Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
15. strangers ] i.e. foreigners, people of another kindred or country.
sold us ] Referring to the bargain by which Jacob had obtained his two wives at the price of fourteen years’ service (Gen 29:15-20; Gen 29:27).
our money ] Better, as marg., the price paid for us. Laban had taken to himself the full profits of Jacob’s fourteen years’ service as the gift, or mohar, to the bride’s family; but had assigned nothing of it as the dowry or gift to the two brides. Cf. Gen 24:53. This conduct they imply was contrary to usual custom, and was part of his stinginess. It was too late now to expect him to give anything back.
18 (P). all his substance ] It would appear that this verse, taken from P, is the brief summary of Jacob’s departure given in that narrative. The words for “substance” and “his getting,” the mention of “Paddan-aram,” and the redundancy of the language, are characteristic of P.
to Isaac his father ] The narrative of JE (Gen 27:1, Gen 28:21) would suggest that Isaac had died long previously.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. Are we not counted of him strangers?] Rachel and Leah, who well knew the disposition of their father, gave him here his true character. He has treated us as strangers – as slaves whom he had a right to dispose of as he pleased; in consequence, he hath sold us – disposed of us on the mere principle of gaining by the sale.
And hath quite devoured also our money.] Has applied to his own use the profits of the sale, and has allowed us neither portion nor inheritance.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Are we not confuted of him strangers? as if we had no more right to his estate than strangers? Instead of a good part of his estate, which by the law of God and nature belongs to us, 2Co 12:14, wherewith he should have endowed us upon our marriage, he hath made sale of us for this fourteen years hard service, seeking only his own, not our advantage. He hath not only withheld from us, but spent upon himself, that money which he got by thy care and industry, whereof a considerable part was due in equity to us and to our children.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Are we not accounted of him strangers?…. He had not treated them as children, nor even as freeborn persons; but as if they were foreigners that he had taken in war, or bought of others; or at least, that they were born bondmaids in his house, and so had a right to sell them as he had:
for he hath sold us; he had sold them to Jacob for fourteen years’ service, as if they had been his slaves, instead of giving dowries with them as his children:
and hath quite devoured also our money; that which he got by the servitude of Jacob, instead of giving it to them as their portion; he spent it on himself and his sons, and there was nothing left for them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) He hath sold us.There is a marked asperity towards their father in the answer of Jacobs wives, and not only the petted Rachel but the neglected Leah joins in it. Now, though his sale of them to Jacob had been more open than Oriental good manners usually allowed, and though he seems to have acted meanly in giving no portion with them, yet these were old sores, long since healed and forgiven. Laban must have been stingy, grasping, and over-reaching in recent times, to have kept the memory of old wrongs so fresh in the minds of his daughters.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Counted of him strangers Rachel and Leah both readily sympathize with their husband as against their father, and look upon Laban’s dealings as narrow, unfatherly, and unworthy of him . The last twenty years had largely alienated them from their father’s house .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
Ver. 15. Are we not counted of him strangers? ] Well might that father a say, A . “The love of money is the root of all evil,” as the apostle hath it. 1Ti 6:10 This kyte-footed corruption, wheresoever it seizeth and domineereth, it blasteth and banisheth all nobleness of spirit, natural affection, humanity, reason, discretion, manliness, mutual entertainment, intercourse of kindness and love: so that, for any fair dealing, a man had as good converse with a cannibal, as with a truly covetous captive. Well might the apostle set “covetousness” and “want of natural affection” together, as signs of a reprobate sense. Rom 1:29 ; Rom 1:31 Laban sells his own daughters here, and devours also their price. And the covetous Pharisees taught children to starve their parents, to offer to the altar; that is, to their paunches and purses. Mat 15:4-6
a Isidor., Pelus., lib. iii. Ep 24.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sold us: Gen 31:41, Gen 29:15-20, Gen 29:27-30, Gen 30:26, Exo 21:7-11, Neh 5:8
Reciprocal: Gen 2:24 – leave Gen 29:30 – served Rom 9:8 – are counted 2Co 12:14 – for the Eph 6:4 – ye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath {e} sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
(e) For they were given to Jacob as payment for his service, which was a kind of sale.