And Jacob fled into the country of Syria
Or, "field of Syria" F13; the same with Padanaram; for
"Padan", in the Arabic language, as Bochart has shown, signifies
a field; and "Aram" is Syria, and is the word here used. This is
to be understood of Jacob's fleeing thither for fear of his
brother Esau, the history of which is had in (
Genesis 28:1-29:35 ) ; though some interpret this of his
fleeing from Laban out of the field of Syria into Gilead, (
Genesis
31:21 Genesis
31:23 ) ; and so make it to be introduced as an aggravation
of the sin of the inhabitants of Gilead, that that place, which
had been a refuge and sanctuary to their ancestor in his
distress, should be defiled with idolatry; but the words will not
bear such a construction, and the following seem to militate
against it: and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he
kept [sheep];
and so the last clause is supplied by the Targum, Jarchi, and
Kimchi: this was after his flight into Syria, and before he fled
from Laban, whom he served seven years for Rachel; and then
served him by keeping his sheep seven years more for the same:
though it may be understood of his two wives, thus; he served
seven years for a wife, for Rachel intentionally, but eventually
it was for Leah; and then he kept sheep seven years more for his
other wife Rachel; the history of this is in ( Genesis
29:1-35 ) . This is mentioned to show the meanness of Jacob
the ancestor of the Israelites, from whom they had their original
and name; he was a fugitive in the land of Syria; there he was a
Syrian ready to perish, a very poor man, obliged to serve and
keep sheep for a wife, having no dowry to give; and this is
observed here to bring, down the pride of Israel, who boasted of
their descent, which is weak and foolish for any to do; and to
show the goodness of God to Jacob, and to them, in raising him
and them from so low an estate and condition to such eminency and
greatness as they were; and to upbraid their ingratitude to the
God of their fathers, and of their mercies, whom they had
revolted from, and turned to idols.