1雅各聽見H8085拉班H3837的兒子們H1121有話H1697說H559:雅各H3290把我們父親H1所有的都奪了去H3947,並藉著我們父親H1的,得了H6213這一切的榮耀H3519。(或作:財) 2雅各H3290見H7200拉班H3837的氣色H6440向他不如H8543從前H8032了。 3耶和華H3068對雅各H3290說H559:你要回H7725你祖、你父H1之地H776,到你親族H4138那裡去,我必與你同在。 4雅各H3290就打發H7971人,叫H7121拉結H7354和利亞H3812到田野H7704羊群H6629那裡來, 5對他們說H559:我看H7200你們父親H1的氣色H6440向我不如H8032從前H8543了;但我父親H1的神H430向來與我同在H1961。 6你們H859也知道H3045,我盡了我的力量H3581服事H5647你們的父親H1。 7你們的父親H1欺哄H2048我,十H6235次H4489改了H2498我的工價H4909;然而神H430不容H5414他害H7489我H5978。 8他若說H559:有點的H5348歸你作工價H7939,羊群H6629所生H3205的都有點H5348;他若說H559:有紋的H6124歸你作工價H7939,羊群H6629所生H3205的都有紋H6124。 9這樣,神H430把你們父親H1的牲畜H4735奪來H5337賜給H5414我了。 10羊H6629配合H3179的時候H6256,我夢中H2472舉H5375目H5869一看H7200,見跳H5927母羊H6629的公羊H6260都是有紋的H6124、有點的H5348、有花斑的H1261。 11神H430的使者H4397在那夢中H2472呼叫我說H559:雅各H3290。我說H559:我在這裡。 12他說H559:你舉H5375目H5869觀看H7200,跳H5927母羊H6629的公羊H6260都是有紋的H6124、有點的H5348、有花斑的H1261;凡拉班H3837向你所做H6213的,我都看見了H7200。 13我是伯特利H1008的神H410;你在那裡用油澆過H4886柱子H4676,向我許過H5087願H5088。現今你起來H6965,離開H3318這地H776,回H7725你本H4138地H776去罷! 14拉結H7354和利亞H3812回答H6030雅各說H559:在我們父親H1的家H1004裡還有我們可得的分H2506麼?還有我們的產業H5159麼? 15我們不是被他當作H2803外人H5237麼?因為他賣了H4376我們,吞了H398我們的價值H3701。 16神H430從我們父親H1所奪出來H5337的一切財物H6239,那就是我們和我們孩子們H1121的。現今凡神H430所吩咐H559你的,你只管去行H6213罷! 17雅各H3290起來H6965,使他的兒子H1121和妻子H802都騎上H5375駱駝H1581, 18又帶著H5090他在巴旦亞蘭H6307所得H7408的一切牲畜H4735和財物H7399,往迦南H3667地H776、他父親H1以撒H3327那裡去H935了。 19當時拉班H3837剪H1494羊H6629毛去H1980了,拉結H7354偷了H1589他父親H1家中的神像H8655。 20雅各H3290背著H3820亞蘭人H761拉班H3837偷走了H1589,並不H1097告訴H5046他, 21就帶著所有的逃跑H1272。他起身H6965過H5674大河H5104,面H6440向H7760基列H1568山H2022行去。 22到第三H7992日H3117,有人告訴H5046拉班H3837,雅各H3290逃跑了H1272。 23拉班帶領H3947他的眾弟兄H251去追趕H7291,追了七H7651日H3117,在基列H1568山H2022就追上了H1692。 24夜H3915間,神H430到H935亞蘭人H761拉班H3837那裡,在夢中H2472對他說H559:你要小心H8104,不可H5973與雅各H3290說H1696好H2896說歹H7451。 25拉班H3837追上H5381雅各H3290。雅各H3290在山上H2022支搭H8628帳棚H168;拉班H3837和他的眾弟兄H251也在基列H1568山H2022上支搭H8628帳棚。 26拉班H3837對雅各H3290說H559:你做的H6213是甚麼事呢?你背著H3824我偷走了H1589,又把我的女兒們H1323帶了去H5090,如同用刀劍H2719擄去的H7617一般。 27你為甚麼暗暗H2244地逃跑H1272,偷著H1589走,並不告訴H5046我,叫我可以歡樂H8057、唱歌H7892、擊鼓H8596、彈琴H3658的送你回去H7971? 28又不容H5203我與外孫H1121和女兒H1323親嘴H5401?你所行H6213的真是愚昧H5528! 29我手H3027中原有H3426能力H410害H7451你,只是你父親H1的神H430昨夜H570對我說H559:你要小心H8104,不可與雅各H3290說H1696好H2896說歹H7451。 30現在你雖然想H3700,H3700你父H1家H1004,不得不H1980去H1980,為甚麼又偷了H1589我的神像H430呢? 31雅各H3290回答H6030拉班H3837說H559:恐怕H6435你把你的女兒H1323從我奪去H1497,所以我逃跑H3372。 32至於你的神像H430,你在誰H834那裡搜H4672出來,就不容誰存活H2421。當著H5048我們的眾弟兄H251,你認一認H5234,在我這裡有甚麼東西是你的,就拿H3947去。原來雅各H3290不知道H3045拉結H7354偷了H1589那些神像。 33拉班H3837進H935了雅各H3290、利亞H3812,並兩個H8147使女H519的帳棚H168,都沒有搜出來H4672,就從利亞H3812的帳棚H168出來H3318,進了H935拉結H7354的帳棚H168。 34拉結H7354已經把H3947神像H8655藏在H7760駱駝H1581的馱簍H3733裡,便坐H3427在上頭。拉班H3837摸H4959遍了那帳棚H168,並沒有摸著H4672。 35拉結對他父親H1說H559:現在我身上不便H1870,H802,不能H3201在你面前H6440起來H6965,求我主H113不要生氣H2734,H5869。這樣,拉班搜尋H2664神像H8655,竟沒有搜出來H4672。 36雅各H3290就發怒H2734斥責H7378拉班H3837說H559:我有甚麼過犯H6588,有甚麼罪惡H2403,你竟這樣火速的追H1814我H310? 