Genesis 28:5

5 So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Bunting's Travels, p. 72.

Genesis 28:5 In-Context

3 "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples;

4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."

5 So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

6 Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,"

7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram.