18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered , his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram , to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac . 19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock , then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father's . 20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing . 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River , and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead . 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled , 23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days' journey , and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead . 24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, " Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad ."
25 Laban caught up with Jacob . Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country , and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead . 26 Then Laban said to Jacob , "What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword ? 27 "Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs , with timbrel and with lyre ; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters ? Now you have done foolishly . 29 "It is in my power to do you harm , but the God of your father spoke to me last night , saying , ' Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob .' 30 "Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house ; but why did you steal my gods ?" 31 Then Jacob replied to Laban , "Because I was afraid , for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force . 32 " The one with whom you find your gods shall not live ; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the tent of the two maids , but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent . 34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle , and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. 35 She said to her father , "Let not my lord be angry that I cannot e rise before e you, for the manner of women is upon me." So he searched but did not find the household idols .
36 Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban ; and Jacob said to Laban , "What is my transgression ? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? 37 "Though you have felt through all my goods , what have you found of all your household goods ? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen , that they may decide between us two . 38 "These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried , nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 31:18-38
Commentary on Genesis 31:1-21
(Read Genesis 31:1-21)
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.
Commentary on Genesis 31:22-35
(Read Genesis 31:22-35)
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.
Commentary on Genesis 31:36-42
(Read Genesis 31:36-42)
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.