44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
44 Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us."
44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me."
44 So let's settle things between us, make a covenant - God will be the witness between us."
44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me."
44 So come, let's make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 31:44
Commentary on Genesis 31:43-55
(Read Genesis 31:43-55)
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.