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Genesis Chapter 31

Jacob Leaves for Canaan; Laban Pursues Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.

31 1 Job 5:2; Psa 49:16; Jam 3:8; Tit 3:3 A1And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.

2 Gen 4:5; Deu 28:45; 1 Sam 19:7 2And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

3 Gen 32:9; Gen 28:15 3And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

5 Gen 31:2; Gen 21:22; Isa 41:10; Heb 13:5 5And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

6 Gen 30:29 6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

7 Psa 7:10; Psa 20:1; Psa 62:2 7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

8 Gen 30:32 8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

9 Gen 31:1; Gen 31:16 9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

11 Gen 48:16 11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

12 Eph 6:9; Psa 12:5; Deu 24:15; Exo 3:7 12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

13 Gen 28:18; Gen 31:3; Gen 32:9 13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

14 Gen 2:24 14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

15 Gen 29:15 15Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

16For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

17¶Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

18And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Rachel steals her father's household gods.

19 Gen 35:2; Jdg 17:5; 1 Sam 19:13 19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

20And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

21 Luk 9:51; 2 Kin 12:17; Gen 46:28 21So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.

22And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

23 Gen 13:8 23And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24 Gen 20:3; Job 33:15; Mat 1:20; Gen 24:50 24And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

25¶Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26 1 Sam 30:2 26And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

27Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

28 2 Chr 16:9; 1 Sam 13:13; Act 20:37 28And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

29 Gen 31:24; Psa 115:9; Psa 84:11; Psa 5:11-12; Gen 28:13 29It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30 Act 19:26; Jer 10:3-5; Isa 44:10-20; Psa 115:4-9 30And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32 Gen 44:9 32With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. Rachel's plan to hide the images.

34Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 Gen 31:19; Eph 6:1; Lev 19:32; Exo 20:12 35And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. Jacob's complaint of Laban.

36 Eph 4:26 36¶And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?

37 1 Sam 12:3; 1 Cor 6:5 37Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

38This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

39 Exo 22:12; Exo 22:10 39That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

40Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

41 Gen 29:27; Gen 31:7 41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

42 Jud 1:9; 1 Chr 12:17; Exo 3:7; Gen 29:32; Isa 8:13; Gen 31:53 42Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.

43¶And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44 Gen 26:28; Jos 24:27 44Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

45 Gen 28:18 45And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

47And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

48 Jos 24:27 48And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;

49 Jdg 11:29; 1 Sam 7:5 49And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

50If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

51And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;

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

53 Gen 16:5; Gen 21:23 53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

54Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

55 Gen 28:1; Gen 28:1 55And 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.

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Introduction to Genesis
by John MacArthur

Title

The English title, Genesis, comes from the Greek translation (Septuagint, LXX)¹ meaning “origins”; whereas, the Hebrew title is derived from the Bible’s very first word, translated “in the beginning.” Genesis serves to introduce the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the OT) and the entire Bible. The influence of Genesis in Scripture is demonstrated by its being quoted over 35 times in the NT and hundreds of allusions appearing in both Testaments. The story line of salvation which begins in Gen 3 is not completed until Rev 21, 22 where the eternal kingdom of redeemed believers is gloriously pictured.

Author and Date

While 1) the author does not identify himself in Genesis and 2) Genesis ends almost 3 centuries before Moses was born, both the OT (Ex 17:14; Num 33:2; Josh 8:31; 1 Kin. 2:3; 2 Kin 14:6; Ezra 6:18; Neh 13:1; Dan 9:11, 13; Mal 4:4) and the NT (Matt 8:4; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:29; 24:27, 44; John 5:46; 7:22; Acts 15:1; Rom 10:19; 1 Cor. 9:9; 2 Cor 3:15) ascribe this composition to Moses, who is the fitting author in light of his educational background (cf. Acts 7:22). No compelling reasons have been forthcoming to challenge Mosaic authorship. Genesis was written after the Exodus (ca. 1445 B.C.), but before Moses’ death (ca. 1405 B.C.). For a brief biographical sketch of Moses read Ex 1-6.

Background and Setting

The initial setting for Genesis is eternity past. God then, by willful act and divine Word, spoke all creation into existence, furnished it, and finally breathed life into a lump of dirt which He fashioned in His image to become Adam. God made mankind the crowning point of His creation, i.e., His companions who would enjoy fellowship with Him and bring glory to His name. The historical background for the early events in Genesis is clearly Mesopotamian. While it is difficult to pinpoint precisely the historical moment for which this book was written, Israel first heard Genesis sometime prior to crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land (ca. 1405 B.C.). Genesis has 3 distinct, sequential geographical settings: 1) Mesopotamia (chaps. 1-11); 2) the Promised Land (chaps. 12-36); and 3) Egypt (chaps. 37-50). The time frames of these 3 segments are: 1) Creation to ca. 2090 B.C.; 2) 2090-1897 B.C.; and 3) 1897-1804 B.C. Genesis covers more time than the remaining books of the Bible combined.

