1Jacob oía las palabras de los hijos de Labán, que decían: "Jacob ha tomado todo lo que era de nuestro padre, y de lo que era de nuestro padre ha adquirido toda esta riqueza". 2Miraba también Jacob el semblante de Labán, y veía que no era para con él como había sido antes. 3Entonces Jehová dijo a Jacob: "Vuélvete a la tierra de tus padres, a tu parentela, y yo estaré contigo". 4Envió, pues, Jacob a llamar a Raquel y a Lea al campo donde estaban sus ovejas, 5y les dijo: --Veo que vuestro padre ya no me mira como antes; pero el Dios de mi padre ha estado conmigo. 6Vosotras sabéis que con todas mis fuerzas he servido a vuestro padre; 7pero vuestro padre me ha engañado y me ha cambiado el salario[1] diez veces, si bien Dios no le ha permitido que me hiciera daño. 8Si él decía: "Los pintados serán tu salario", entonces todas las ovejas parían pintados; y si decía: "Los listados serán tu salario", entonces todas las ovejas parían listados. 9Así quitó Dios el ganado de vuestro padre y me lo dio a mí. 10"Sucedió, cuando las ovejas estaban en celo, que alcé yo mis ojos y vi en sueños que los machos que cubrían a las hembras eran listados, pintados y abigarrados. 11Y me dijo el ángel de Dios en sueños: "Jacob". Y yo respondí: "Aquí estoy". 12Entonces él dijo: "Alza ahora tus ojos, y verás que todos los machos que cubren a las hembras son listados, pintados y abigarrados, pues yo he visto todo lo que Labán te ha hecho. 13Yo soy el Dios de Bet-el,[2] donde tú ungiste la piedra y donde me hiciste un voto. Levántate ahora y sal de esta tierra; vuélvete a la tierra donde naciste". 14Respondieron Raquel y Lea, y le dijeron: --¿Tenemos acaso parte o heredad en la casa de nuestro padre? 15¿No nos tiene ya por extrañas, pues que nos vendió y hasta se ha comido del todo lo que recibió por nosotras?[3] 16Toda la riqueza que Dios le ha quitado a nuestro padre es nuestra y de nuestros hijos; ahora, pues, haz todo lo que Dios te ha dicho. 17Se levantó, pues, Jacob y montó a sus hijos y a sus mujeres sobre los camellos; 18y puso en camino todo su ganado y todo cuanto había adquirido (el ganado de la ganancia que había obtenido en Padan-aram), para volverse a Isaac, su padre, en la tierra de Canaán. 19Como Labán había ido a trasquilar sus ovejas, Raquel hurtó los ídolos de su padre;[4] 20y Jacob engañó a Labán, el arameo, no diciéndole que se iba. 21Huyó, pues, con todo lo que tenía; se levantó, pasó el Éufrates y se dirigió a los montes de Galaad.[5] 22Al tercer día le dijeron a Labán que Jacob había huido. 23Entonces Labán tomó consigo a sus parientes, y fue tras Jacob. Siete días después lo alcanzó en los montes de Galaad. 24Pero aquella noche vino Dios en sueños a Labán, el arameo, y le dijo: "Cuídate de no hablarle a Jacob descomedidamente".[6] 25Alcanzó, pues, Labán a Jacob, que había fijado su tienda en el monte; y acampó Labán con sus parientes en los montes de Galaad. 26Entonces dijo Labán a Jacob: --¿Qué has hecho? ¿Por qué me has engañado y te has llevado a mis hijas como prisioneras de guerra? 27¿Por qué te escondiste para huir, y me engañaste, y no me lo hiciste saber para que yo te despidiera con alegría y con cantares, con tamborín y arpa? 28Pues ni aun me dejaste besar a mis hijos y a mis hijas. Esta vez has obrado locamente. 29Poder hay en mi mano para haceros daño; pero el Dios de tu padre me habló anoche diciendo: "Cuídate de no hablarle a Jacob descomedidamente". 30Y ya que te ibas, pues añorabas la casa de tu padre, ¿por qué hurtaste mis dioses?