1Jákob uslyšel slova Lábanových synů: Jákob vzal všechno, co bylo našeho otce! A z toho, co bylo našeho otce, si nahromadil všechno toto bohatství! 2I na Lábanově tváři Jákob viděl, že už vůči němu nebyl takový jako dříve. 3Tu řekl Hospodin Jákobovi: Navrať se do země svých otců a do svého rodiště; já budu s tebou. 4Jákob si tedy dal zavolat Ráchel a Leu na pole ke svému stádu 5a řekl jim: Vidím na tváři vašeho otce, že už vůči mně není takový jako dříve, avšak Bůh mého otce byl se mnou. 6Vy však víte, že jsem vašemu otci sloužil celou svojí silou. 7Avšak váš otec si ze mne tropil žerty, desetkrát změnil mou mzdu, ale Bůh mu nedovolil mi uškodit. 8Když řekl: Tvou mzdou budou skvrnité, všechny ovce rodily skvrnité; když řekl: Tvou mzdou budou pruhované, všechny ovce rodily pruhované. 9Bůh odňal dobytek vašemu otci a dal ho mně. 10I stalo se v době páření ovcí, že jsem pozvedl oči a ve snu jsem viděl, že berani, kteří skákali na ovce, byli pruhovaní, skvrnití a strakatí. 11Pak mi Boží anděl ve snu řekl: Jákobe! Odpověděl jsem: Tady jsem. 12On pokračoval: Nuže pozvedni oči a viz: Všichni berani, kteří skákají na ovce, jsou pruhovaní, skvrnití a strakatí. Viděl jsem totiž všechno, co ti Lában provádí. 13Já jsem Bůh z Bét-elu, kde jsi pomazal posvátný sloup a kde jsi mi učinil slib. Teď vstaň, odejdi z této země a navrať se do své rodné země. 14Ráchel a Lea mu odpověděly: Máme snad ještě dědičný podíl v domě svého otce? 15Cožpak nás nepovažuje za cizinky? Vždyť nás prodal a peníze dočista utratil! 16Ano, všechno bohatství, které Bůh odňal našemu otci, patří nám a našim dětem. Nyní tedy udělej všechno, co ti Bůh řekl. 17Nato Jákob vstal, posadil své děti a ženy na velbloudy 18a sehnal všechen svůj dobytek a všechen svůj majetek, jejž nabyl, dobytek a zboží, které nabyl v Paddan-aramu, aby šel ke svému otci Izákovi do kenaanské země. 19Když Lában odešel stříhat ovce, Ráchel ukradla domácí bůžky, které patřily jejímu otci. 20A Jákob oklamal Aramejce Lábana, když mu neoznámil, že utíká. 21Tak utekl se vším, co měl. Vstal, přebrodil Řeku a vydal se směrem ke gileádskému pohoří. 22Třetího dne bylo Lábanovi oznámeno, že Jákob utekl. 23Tedy vzal s sebou své příbuzné, po sedm dní ho pronásledoval a dostihl ho v gileádském pohoří. 24K Aramejci Lábanovi přišel ve snu v noci Bůh a řekl mu: Měj se na pozoru, abys nepromlouval k Jákobovi ani dobro ani zlo. 25Lában dostihl Jákoba, když Jákob postavil svůj stan na hoře. I Lában se svými příbuznými tábořil v gileádském pohoří. 26Lában se Jákoba zeptal: Cos to udělal, žes mne oklamal a mé dcery jsi odvedl jako válečné zajatce? 27Proč jsi potají utekl a oklamals mne? Neoznámils mi to, abych tě mohl propustit s radostí a zpěvy, s tamburínou a lyrou! 28Ani jsi mě nenechal políbit mé vnuky a dcery. Tentokrát bylo tvé jednání bláznivé. 29Je v mé moci naložit s vámi zle. Ale včera mi Bůh vašeho otce řekl: Měj se na pozoru, abys nepromlouval k Jákobovi ani dobro ani zlo. 30Když už jsi chtěl odejít, protože jsi velice toužil po otcovském domě, proč jsi ukradl mé bohy? 31Jákob na to Lábanovi odpověděl: Protože jsem se bál, neboť jsem si myslel, abys mi neuchvátil své dcery. 