Genesis 31:18

18 He drove all his livestock ahead of him and took all the possessions that he had accumulated. He took his own livestock that he had accumulated in Paddan Aram and went back to his father Isaac in Canaan.

Genesis 31:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:18

And he carried away all his cattle
His sheep, camels, and asses: the Jews say F25 he had 5,500 head of cattle: and all the goods which he had gotten:
all the rest besides his cattle; his menservants, and maidservants, and all his gold and his silver, and whatsoever else he had: the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram:
or Mesopotamia: this seems to be purposely observed, to show that he took nothing but what was his own getting, not anything that belonged to Laban: for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan;
but it was some years before he got to his father's house, staying at several places by the way. No mention is made of his mother Rebekah, she perhaps being now dead.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Pirke Eliezer, c. 37. fol. 41.

Genesis 31:18 In-Context

16 Certainly, all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. Now do whatever God has told you."
17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels.
18 He drove all his livestock ahead of him and took all the possessions that he had accumulated. He took his own livestock that he had accumulated in Paddan Aram and went back to his father Isaac in Canaan.
19 When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's idols.
20 Jacob also tricked Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was leaving.
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