Genesis 31 - Torah Teaching

(Gen 31:1)  And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying: 'Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this wealth.'

(Gen 31:2)  And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime.

(Gen 31:3)  And the ETERNAL said unto Jacob: 'Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.'

(Gen 31:4)  And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

Targum of Johnthan

And Jakob sent Naphtali, who was a swift mes-senger, and he called Rahel and Leah, and they came into the field unto his flock.

Book of Yasher 31

32 And Jacob had two hundred drove of cattle, and his cattle were of large size and of beautiful appearance and were very productive, and all the families of the sons of men desired to get some of the cattle of Jacob, for they were exceedingly prosperous.

33 And many of the sons of men came to procure some of Jacob's flock, and Jacob gave them a sheep for a man servant or a maid servant or for an ass or a camel, or whatever Jacob desired from them they gave him.

34 And Jacob obtained riches and honor and possessions by means of these transactions with the sons of men, and the children of Laban envied him of this honor.

NOTE* He has gotten all this glory. And what was this glory that they made so much ado about? Men's over-valuing worldly wealth is that fundamental error which is the root of covetousness, envy, and all evil. As if what he had he had not gotten honestly: Jacob has taken away all that was our father's. Not all, surely. What had become of those cattle which were committed to the custody of Laban's sons, and sent three days' journey off? (Gen 30:35; Gen 30:36)  Envy is a sin that often appears in the countenance; hence we read of an evil eye, Prov. 23:6.

(Gen 31:5)  and said unto them: 'I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the Elohim of my father hath been with me.

Targum of Johnthan

And Jakob observed the looks of Laban and, behold, they were not peaceful toward him as yesterday and as before it. And the Sovereign said to Jakob, Return to the land of thy fathers, and to thy native place; and My Word shall be for thy help.

NOTE* The  "J" document does not mention the changing of wages or the dream. It relates only what the ETERNAL spoke to Yaacov, followed by Yaacov's obedience to what the ETERNAL spoke!

(Gen 31:14)  And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him: 'Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

(Gen 31:15)  Are we not accounted by him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our price.

(Gen 31:16)  For all the riches which Elohim hath taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatsoever the ETERNAL hath said unto thee, do.'

NOTE* The bride price that Yaacov paid went to Laban and there was nothing given to the daughters. The dowry should have been theirs to live on if anything happened in the marriage. However, Laban kept the bride price and gave nothing to the daughters. Hence, they felt as if they had been "Sold".

Gen 31:17  Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon the camels;

Gen 31:18  and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father unto the land of Canaan.

Book of Jubilees chapter 31

XXIX. And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Laban went to shear his sheep; for they were distant from him a three days' journey. 2. And Jacob saw that Laban was going to shear his sheep, and Jacob called Leah and Rachel, and spake kindly unto them that they should come with him to the land of Canaan. 3. For he told them how he had seen everything in a dream, even all that He had spoken unto him that he should return to his father's house; and they said: "To every place whither thou goest we will go with thee." 4. And Jacob blessed the Elohim of Isaac his father, and the Elohim of Abraham his father's father, and he arose and mounted his wives and his children, and took all his possessions and crossed the river, and came to the land of Gilead, and Jacob hid  his intention from Laban and told him not. 5. And in the seventh year of the fourth week Jacob turned (his face) toward Gilead in the first month, on the twenty-first thereof.

NOTE* The last day of Unleavened Bread!

Gen 31:19  Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep. And Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.

Book of Yasher chapter 31

40 And Rachel stole her father's images, and she took them and she concealed them upon the camel upon which she sat, and she went on.

41 And this is the manner of the images; in taking a man who is the first born and slaying him and taking the hair off his head, and taking salt and salting the head and anointing it in oil, then taking a small tablet of copper or a tablet of gold and writing the name upon it, and placing the tablet under his tongue, and taking the head with the tablet under the tongue and putting it in the house, and lighting up lights before it and bowing down to it.

42 And at the time when they bow down to it, it speaketh to them in all matters that they ask of it, through the power of the name which is written in it.

43 And some make them in the figures of men, of gold and silver, and go to them in times known to them, and the figures receive the influence of the stars, and tell them future things, and in this manner were the images which Rachel stole from her father.

44 And Rachel stole these images which were her father's, in order that Laban might not know through them where Jacob had gone.

(Gen 31:22)  And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

(Gen 31:23)  And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and he overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.

(Gen 31:24)  And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said unto him: 'Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.'

(Gen 31:25)  And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain; and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountain of Gilead.

Book of Jubilees

And Laban pursued after him and overtook Jacob in the mountain of Gilead in the third month, on the thirteenth thereof. 6. And the Lord did not suffer him to injure Jacob; for He appeared to him in a dream by night. And Laban spake to Jacob, 7. And on the fifteenth of those days Jacob made a feast for Laban, and for all who came with him, and Jacob sware to Laban that day, and Laban also to Jacob, that neither should cross the mountain of Gilead to the other with evil purpose.

This would be about 54 days from the time Yaacov left until the time Laban caught up to him. Haran is 350 miles from Gilead. A caravan would travel much slower than an indivisual. Laban caught up with Yaacov in the mountain of Gilead, which means Yaacov could have been there for awhile. Laban certainly had to get things together before he could leave to follow Yaacov.

NOTE* SHAVUOT! THE TIME FOR COVENANT MAKING!

(Gen 31:30)  And now that thou art surely gone, because thou sore longest after thy father's house, wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?'

(Gen 31:31)  And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'Because I was afraid; for I said: Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

(Gen 31:32)  With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live; before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee.' - For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. -

(Gen 31:33)  And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two maid-servants; but he found them not. And he went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

(Gen 31:34)  Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, and put them in the saddle of the camel, and sat upon them. And Laban felt about all the tent, but found them not.

NOTE* Laban did not check the flock for stolen sheep, but the furniture for his gods. Yaacov unknowingly spoke that day the early death of Rachel who die not long after in the birthing of Benyamin. (Genesis 35:18)