Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 31
Overview:
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)
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.
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, Zep 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.
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.
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.