And Laban answered and said unto Jacob,.... Not denying the truth of what he had said, nor acknowledging any fault he had been guilty of, or asking forgiveness for it, though he seemed to be convicted in his own conscience of it:[these] daughters [are] my daughters: though thy wives, they are my own flesh and blood, and must be dear to me; so pretending strong natural affections for them:and [these] children [are] my children; his grandchildren, for whom also he professed great love and affection:and [these] cattle [are] my cattle; or of my cattle, as the Targum of Jonathan, sprung from them, as indeed they did:and all that thou seest [is] mine; all this he observed in a bragging way, that it might be thought that he was generous in not insisting upon having it, but giving all back to Jacob again:and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
Bible Commentary
Genesis 31:43
Genesis 31:43
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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Genesis 31 — OverviewGenesis 31 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleJacob was a very honest good man, a man of great devotion and
integrity, yet he had more trouble and vexation than any of the
patriarchs. He left his father's house in a fright, went to his uncle's
in distress,…Genesis 31 — OverviewGenesis 31 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeGenesis 31:1, Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly; Genesis 31:19, Rachel steals her father’s images; Genesis 31:22, Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong; Genesis 31:34,…Genesis 31 — OverviewGenesis 31 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter relates how that Jacob observing that Laban and his sons envied his prosperity, and having a call from God to return to his own country, acquaints his wives with it; and reports to them Laban's ill usage of…Genesis 31:22-44Genesis 31:22-44 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION
Genesis 31:22, Genesis 31:23
And it was told Laban on the third day—i.e. the third after Jacob's departure, the distance between the two sheep-stations being a three days' journey (vide Genesis 30:36)—that…Genesis 31:22-44Genesis 31:22-44 · The Pulpit CommentaryLaban's pursuit of Jacob.
I. THE HOSTILE PREPARATION. Learning of his son-in-law's departure, Laban at once determines on pursuit; not alone for the purpose of recovering his household gods, but chiefly with the view…Genesis 31:43-55Genesis 31:43-55 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob.
Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance: he could
neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, but was convicted by his own…