[7] 31Respondió Jacob a Labán: --Porque tuve miedo, pues pensé que quizá me quitarías por fuerza tus hijas. 32Aquel en cuyo poder halles tus dioses, ¡que no viva! Reconoce delante de nuestros hermanos lo que yo tenga tuyo, y llévatelo. Ciertamente Jacob no sabía que Raquel los había hurtado. 33Entró Labán en la tienda de Jacob, en la tienda de Lea y en la tienda de las dos siervas,[8] y no los halló. Salió de la tienda de Lea y entró en la tienda de Raquel. 34Pero Raquel tomó los ídolos y los puso en la montura de un camello, y se sentó sobre ellos. Labán rebuscó por toda la tienda y no los encontró. 35Entonces ella dijo a su padre: --No se enoje mi señor, si no me puedo levantar delante de ti, pues estoy con el período de las mujeres. Como Labán siguió rebuscando sin hallar los ídolos, 36Jacob se enojó y riñó con Labán, diciéndole: --¿Qué falta cometí? ¿Cuál es mi pecado, para que con tanto ardor hayas venido en mi persecución? 37Al registrar todas mis cosas, ¿qué has hallado de todos los enseres de tu casa? Ponlo aquí delante de mis hermanos y de los tuyos, y juzguen entre nosotros. 38Estos veinte años he estado contigo; tus ovejas y tus cabras nunca abortaron, ni yo comí carnero de tus ovejas. 39Nunca te traje lo arrebatado por las fieras: yo pagaba el daño; lo hurtado, así de día como de noche, a mí me lo cobrabas.[9] 40De día me consumía el calor y de noche la helada, y el sueño huía de mis ojos. 41Así he estado veinte años en tu casa: catorce años te serví por tus dos hijas y seis años por tu ganado, y has cambiado mi salario diez veces. 42Si el Dios de mi padre, Dios de Abraham y Terror de Isaac,[10] no estuviera conmigo, de cierto me enviarías ahora con las manos vacías; pero Dios ha visto mi aflicción y el trabajo de mis manos, y anoche te reprendió. 43Respondió Labán y dijo a Jacob: --Las hijas son hijas mías; los hijos, hijos míos son; las ovejas son mis ovejas, y todo lo que tú ves es mío: ¿qué les puedo yo hacer hoy a estas mis hijas, o a los hijos que ellas han dado a luz? 44Ven ahora, pues, y hagamos pacto tú y yo, y sirva por testimonio entre nosotros dos. 45Entonces Jacob tomó una piedra y la levantó por señal. 46Y dijo Jacob a sus hermanos: --Recoged piedras. Tomaron, pues, piedras e hicieron un montón, y comieron allí sobre aquel montón.[11] 47Labán lo llamó "Jegar Sahaduta"; y Jacob lo llamó "Galaad".[12] 48Entonces Labán dijo: --Este montón de piedras es testigo hoy entre nosotros dos. Por eso fue llamado su nombre Galaad; 49y también Mizpa,[13] por cuanto dijo: --Vigile Jehová entre tú y yo cuando nos apartemos el uno del otro. 50Si maltratas a mis hijas o si tomas otras mujeres además de mis hijas, aunque nadie esté con nosotros, mira, Dios es testigo entre nosotros dos. 51Dijo más Labán a Jacob: --Mira este montón de piedras y esta señal que he erigido entre tú y yo. 52Testigo sea este montón de piedras y testigo sea esta señal, que ni yo pasaré de este montón de piedras para ir contra ti ni tú pasarás de este montón ni de esta señal para ir contra mí, para nada malo. 53Que el Dios del padre de nuestros padres, el Dios de Abraham y el Dios de Nacor, juzgue entre nosotros. Jacob juró por aquel a quien temía Isaac, su padre. 54Luego Jacob inmoló víctimas en el monte, y llamó a sus hermanos a comer pan. Ellos comieron pan y durmieron aquella noche en el monte. 55Se levantó Labán de mañana y besó a sus hijos y a sus hijas; los bendijo, partió y se volvió a su lugar.
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.