Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) >  Genesis >  Exposition >  II. PATRIARCHAL NARRATIVES 11:27--50:26 >  C. What became of Isaac 25:19-35:29 >  10. Jacob's flight from Haran ch. 31 > 
Jacob's departure for Canaan 31:1-21 
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God had been faithful in blessing Jacob as He had promised Abraham and Isaac. Moses recorded the testimony to that fact in this section. Jacob acknowledged that God was responsible for his prosperity. God's goodness and His command to return to the Promised Land (v. 3), as well as Laban's growing hostility (v. 5), motivated Jacob to leave Paddan-aram.

It is unclear from what Jacob reported to his wives when the Angel of God appeared to him in the dream (vv. 10-13). This may have occurred before or at the same time as the revelation referred to earlier in this passage. It seems likely, however, that this was the same revelation, God's second to Jacob.

In this revelation Jacob learned that God had been responsible for his becoming richer (v. 12). Jacob credited God with this and with his own survival (vv. 5, 7).

The increasing antagonism of Laban's household encouraged Jacob to obey God's command to return to the Promised Land (vv. 1-2).

31:1-16 "The true character of Laban is clearly seen from the fact that his daughters entirely sided with Jacob against their own father . . . . They too had experienced their father's selfishness and greed, and were ready to approve of their husband's project and to go with him."716

31:17-21 "Rachel's theft of her father's idols [teraphim] . . . reflects the Hurrian custom of keeping household gods. . . . Nevertheless, the real significance of what she did, and perhaps the reason for the theft, lies in the fact that according to the Nuzi tablets he who possessed the household gods was the legitimate heir."717

Other writers, however, dispute this significance of the household gods at this time as well as Rachel's motivation.

"The supposed role of the teraphim . . . as constituting the title-deeds to inheritances . . . seems also to be fallacious; . . . . Rachel simply took them for her own protection and blessing."718

These gods were usually small figurines (two to three inches long), sometimes carried on the body as charms, many of which archaeologists have discovered. They may have represented departed ancestors or gods that their makers venerated.719Rachel may also have hoped they would make her a fruitful mother.720

"It is curious that Rachel, and not Leah should have almost always turned out to be Jacob's greatest hindrance in life."721

The writer identified Jacob's deception as such when he fled from Paddan-aram (v. 20).



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