Historical and Theological Themes

In this book of beginnings, God revealed Himself and a worldview to Israel which contrasted, at times sharply, with the worldview of Israel’s neighbors. The author made no attempt to defend the existence of God or to present a systematic discussion of His person and works. Rather, Israel’s God distinguished Himself clearly from the alleged gods of her neighbors. Theological foundations are revealed which include God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, man, sin, redemption, covenant, promise, Satan and angels, kingdom, revelation, Israel, judgment, and blessing.

Genesis 1-11 (primeval history) reveals the origins of the universe, i.e., the beginnings of time and space and many of the firsts in human experience, such as marriage, family, the Fall, sin, redemption, judgment, and nations. Genesis 12-50 (patriarchal history) explained to Israel how they came into existence as a family whose ancestry could be traced to Eber (hence the “Hebrews”; Gen 10:24, 25) and even more remotely to Shem, the son of Noah (hence the “Semites”; Gen 10:21). God’s people came to understand not only their ancestry and family history, but also the origins of their institutions, customs, languages, and different cultures, especially basic human experiences such as sin and death.

Because they were preparing to enter Canaan and dispossess the Canaanite inhabitants of their homes and properties, God revealed their enemies’ background. In addition, they needed to understand the actual basis of the war they were about to declare in light of the immorality of killing, consistent with the other 4 books that Moses was writing (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Ultimately, the Jewish nation would understand a selected portion of preceding world history and the inaugural background of Israel as a basis by which they would live in their new beginnings under Joshua’s leadership in the land which had previously been promised to their original patriarchal forefather, Abraham.

Genesis 12:1-3 established a primary focus on God’s promises to Abraham. This narrowed their view from the entire world of peoples in Gen 1-11 to one small nation, Israel, through whom God would progressively accomplish His redemptive plan. This underscored Israel’s mission to be “a light to the Gentiles” (Is 42:6). God promised land, descendants (seed), and blessing. This 3-fold promise became, in turn, the basis of the covenant with Abraham (Gen 15:1-20). The rest of Scripture bears out the fulfillment of these promises.

On a larger scale, Gen 1-11 set forth a singular message about the character and works of God. In the sequence of accounts which make up these chapters of Scripture, a pattern emerges which reveals God’s abundant grace as He responded to the willful disobedience of mankind. Without exception, in each account God increased the manifestation of His grace. But also without exception, man responded in greater sinful rebellion. In biblical words, the more sin abounded the more did God’s grace abound (cf. Rom 5:20).

One final theme of both theological and historical significance sets Genesis apart from other books of Scripture, in that the first book of Scripture corresponds closely with the final book. In the book of Revelation, the paradise which was lost in Genesis will be regained. The apostle John clearly presented the events recorded in his book as future resolutions to the problems which began as a result of the curse in Gen 3. His focus is upon the effects of the Fall in the undoing of creation and the manner in which God rids His creation of the curse effect. In John’s own words, “And there shall be no more curse” (Rev 22:3). Not surprisingly, in the final chapter of God’s Word, believers will find themselves back in the Garden of Eden, the eternal paradise of God, eating from the tree of life (Rev 22:1-14). At that time, they will partake, wearing robes washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 22:14).

Interpretive Challenges

Grasping the individual messages of Genesis which make up the larger plan and purpose of the book presents no small challenge since both the individual accounts and the book’s overall message offer important lessons to faith and works. Genesis presents creation by divine fiat, ex nihilo, i.e., “out of nothing.” Three traumatic events of epic proportions, namely the Fall, the universal Flood, and the Dispersion of nations are presented as historical backdrop in order to understand world history. From Abraham on, the pattern is to focus on God’s redemption and blessing. The customs of Genesis often differ considerably from those of our modern day. They must be explained against their ancient Near Eastern background. Each custom must be treated according to the immediate context of the passage before any attempt is made to explain it based on customs recorded in extrabiblical sources or even elsewhere in Scripture.

1. LXX Septuagint—an ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek.

Outline of Genesis
by John MacArthur

Genesis by content is comprised of two basic sections: 1) Primitive history (Gen 1-11) and 2) Patriarchal history (Gen 12-50). Primitive history records 4 major events: 1) Creation (Gen 1, 2); 2) the Fall (Gen 3-5); 3) the Flood (Gen 6-9); and 4) the Dispersion (Gen 10, 11). Patriarchal history spotlights 4 great men: 1) Abraham (Gen 12:1-25:8); 2) Isaac (Gen 21:1-35:29); 3) Jacob (Gen 25:21-50:14); and 4) Joseph (Gen 30:22-50:26).

