Genesis 31:18

18 and he took all his cattle, (and his) flocks, and whatever thing he had gotten in Mesopotamia (and whatever he had gotten in Paddan-aram), and went (back) to Isaac, his father, into the land of Canaan.

Genesis 31:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:18

And he carried away all his cattle
His sheep, camels, and asses: the Jews say F25 he had 5,500 head of cattle: and all the goods which he had gotten:
all the rest besides his cattle; his menservants, and maidservants, and all his gold and his silver, and whatsoever else he had: the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram:
or Mesopotamia: this seems to be purposely observed, to show that he took nothing but what was his own getting, not anything that belonged to Laban: for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan;
but it was some years before he got to his father's house, staying at several places by the way. No mention is made of his mother Rebekah, she perhaps being now dead.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Pirke Eliezer, c. 37. fol. 41.

Genesis 31:18 In-Context

16 But God took away the riches of our father, and gave those to us, and to our sons; wherefore do thou all things which God hath commanded to thee.
17 Forsooth Jacob rose, and put his free children and wives on camels, and went forth; (So Jacob rose up, and put his children and his wives on camels, and went forth;)
18 and he took all his cattle, (and his) flocks, and whatever thing he had gotten in Mesopotamia (and whatever he had gotten in Paddan-aram), and went (back) to Isaac, his father, into the land of Canaan.
19 In that time Laban went to shear sheep, and Rachel stole the idols of her father. (Now at that time Laban went out to shear sheep, and while he was away, Rachel stole her father's household idols.)
20 And Jacob would not acknowledge to the father of his wives, that he would flee;
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.