And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
20. stole away, &c.] Heb. stole the heart of Laban the Aramean. Cf. Gen 31:26. Jacob outwitted Laban; fled secretly, and got three days’ start. For the phrase, cf. the Greek , “to steal the mind,” i.e. to deceive; see 2Sa 15:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Heb. Stole away the heart of Laban, to wit, his daughters, his cattle, and his gods, upon which his heart was vehemently set, as Micahs was, Jdg 18:24. But if this had been meant, it had been imputed to Rachel, and not to Jacob, who knew nothing of the gods. Or rather, stole away from the heart, & c., the Hebrew eth being put for meeth, as Gen 4:1; 49:25; 1Ki 8:43, compared with 2Ch 6:33; Mic 3:8, i.e. without the knowledge and consent of Laban, which sense is confirmed by the words next following, and by Gen 31:26,27, and by the like use of the phrase, 2Sa 19:3. Thus he fled, because he knew Labans selfish, and unrighteous, and cruel disposition, that he would always hinder him from departing, either by fraudulent pretences or by open force, nor suffer so great a diminution in that estate, which he thought one time or other he might in good measure recover to himself.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. Jacob stole awayTheresult showed the prudence and necessity of departing secretly;otherwise, Laban might have detained him by violence or artifice.
Ge31:22-55. LABANPURSUES JACOBTHEIRCOVENANT AT GILEAD.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian,…. Went away without his knowledge, or giving him any notice of it; he was too cunning for Laban the Syrian; notwithstanding his astrology and superstitious arts, which the Syrians are addicted to, he had no foresight of this matter: or he “stole away the heart of Laban” b, that which his heart was set upon; not his gods, these Rachel stole away; nor his daughters, for whom he does not appear to have had any great affection and respect; but rather the cattle and goods Jacob took with him, which Laban’s eye and heart were upon, and hoped to get into his possession by one means, or at one time or another; but the former sense, that he “stole from” his heart d, or stole away without his knowledge, seems best to agree with what follows;
in that he told him not that he fled; or that he designed to go away, and was about to do it.
b – “furatus est cor”, Tigurine version, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Drasius, Cartwright. d “Furatus a corde Labanis”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“ Thus Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled; ” – to steal the heart (as the seat of the understanding), like , and with the simple accus. pers., Gen 31:27, like , signifies to take the knowledge of anything away from a person, to deceive him; – “ and passed over the river (Euphrates), and took the direction to the mountains of Gilead.”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
20. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban (94) By the Hebrew form of expression, “stole away the heart of Laban,” Moses shows that Jacob departed privately, or by stealth, unknown to his father-in-law. Meanwhile, he wishes to point out to what straits Jacob was reduced, so that he had no hope of deliverance but in flight. For Laban had determined to hold him all his life as a captive, as if he had been a slave bound to the soil, or sentenced to the mines. Therefore let us also learn, by his example, when the Lord calls us, courageously to strive against every kind of obstacle, and not to be surprised if many arduous difficulties oppose themselves against us.
(94) Et furatus est Jahacob cor Laban. The margin of the English translation renders the passage in the same way, “And Jacob stole away the heart of Laban.” To this translation the remards of Calvin apply. He understands the passage, however, in the sense which the English version of the text gives. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) Jacob stole away unawares.Heb., stole the heart. But the heart was regarded by the Hebrews as the seat of the intellect, and so to steal a mans understanding, like the similar phrase in Greek, means to elude his observation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Stole away unawares to Laban Hebrews, stole the heart of Laban . There is a play on the words heart and Laban stole the Leb-Laban . Rachel stole the teraphim, Jacob the heart, of Laban . He used deception in keeping Laban from any suspicion of his plans for flight .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 31:20. Stole away unawares Heb. stole the heart of Laban. In Scripture-language the heart frequently signifies the knowledge, the understanding. Ecc 7:25 compared with Pro 7:7. The meaning is, that Jacob stole, secreted from Laban the knowledge of his design. The river, Pro 7:21 is the Euphrates, frequently called the River in Scripture, by way of eminence. Gilead was so called, from Jacob and Laban’s covenant, Gen 31:48. It joined to Mount Libanus, and included the mountainous region, called in the New Testament, Trachonitis.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
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 prayer and mutual blessing. What a sweet instance we have of such, Act 20:36-38 . Reader! hath it never fallen to your lot to remark many instances of the former kind? If not, it hath been mine, and of painful observation too.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 31:20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Ver. 20. And Jacob stole away. ] God’s saints are put upon the use of such means sometimes, for their own safety, as render them contemptible to worldly men; all whose contumelies they can bravely bear, so long as their consciences clear and cheer them: yea, they can rejoice and say, It is a mercy they know no worse by me. It is a great work of nature to keep the filth of the body, when it is in man, from being unsavoury to others. But it is a greater work of God to keep the filth of the soul, that is so unsavoury to him, from the knowledge of those that wait all occasions to blaze and blaspheme us.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
unawares to Laban. Hebrew stole the heart. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6, heart being put for knowledge. Compare Gen 31:27. Rachel stole Laban’s idols; and Jacob stole Laban’s heart.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
unawares to Laban: Heb. the heart of Laban – See note on Gen 31:27. Gen 31:20
Reciprocal: Gen 25:20 – the Syrian Deu 26:5 – A Syrian