32U koho najdeš své bohy, ten nezůstane naživu. Před našimi příbuznými prozkoumej, co tvého je u mne, a vezmi si to. Jákob totiž nevěděl, že je Ráchel ukradla. 33Lában tedy vešel do stanu Jákobova, do stanu Leina, i do stanu obou služebnic, ale nic nenašel. Pak vyšel z Leina stanu a vešel do stanu Ráchelina. 34Ráchel však vzala domácí bůžky, vložila je do velbloudího sedla a posadila se na ně. Lában prohledal celý stan, ale nic nenašel. 35Ráchel řekla svému otci: Ať se můj pán nerozzlobí, že nemohu ve tvé přítomnosti povstat, protože mám to, co mívají ženy. Vše prohledal, ale domácí bůžky nenašel. 36Tu Jákob vzplanul hněvem a začal se s Lábanem přít. Říkal mu: Jaké je mé přestoupení? Jaký je můj hřích, žes mě tak pronásledoval? 37Když jsi prohledal všechny mé věci, cos ze všech svých věcí našel? Polož to sem před bratry mé i bratry své, ať mezi námi dvěma rozsoudí! 38Těchto dvacet let jsem u tebe. Tvé ovce ani kozy nepotratily, berany z tvého stáda jsem nejídal. 39Rozsápané zvíře jsem ti nepřinášel, sám jsem nesl ztrátu; vyžadoval jsi ode mne to, co bylo ukradeno ve dne i co bylo ukradeno v noci. 40Ve dne mě stravovalo horko a v noci mráz, spánek prchal od mých očí. 41To bylo mých dvacet let ve tvém domě: Čtrnáct let jsem ti otročil za tvé dvě dcery a šest let za tvůj brav, ale mou mzdu jsi změnil desetkrát. 42Kdyby Bůh mého otce, Bůh Abrahamův a strach Izákův nebyl se mnou, propustil bys mě teď s prázdnou. Bůh viděl mé soužení a námahu mých rukou a včera rozsoudil. 43Lában na to Jákobovi odpověděl: Tyto dcery jsou moje dcery a tyto děti jsou moje děti, tento brav je můj brav a všechno, co vidíš, je mé. Ale co mohu dnes udělat pro tyto své dcery nebo pro děti, které porodily? 44Nuže pojď, já a ty uzavřeme smlouvu, a bude na svědectví mezi mnou a tebou. 45Jákob tedy vzal kámen a vztyčil ho jako pamětní sloup. 46Pak řekl svým bratrům: Nasbírejte kameny. Vybrali kameny, udělali hromadu a tam na té hromadě pojedli. 47Lában ji nazval Jegar-sahaduta a Jákob ji nazval Gal-ed. 48A Lában řekl: Tato hromada je dnes svědectvím mezi mnou a tebou. Proto se jmenuje Gal-ed, 49a také Mispa, neboť řekl: Ať Hospodin drží hlídku mezi mnou a tebou, až budeme jeden před druhým ukryti. 50Jestliže budeš mé dcery pokořovat nebo si vezmeš ženy mimo mé dcery, byť by nikdo nebyl s námi, pohleď, Bůh je svědkem mezi mnou a tebou! 51Lában ještě řekl Jákobovi: Viz tuto hromadu a viz pamětní sloup, jež jsem vztyčil mezi sebou a tebou. 52Svědkem je tato hromada a svědkem je ten pamětní sloup, že já tuto hromadu nepřekročím ke zlému k tobě, a že ty tuto hromadu a tento pamětní sloup nepřekročíš ke zlému ke mně. 53Ať Bůh Abrahamův a Bůh Náchorův, Bůh jejich otce soudí mezi námi! A Jákob přísahal při strachu svého otce Izáka. 54Pak Jákob obětoval na hoře oběť a zavolal své příbuzné, aby jedli chléb. Jedli chléb a přenocovali na té hoře.
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.
