Israel's later stay in Egypt. Jacob struggled while serving his uncle but finally emerged with a large family (the founders of the 12 tribes) and great wealth. In Egypt, the Israelites suffered under their oppressors, but they also flourished, becoming a great nation of 12 large tribes and escaping with great riches.

Laban’s sons became more hostile toward Jacob because his flocks were growing faster than theirs. They were jealous because God was blessing Jacob. They were also afraid that he might take over everything they had.

Jacob’s return journey led to a conflict with Laban. This conflict created a lasting boundary between Israel (Jacob) and Aram (Laban). God kept his promise to Jacob. He made Jacob successful in Paddan-aram and protected him as he traveled back home.

• the land of your fathers was Canaan, to which God had called Abraham (12:1–7; 17:8).

• Go back … I will be with you: See study notes on 26:2–5; 28:12–15. God protected Jacob (also called “Israel,” 32:28) as he led his family back to the land God promised them. Later, God brought Israel back to Canaan after many years of slavery in Egypt.

  This return had many similarities to this passage:

  • God defeated foreign gods and beliefs.

  • He used dreams for rescue and protection.

  • He gave victory over threats.

  • He set boundaries between nations and tribes (see Deuteronomy 32:8).

Jacob explained to his wives how God had blessed him, even though Laban opposed him. He was not sure if they wanted to leave Laban and move to Canaan. He wanted his family to agree willingly, so he needed to persuade them. He shared how God had guided and provided for them over the years. He explained that he needed to keep the vow he made at Bethel (28:20–22).

The women quickly agreed to go with Jacob because God had blessed him. They were very willing to leave Laban, who had wasted their wealth (the property meant to support them). They understood that what God gave Jacob would also belong to them.

Jacob left Laban secretly because he was afraid of revenge (31:31).

• Rachel stole her father’s household idols: She might have wanted to recover some of the wealth Laban wasted. She may have also worshiped idols (compare 35:2–4). Having the idols might have meant claiming the family inheritance, as later customs indicate. Laban seemed to feel insecure without them. Whatever her reasons, Rachel's theft nearly caused disaster for the family when Laban overtook them.

• A wordplay shows that Rachel and Jacob were very similar—Rachel stole (Hebrew wattignob) Laban's household gods. Jacob tricked (Hebrew wayyignob, "stole the heart of, deceived") Laban.

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.

• The theft of the idols (31:19) probably caused Laban and his men to chase Jacob. It was one thing for Jacob to take his family and flocks (Laban probably still thought they were his). But taking the household gods was different. Laban might have feared Jacob would return to claim all of Laban’s property. When he could not find the gods, he asked for a treaty to keep Jacob away (31:43–53).

• It took Laban seven days to overtake Jacob.

Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad: God told Laban not to try to bring justice himself. 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).

The dispute between the two men used the language of legal controversies and lawsuits (see also 31:36). Laban first argued that Jacob had wronged him by stealing from him.

Jacob was so sure he did not have the gods that he made an oath that unknowingly put Rachel under a death sentence.

Laban searched for the idols but did not find them. He did not think that a woman in her monthly bleeding would make the idols ceremonially unclean by sitting on them (see Leviticus 15:19–24).

Jacob answered by accusing Laban of making false charges and humiliating him. Now Laban was the one who had to answer, because his charges were insulting and seemed to have no basis.

Jacob, who preferred life at home (25:27), had spent 20 years enduring the hardships of outdoor life, which Esau had loved.

the Fear of Isaac: This is a name for God used here and in 31:53. It does not mean that Isaac was afraid of God in a negative way. Here, fear means deep respect, honor, and awe for God.

God was with Jacob (31:3). God saw Jacob’s hard work and faithfulness, even though Laban treated him badly. God rewarded Jacob. Laban’s dream showed Jacob that he was right.

Laban wanted a treaty to end the dispute because he felt unsafe and wanted to secure the borders. Jacob did not need a treaty because God had provided for him and protected him.

The stone and the pillar marked the border agreement between the two men. It was a witness for future generations. Each man named the monument witness in his own language. It became the lasting border between Israel and the kingdom of Aram (Syria), two nations often at war.

The pile of stones was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”). God would watch over Jacob and Laban to keep them apart, because they did not trust each other.

Laban added conditions to the treaty to try to justify himself. He used many words to hide his own dishonesty and make Jacob look unethical. He even claimed credit for the monument Jacob had built ("here is the pillar I have set up," 31:51). The women and children would be safer and better cared for with Jacob than they ever were with Laban.