Genesis 28:5

5 And when Isaac had let go Jacob, Jacob went forth, and came into Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bethuel of Syria, the brother of Rebecca, his mother. (And so when Isaac had let Jacob go, he went forth, and came to Paddan-aram, and to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of his mother Rebecca.)

Genesis 28:5 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 28:5

And Isaac sent away Jacob
From Beersheba; not in anger, or in a dishonourable way, but took his leave of him no doubt in an affectionate manner; as it is clear he went with his blessing, and had his good wishes for a prosperous journey: and he went to Padanaram;
which from Beersheba, according to some ^F8, was four hundred and eighty miles: unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian;
some versions make Laban to be the Syrian, others Bethuel; it is a matter of no great moment which is here so called, since they were both called Syrians, see ( Genesis 25:20 ) : the brother of Rebekah;
this refers to Laban, for Bethuel was her father: Jacob's and Esau's mother;
Jacob is set first, not only as being most beloved by his mother, but as now having the birthright and the blessing.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Bunting's Travels, p. 72.

Genesis 28:5 In-Context

3 Soothly Almighty God bless thee (And may Almighty God bless thee), and make thee to increase, and multiply thee, (so) that thou be into companies of peoples;

4 and God give to thee the blessing of Abraham, and to thy seed after thee, that thou wield the land of thy pilgrimage, which he promised to thy grand-sire. (and may God give thee the blessing of Abraham, and thy descendants after thee, so that thou possessest this land where thou art now living, which he promised to thy grandfather.)

5 And when Isaac had let go Jacob, Jacob went forth, and came into Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bethuel of Syria, the brother of Rebecca, his mother. (And so when Isaac had let Jacob go, he went forth, and came to Paddan-aram, and to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of his mother Rebecca.)

6 Forsooth Esau saw that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent him (away) into Mesopotamia of Syria, that he should wed a wife of thence, and that after the blessing he commanded to Jacob, and said, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; (And Esau saw that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent him away to Paddan-aram, so that he would wed a wife from there, and that after his blessing he had commanded to Jacob, and said, Thou shalt not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan;)

7 and that Jacob obeyed to his father and mother, and went into Syria; (and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother, and had gone away to Paddan-aram;)