37你摸H4959遍了我一切的H3588家H1004具H3627,你搜出H4672甚麼來呢?可以放H7760在你我弟兄H251,H251面前,叫他們在你我H8147中間H996辨別辨別H3198。 38我在你家這二十H6242年H8141,你的母綿羊H7353、母山羊H5795沒有掉過胎H7921。你群H6629中的公羊H352,我沒有吃過H398; 39被野獸撕裂的H2966,我沒有帶H935來給你,是我自己賠上H2398。無論是白日H3117,是黑夜H3915,被偷H1589去的,你都向我索要H1245。 40我白日H3117受盡H398乾熱H2721,黑夜H3915受盡寒霜H7140,不得H5074合眼H5869睡H8142著,我常是這樣。 41我這二十H6242年H8141在你家H1004裡,為你的兩H8147個女兒H1323服事你H5647十四H702,H6240年H8141,為你的羊群H6629服事你六H8337年H8141,你又十H6235次H4489改了H2498我的工價H4909。 42若不是H3884我父親H1以撒H3327所敬畏H6343的神H430,就是亞伯拉罕H85的神H430與我同在,你如今必定打發H7971我空手H7387而去。神H430看見H7200我的苦情H6040和我的勞碌H3018,就在昨夜H570責備H3198你。 43拉班H3837回答H6030雅各H3290說H559:這女兒H1323是我的女兒H1323,這些孩子H1121是我的孩子H1121,這些羊群H6629也是我的羊群H6629;凡在你眼前H7200的都是我的。我的女兒H1323並H176他們所生H3205的孩子H1121,我今日H3117能向他們做H6213甚麼呢? 44來罷H3212!你我二人可以立H3772約H1285,作你我中間的證據H5707。 45雅各H3290就拿H3947一塊石頭H68立H7311作柱子H4676, 46又對眾弟兄H251說H559:你們堆聚H3950石頭H68。他們就拿H3947石頭H68來堆H6213成一堆H1530,大家便在旁邊H1530吃H398喝。 47拉班H3837稱H7121那石堆為伊迦爾撒哈杜他H3026,雅各H3290卻稱H7121那石堆為迦累得H1567。(都是以石堆為證的意思) 48拉班H3837說H559:今日H3117這石堆H1530作你我中間的證據H5707。因此這地方名H8034叫H7121迦累得H1567, 49又叫米斯巴H4709,意思說H559:我們彼此H376,H7453離別H5641以後,願耶和華H3068在你我中間鑒察H6822。 50你若苦待H6031我的女兒H1323,又在我的女兒H1323以外H5921另娶H3947妻H802,雖沒有人H376知道H7200,卻有神H430在你我中間作見證H5707。 51拉班H3837又說H559:你看我在你我中間所立H3384的這石堆H1530和柱子H4676。 52這石堆H1530作證據H5707,這柱子H4676也作證據H5713。我必不過H5674這石堆H1530去害你;你也不可過H5674這石堆H1530和柱子H4676來害H7451我。 53但願亞伯拉罕H85的神H430和拿鶴H5152的神H430,就是他們父親H1的神H430,在你我中間判斷H8199。雅各H3290就指著他父親H1以撒H3327所敬畏H6343的神起誓H7650, 54又在山上H2022獻H2076祭H2077,請H7121眾弟兄H251來吃H398飯H3899。他們吃了H398飯H3899,便在山H2022上住宿H3885。 55拉班H3837清早H7925,H1242起來H7925,與他外孫H1121和女兒H1323親嘴H5401,給他們祝福H1288,回往H3212自己的地方H4725去了H7725。
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ENVY OF LABAN AND SONS. (Gen. 31:1-21)
he heard the words of Laban's sons--It must have been from rumor that Jacob got knowledge of the invidious reflections cast upon him by his cousins; for they were separated at the distance of three days' journey.
2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban--literally, "was not the same as yesterday, and the day before," a common Oriental form of speech. The insinuations against Jacob's fidelity by Laban's sons, and the sullen reserve, the churlish conduct, of Laban himself, had made Jacob's situation, in his uncle's establishment, most trying and painful. It is always one of the vexations attendant on worldly prosperity, that it excites the envy of others (
Eccl 4:4); and that, however careful a man is to maintain a good conscience, he cannot always reckon on maintaining a good name, in a censorious world. This, Jacob experienced; and it is probable that, like a good man, he had asked direction and relief in prayer.
3 the Lord said . . . Return unto the land of thy fathers--Notwithstanding the ill usage he had received, Jacob might not have deemed himself at liberty to quit his present sphere, under the impulse of passionate fretfulness and discontent. Having been conducted to Haran by God (
