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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Genesis 31:21

The river. — The Euphrates.

Mount Gilead. — Gilead, the region of rock, was the mountainous frontier between the Aramean and Canaanite races. The form of the word is so remote from ordinary Hebrew that we have in it, probably, a very old appellation of this region; and Jacob apparently plays upon it in his name Galeed (Genesis 31:47).

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See also Genesis 31:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 31:21. _PASSED OVER THE RIVER_] The _Euphrates_, as the Targum properly notices. But how could he pass such a river with his flocks, c.? This difficulty does not seem to have struck cri...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob’s Flight from Haran 19. תרפים _t__e__rāpı̂ym_, Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 31 JACOB'S SERVITUDE ENDED AND FLIGHT FROM LABAN _ 1. Laban's behavior and God's commandment (Genesis 31:1)_ 2. The dream vision to return to the land (Genesis 31:11) 3. Jacob's flight (Gen...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S FLIGHT. This section is, for the most part, from E, Genesis 31:1; Genesis 31:3 are from J, Genesis 31:18 (after cattle) from P. Jacob realises from the words of Laban's sons (J) and the altere...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE RIVER. the Euphrates. Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of the Genus). GILEAD. perpetual fountain. Compare Numbers 32:1; Numbers 32:39; Deuteronomy 3:12;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _the River_ i.e. _the Euphrates_. See note on Genesis 15:18. Cf. Psalms 72:8, "from the River unto the ends of the earth." "Haran" (Genesis 24:4) was Laban's home. _toward the mountain of Gilead_ i.e....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART FORTY-TWO THE STORY OF JACOB: HIS RETURN TO CANAAN (Genesis 31:17 to Genesis 33:20) 1. _The Covenant in Gilead: The Biblical Account_ (Genesis 31:17-55)_._ 17 Then Jacob rose up, an

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _SO HE FLED WITH ALL THAT HE HAD; AND HE ROSE UP, AND PASSED OVER THE RIVER, AND SET HIS FACE TOWARD THE MOUNT GILEAD._ Passed over the river, х_ HANAAHAAR_ (H5104)] - the Euphrates....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S RETURN FROM HARAN 4-13. Jacob attributes his prosperity to God's favour. 14-16. Rachel and Leah point out that their father had no claim on them, since Jacob had won them by his services, an...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE RIVER] the Euphrates. GILEAD] Hebrew territory E. of the Jordan....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Gilead is east of the country that is called *Canaan. Gilead is east of the river Jordan. LABAN CHASES JACOB V22 Two days later, people told Laban that Jacob had run away. V23 So Laban set out and...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 31 GOD TELLS JACOB TO RETURN V1 Laban’s sons said, ‘Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father. He has gained all his wealth from our father...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְ כָל ־אֲשֶׁר ־לֹ֔ו

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB LEAVES LABAN Genesis 31:1 Jacob was a remarkable mixture. He had an eminently religious nature, and had intimate dealings with God. Note Genesis 31:3; Genesis 31:5;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the midst of Jacob's success the second divine communication came to him, commanding him to return to the land of his fathers and giving him the promise, "I will be with thee." Thus, after at least...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JACOB DECIDES TO LEAVE LABAN Laban and his sons eventually began to see Jacob as a drain on their flocks. Laban ceased to believe God was blessing him because of Jacob (Genesis 30:27). So, God told hi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _The river Euphrates. --- Galaad, as it was called afterwards, ver. 48. (Menochius)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe: the parting of graceless acquaintances is of this kind, in songs and merriment. But gracious souls, when the Lord in his providence calls upon them to separate, take leave of one another in p...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SO HE FLED WITH ALL THAT HE HAD,.... His wives, his children, cattle and substance; AND HE ROSE UP, AND PASSED OVER THE RIVER; the river Euphrates, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, which lay b...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face [toward] the mount Gilead. Ver. 21. _He passed over the river._] Euphrates; and so declined the ordinary w...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob vpon displeasure departeth secretly. 19 Rachel stealeth her fathers images. 22 Laban pursueth after him, 26 and complaineth of the wrong. 34 Rachels policie to hide the images. 36 Iacobs...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the Mount Gilead. He forded the Euphrates, and then turned directly southwest toward Mount Gilead, o...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Jacob Flees and is Pursued by Laban...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FOURTH SECTION _Jacob’s flight. Laban’s persecution. The covenant between the two on the mountain of Gilead. Departure._ GENESIS 31:4 TO GENESIS 32:2 , 4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S SECRET DEPARTURE The prosperity of Jacob could not but awaken the envy of Laban's sons. Jacob had gained all of this through his caring for their father's sheep: now the majority of the sheep...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-21 The affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible teaches people the common du...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE RIVER Euphrates, which lay between Mesopotamia and Chaldea, GENESIS 15:18, which for its largeness and famousness is oft called the river emphatically, as EXODUS 23:31 JOSHUA 24:2,3, &c. And set h...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 31:21 fled H1272 (H8799) arose H6965 (H8799) crossed H5674 (H8799) river H5104 headed H7760 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB IS COMMANDED BY YAHWEH TO RETURN HOME AND TRIES TO SLIP AWAY (31:1-21). Genesis 31:1 ‘And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and he h...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob's resolution to return. Laban's hot pursuit; their quarrel and final agreement. CHARACTERS: Laban, Jacob, Rachael, Leah. CONCLUSION: The safety of believers under trying circumstance...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 31:1. _He heard the words of Laban's sons._ Three causes are assigned for Jacob's abrupt removal: first, the bitter reproaches of Laban's sons: secondly, the consequent change in the countenan...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then Jacob rose up._ LESSONS 1. Concurrence of all things with the call of God points out the time of man’s obedience to him. 2. He that hath God’s call for himself and others to any undertaking s...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 31:21 HILL COUNTRY OF GILEAD. The region lies east of the Jordan River, several hundred miles south of Paddan-aram. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 31:19 Fearful that Laban will prevent him from leaving Paddan-aram, Jacob escapes when his father-in-law is away shearing sheep. When Laban discovers what has happened, he purs...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 31:7. Changed my wages ten times.] Probably to be understood as a round number, meaning any number of times—as often as he could. The expression “ten times” is used for frequ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 31:1 AND HE—Jacob had now served twenty years with Laban, and must accordingly have been in his ninety-seventh or seventy-seventh year (_vide_ Genesis 27:1)—HEARD THE WORDS OF LABA...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and all that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory (Genesis 31:1). In other words, they...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    passed. Genesis 2:14 Genesis 15:18 Joshua 24:2 Joshua 24:3 set his. Genesis 46:

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How could God bless Rachel when she stole Laban’s idols and then lied to him about it? PROBLEM: Genesis 31:32 makes the statement that Jacob did not know that “Rachel had stolen” Laban’s idols. Howev...

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