The literary structure of Genesis is built on the frequently recurring phrase “the history/genealogy of” and is the basis for the following outline:

I. The Creation of Heaven and Earth (Gen 1:1-2:3)

II. The Generations of the Heavens and the Earth (Gen 2:4-4:26)

A. Adam and Eve in Eden (Gen 2:4-25)
B. The Fall and Its Outcomes (Gen 3)
C. Murder of a Brother (Gen 4:1-24)
D. Hope in the Descendants of Seth (Gen 4:25, 26)

III. The Generations of Adam (Gen 5:1-6:8)

A. Genealogy—Seth to Noah (Gen 5)
B. Rampant Sin Prior to the Flood (Gen 6:1-8)

IV. The Generations of Noah (Gen 6:9-9:29)

A. Preparation for the Flood (Gen 6:9-7:9)
B. The Flood and Deliverance (Gen 7:10-8:19)
C. God’s Noahic Covenant (Gen 8:20-9:17)
D. The History of Noah’s Descendants (Gen 9:18-29)

V. The Generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 10:1-11:9)

A. The Nations (Gen 10)
B. Dispersion of the Nations (Gen 11:1-9)

VI. The Generations of Shem: Genealogy of Shem to Terah (Gen 11:10-26)

VII. The Generations of Terah (Gen 11:27-25:11)

A. Genealogy (Gen 11:27-32)
B. The Abrahamic Covenant: His Land and People (Gen 12:1-22:19)
1. Journey to the Promised Land (Gen 12:1-9)
2. Redemption from Egypt (Gen 12:10-20)
3. Division of the land (Gen 13)
4. Victory over the kings (Gen 14)
5. The covenant ratified (Gen 15)
6. Rejection of Hagar and Ishmael (Gen 16)
7. The covenant confirmed (Gen 17)
8. Birth of Isaac foretold (Gen 18:1-15)
9. Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:16-19:38)
10. Philistine encounter (Gen 20)
11. Isaac’s birth (Gen 21)
12. Abraham’s act of faith with Isaac (Gen 22:1-19)
C. Abraham’s Promised Seed (Gen 22:20-25:11)
1. Rebekah’s background (Gen 22:20-24)
2. Death of Sarah (Gen 23)
3. Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah (Gen 24)
4. Isaac the only heir (Gen 25:1-6)
5. Death of Abraham (Gen 25:7-11)

VIII. The Generations of Ishmael (Gen 25:12-18)

IX. The Generations of Isaac (Gen 25:19-35:29)

A. Competition Between Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:19-34)
B. Covenant Blessings to Isaac (Gen 26)
C. Jacob’s Deception for the Blessing (Gen 27:1-40)
D. Blessing on Jacob in a Foreign Land (Gen 27:41-32:32)
1. Jacob sent to Laban (Gen 27:41-28:9)
2. Angel at Bethel (Gen 28:10-22)
3. Disagreements with Laban (Gen 29:1-30)
4. Promised seed (Gen 29:31-30:24)
5. Departure from Aram (Gen 30:25-31:55)
6. Angels at Mahanaim and Penuel (Gen 32)
E. Esau’s Reunion and Reconciliation with Jacob (Gen 33:1-17)
F. Events and Deaths from Shechem to Mamre (Gen 33:18-35:29)

X. The Generations of Esau (Gen 36:1-37:1)

XI. The Generations of Jacob (Gen 37:2-50:26)

A. Joseph’s Dreams (Gen 37:2-11)
B. Family Tragedy (Gen 37:12-38:30)
C. Vice Regency over Egypt (chaps. 39-41)
D. Reunion with Family (chaps. 42-45)
E. Transition to Exodus (chaps. 46-50)
1. Journey to Egypt (Gen 46:1-27)
2. Occupation in Goshen (Gen 46:28-47:31)
3. Blessings on the twelve tribes (Gen 48:1-49:28)
4. Death and burial of Jacob in Canaan (Gen 49:29-50:14)
5. Death of Joseph in Egypt (Gen 50:15-26)

Introduction to Genesis
by John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Genesis
by John MacArthur

I. The Creation of Heaven and Earth (Gen 1:1-2:3)

II. The Generations of the Heavens and the Earth (Gen 2:4-4:26)

III. The Generations of Adam (Gen 5:1-6:8)

IV. The Generations of Noah (Gen 6:9-9:29)

V. The Generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 10:1-11:9)

VI. The Generations of Shem: Genealogy of Shem to Terah (Gen 11:10-26)

VII. The Generations of Terah (Gen 11:27-25:11)

VIII. The Generations of Ishmael (Gen 25:12-18)

IX. The Generations of Isaac (Gen 25:19-35:29)

X. The Generations of Esau (Gen 36:1-37:1)

XI. The Generations of Jacob (Gen 37:2-50:26)

The 1440 Agenda

Remembering Marcy

Study Bible

Introduction to Genesisby John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Genesisby John MacArthur

I. The Creation of Heaven and Earth (Gen 1:1-2:3)

II. The Generations of the Heavens and the Earth (Gen 2:4-4:26)

III. The Generations of Adam (Gen 5:1-6:8)

IV. The Generations of Noah (Gen 6:9-9:29)

V. The Generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 10:1-11:9)

VI. The Generations of Shem: Genealogy of Shem to Terah (Gen 11:10-26)

VII. The Generations of Terah (Gen 11:27-25:11)

VIII. The Generations of Ishmael (Gen 25:12-18)

IX. The Generations of Isaac (Gen 25:19-35:29)

X. The Generations of Esau (Gen 36:1-37:1)

XI. The Generations of Jacob (Gen 37:2-50:26)

Books of the Bible

Chapters in Genesis

The 1440 Agenda

Introduction to Genesis
by John MacArthur

Outline of Genesis
by John MacArthur