Gen 28:15) and having got a promise that the same heavenly Guardian would bring him again into the land of Canaan, he might have thought he ought not to leave it, without being clearly persuaded as to the path of duty. So ought we to set the Lord before us, and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, our journeys, our settlements, and plans in life.
4 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah--His wives and family were in their usual residence. Whether he wished them to be present at the festivities of sheep shearing, as some think; or, because he could not leave his flock, he called them both to come to him, in order that, having resolved on immediate departure, he might communicate his intentions. Rachel and Leah only were called, for the other two wives, being secondary and still in a state of servitude, were not entitled to be taken into account. Jacob acted the part of a dutiful husband in telling them his plans; for husbands that love their wives should consult with them and trust in them (
Pro 31:11).
6 ye know that . . . I have served your father--Having stated his strong grounds of dissatisfaction with their father's conduct and the ill requital he had got for all his faithful services, he informed them of the blessing of God that had made him rich notwithstanding Laban's design to ruin him; and finally, of the command from God he had received to return to his own country, that they might not accuse him of caprice, or disaffection to their family; but be convinced, that in resolving to depart, he acted from a principle of religious obedience.
14 Rachel and Leah answered--Having heard his views, they expressed their entire approval; and from grievances of their own, they were fully as desirous of a separation as himself. They display not only conjugal affection, but piety in following the course described--"whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do" [
Gen 31:16]. "Those that are really their husbands' helpmeets will never be their hindrances in doing that to which God calls them" [HENRY].
17 Then Jacob rose up--Little time is spent by pastoral people in removing. The striking down the tents and poles and stowing them among their other baggage; the putting their wives and children in houdas like cradles, on the backs of camels, or in panniers on asses; and the ranging of the various parts of the flock under the respective shepherds; all this is a short process. A plain that is covered in the morning with a long array of tents and with browsing flocks, may, in a few hours, appear so desolate that not a vestige of the encampment remains, except the holes in which the tent poles had been fixed.
