Genesis 31:45-55

45 And Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, "Gather stones"; and they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there upon the heap.

47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha [that is, The heap of witness], but Jacob called it Galeed.

48 And Laban said, "This heap is a witness between me and thee this day." Therefore was the name of it called Galeed,

49 and Mizpah [that is, A beacon or watchtower]; for he said, "The LORD watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another.

50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives besides my daughters, no man is with us--see, God is witness between me and thee!"

51 And Laban said to Jacob, "Behold this heap and behold this pillar, which I have cast between me and thee.

52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass beyond this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread; and they ate bread, and tarried all night on the mount.

55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. And Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

Genesis 31:45-55 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.