Genesis 31:43-55

The Covenant of Mizpah

43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and 1the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?
44 "So now come, let us 2make a covenant, you and I, and 3let it be a witness between you and me."
45 Then Jacob took 4a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46 Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
47 Now Laban 5called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, "6This heap is a witness between you and me this day." Therefore * it was named * Galeed,
49 and 7Mizpah, for he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.
50 "If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, 8God is witness between you and me."
51 Laban said to Jacob, "Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me.
52 "This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
53 "9The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, 10judge between us." So Jacob swore by 11the fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob 12offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal *; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.
55 Early in the morning Laban arose, and 13kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Genesis 31:43-55 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 31

This 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 him, and the wonderful appearance of God to him, and for him, and his orders to him to depart from thence, Ge 31:1-13; to which they agreed, knowing full well their father's unkindness, and that they had nothing to expect from him, and therefore judged it best to go off with what they had got through the gift of God unto them, Ge 31:14-16; upon which Jacob set out privately, with all he had, towards his own country, while Laban was shearing his sheep, Ge 31:17-21; three days after, Laban, being informed of it, pursued after Jacob, and overtook him at Mount Gilead; but was warned by the way to be cautious what he said to him, Ge 31:22-25; yet nevertheless he warmly expostulated with him about his secret flight, not giving him the opportunity of taking his leave of his children, and especially for taking away his gods, Ge 31:26-30; to which Jacob gave an answer, Ge 31:31-35; and in his turn was warm likewise, and chided Laban severely for his hot pursuit of him, his charge of stealth, when he could find nothing on him, his hard labour for the space of twenty years with him, and his ill requital of him for it, Ge 31:36-42; however, upon the whole, an amicable agreement was made between them, and they parted in a friendly manner, Ge 31:43-55.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Genesis 31:1
  • 2. Genesis 21:27, 32; Genesis 26:28
  • 3. Joshua 24:27
  • 4. Genesis 28:18; Joshua 24:26, 27
  • 5. Joshua 22:34
  • 6. Joshua 24:27
  • 7. Judges 11:29; 1 Samuel 7:5, 6
  • 8. Jeremiah 29:23; Jeremiah 42:5
  • 9. Genesis 28:13
  • 10. Genesis 16:5
  • 11. Genesis 31:42
  • 12. Exodus 18:12
  • 13. Genesis 31:28, 43

Footnotes 15

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