Chapter 31:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 31
Concise Complete
Jacob departs secretly. (1-21) Laban pursues Jacob.
(23-35) Jacob's complaint of Laban's conduct. (36-42) Their covenant at Galeed.
(43-55)
Verses 1-21 The
affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the
great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible
teaches people the common duties of life, how to serve God, how to enjoy the
blessings he bestows, and to do good in the various stations and duties of life.
Selfish men consider themselves robbed of all that goes past them, and
covetousness will even swallow up natural affection. Men's overvaluing worldly
wealth is that error which is the root of covetousness, envy, and all evil. The
men of the world stand in each other's way, and every one seems to be taking
away from the rest; hence discontent, envy, and discord. But there are
possessions that will suffice for all; happy they who seek them in the first
place. In all our removals we should have respect to the command and promise of
God. If He be with us, we need not fear. The perils which surround us are so
many, that nothing else can really encourage our hearts. To remember favoured
seasons of communion with God, is very refreshing when in difficulties; and we
should often recollect our vows, that we fail not to fulfil them.
Verses 22-35
God can put a bridle in the mouth of wicked men, to restrain their malice,
though he do not change their hearts. Though they have no love to God's people,
they will pretend to it, and try to make a merit of necessity. Foolish Laban! to
call those things his gods which could be stolen! Enemies may steal our goods,
but not our God. Here Laban lays to Jacob's charge things that he knew not.
Those who commit their cause to God, are not forbidden to plead it themselves
with meekness and fear. When we read of Rachel's stealing her father's images,
what a scene of iniquity opens! The family of Nahor, who left the idolatrous
Chaldees; is this family itself become idolatrous? It is even so. The truth
seems to be, that they were like some in after-times, who sware by the Lord and
by Malcham,
zephaniah
1:5; and like others in our times, who wish to serve both God and mammon.
Great numbers will acknowledge the true God in words, but their hearts and
houses are the abodes of spiritual idolatry. When a man gives himself up to
covetousness, like Laban, the world is his god; and he has only to reside among
gross idolaters in order to become one, or at least a favourer of their
abominations.
Verses 36-42 If
Jacob were willingly consumed with heat in the day, and frost by night, to
become the son-in-law of Laban, what should we refuse to endure, to become the
sons of God? Jacob speaks of God as the God of his father; he thought himself
unworthy to be regarded, but was beloved for his father's sake. He calls him the
God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac; for Abraham was dead, and gone to that
world where perfect love casts out fear; but Isaac was yet alive, sanctifying
the Lord in his heart, as his fear and his dread.
Verses 43-55
Laban could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, therefore desires to hear
no more of that matter. He is not willing to own himself in fault, as he ought
to have done. But he proposes a covenant of friendship between them, to which
Jacob readily agrees. A heap of stones was raised, to keep up the memory of the
event, writing being then not known or little used. A sacrifice of peace
offerings was offered. Peace with God puts true comfort into our peace with our
friends. They did eat bread together, partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice.
In ancient times covenants of friendship were ratified by the parties eating and
drinking together. God is judge between contending parties, and he will judge
righteously; whoever do wrong, it is at their peril. They gave a new name to the
place, The heap of witness. After this angry parley, they part friends. God is
often better to us than our fears, and overrules the spirits of men in our
favour, beyond what we could have expected; for it is not in vain to trust in
him.
Chapter 31:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