18 he carried the cattle of his getting--that is, his own and nothing more. He did not indemnify himself for his many losses by carrying off any thing of Laban's, but was content with what Providence had given him. Some may think that due notice should have been given; but when a man feels himself in danger--the law of self-preservation prescribes the duty of immediate flight, if it can be done consistently with conscience.
20 Jacob stole away--The result showed the prudence and necessity of departing secretly; otherwise, Laban might have detained him by violence or artifice.
22 LABAN PURSUES JACOB--THEIR COVENANT AT GILEAD. (Gen. 31:22-55)
it was told Laban on the third day--No sooner did the news reach Laban than he set out in pursuit, and he being not encumbered, advanced rapidly; whereas Jacob, with a young family and numerous flocks, had to march slowly, so that he overtook the fugitives after seven days' journey as they lay encamped on the brow of mount Gilead, an extensive range of hills forming the eastern boundary of Canaan. Being accompanied by a number of his people, he might have used violence had he not been divinely warned in a dream to give no interruption to his nephew's journey. How striking and sudden a change! For several days he had been full of rage, and was now in eager anticipation that his vengeance would be fully wreaked, when lo! his hands are tied by invisible power (
Ps 76:10). He did not dare to touch Jacob, but there was a war of words.
26 Laban said . . . What hast thou done?--Not a word is said of the charge (
Gen 31:1). His reproaches were of a different kind. His first charge was for depriving him of the satisfaction of giving Jacob and his family the usual salutations at parting. In the East it is customary, when any are setting out to a great distance, for their relatives and friends to accompany them a considerable way with music and valedictory songs. Considering the past conduct of Laban, his complaint on this ground was hypocritical cant. But his second charge was a grave one--the carrying off his gods--Hebrew, "teraphim," small images of human figures, used not as idols or objects of worship, but as talismans, for superstitious purposes.
31 Jacob said, . . . With whomsoever thou findest thy gods let him not live--Conscious of his own innocence and little suspecting the misdeed of his favorite wife, Jacob boldly challenged a search and denounced the heaviest penalty on the culprit. A personal scrutiny was made by Laban, who examined every tent [
Gen 31:33]; and having entered Rachel's last, he would have infallibly discovered the stolen images had not Rachel made an appeal to him which prevented further search [
Gen 31:34-
Gen 31:35].
34 Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them--The common pack saddle is often used as a seat or a cushion, against which a person squatted on the floor may lean.
36 Jacob was wroth--Recrimination on his part was natural in the circumstances, and, as usual, when passion is high, the charges took a wide range. He rapidly enumerated his grievances for twenty years and in a tone of unrestrained severity described the niggard character and vexatious exactions of his uncle, together with the hardships of various kinds he had patiently endured.
38 The rams of thy flock have I not eaten--Eastern people seldom kill the females for food except they are barren.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee--The shepherds are strictly responsible for losses in the flock, unless they can prove these were occasioned by wild beasts.
40 in the day the drought . . . and the frost by night--The temperature changes often in twenty-four hours from the greatest extremes of heat and cold, most trying to the shepherd who has to keep watch by his flocks. Much allowance must be made for Jacob. Great and long-continued provocations ruffle the mildest and most disciplined tempers. It is difficult to "be angry and sin not" [
Eph 4:26]. But these two relatives, after having given utterance to their pent-up feelings, came at length to a mutual understanding, or rather, God influenced Laban to make reconciliation with his injured nephew (
Pro 16:7).
44 Come thou, let us make a covenant--The way in which this covenant was ratified was by a heap of stones being laid in a circular pile, to serve as seats, and in the center of this circle a large one was set up perpendicularly for an altar. It is probable that a sacrifice was first offered, and then that the feast of reconciliation was partaken of by both parties seated on the stones around it. To this day heaps of stones, which have been used as memorials, are found abundantly in the region where this transaction took place.
52 This heap be witness--Objects of nature were frequently thus spoken of. But over and above, there was a solemn appeal to God; and it is observable that there was a marked difference in the religious sentiments of the two. Laban spake of the God of Abraham and Nahor, their common ancestors; but Jacob, knowing that idolatry had crept in among that branch of the family, swore by the "fear of his father Isaac." They who have one God should have one heart: they who are agreed in religion should endeavor to agree in everything else.