And 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.
24. And God came ] Cf. Gen 31:11. For this revelation to Laban the Syrian, compare the revelation to Abimelech, king of Gerar, in Gen 20:3. It is God, not the “angel of God” ( Gen 31:11), who appears to Laban.
either good or bad ] A phrase used by Laban himself in Gen 24:50.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. And God came to Laban] God’s caution to Laban was of high importance to Jacob –Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad; or rather, as is the literal meaning of the Hebrew, mittob ad ra, from good to evil; for had he neither spoken good nor evil to Jacob, they could have had no intercourse at all. The original is, therefore, peculiarly appropriate; for when people meet, the language at first is the language of friendship; the command therefore implies, “Do not begin with Peace be unto thee, and then proceed to injurious language and acts of violence.” If this Divine direction were attended to, how many of those affairs of honour, so termed, which commence with, “I hope you are well” – “I am infinitely glad to see you” – “I am happy to see you well,” c., and end with small swords and pistol bullets, would be prevented! Where God and true religion act, all is fair, kind, honest, and upright but where these are not consulted, all is hollow, deceitful, or malicious. Beware of unmeaning compliments, and particularly of saying what thy heart feels not. God hates a hypocrite and a deceiver.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Neither persuading him by flattering promises and cunning artifices, nor compelling him by threatenings, to return. For so these general words must be limited, as is evident from Gods design in them, and from the following relation. So this is a synecdochical expression.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night,…. It is probable that Laban came to Mount Gilead late in the evening, and so had no sight of, or conversation with Jacob until the morning; and that night God came to him, and in a dream advised him as follows: or it may be rendered, “and God had come”, c. f in one of the nights in which he had lain upon the road; though the former seems best to agree with
Ge 31:29; the Targum of Jonathan has it, an angel came; and the Jews g say it was Michael; by whom, if they understand the uncreated Angel, the Son of God, it is right:
and said unto him, take heed that thou speak not to, Jacob either good or bad; not that he should keep an entire silence, and enter into no discourse with him on any account, but that he should say nothing to him about his return to Haran again; for it was the will of God he should go onward towards Canaan’s land; and therefore Laban should not attempt to persuade him to return, with a promise of good things, or of what great things he would do for him; nor threaten him with evil things, or what he would do to him if he would not comply to return with him.
f “et venerat”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version; so Aben Ezra. g Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(24) Either good or bad.Heb., from good to bad: a proverbial expression, rightly translated in the Authorised Version, but conveying the idea of a more absolute prohibition than the phrase used in Gen. 24:50.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. God came to Laban Mark the constant divine care that guards the ways of Jacob, and redeems him from all evil . Gen 48:16.
Either good or bad Hebrews, from good unto bad . That is, do not from good friendly greetings pass to bad words of violence . Do not make matters worse .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Take heed to yourself that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad.” ’
This is a crucial intervention. Laban is warned by God in a vivid dream, no doubt during a short period of snatched sleep, to be careful how he speaks to Jacob. That this awesome experience affects him deeply comes out in the subsequent narrative. His whole attitude is transformed. He ceases to be the powerful avenger and becomes the wary negotiator and broken-hearted parent. It changes his whole approach to the situation. Jacob is one thing, but to fight with the manifested supernatural is another.
“Either good or bad.” Compare Gen 24:50; Num 24:13. He must not say what he wants to say but only what he is told. He must remember that he is speaking to one under God’s protection.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Job 33:15-16 ; Est 6:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 31:24 And 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.
Ver. 24. Take heed thou speak not good or bad. ] That is, that thou seek not, either by flattery or force, by allurement or affrightment, to bring him back. They write of the asp, that he never wanders alone, without his companion with him. So the flattering promises of the Church’s adversaries go ever accompanied with cruel menaces, their rising tongues with their terrifying saws. Heb 11:37 “None of them shall want their mate”; as the Scripture speaks of those birds of prey and desolation. Isa 34:16
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
good or bad. Hebrew from good to bad.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Syrian: Gen 28:5, Deu 26:5, Hos 12:12
dream: Gen 31:10, Gen 31:29, Gen 20:3, Gen 40:5, Gen 41:1, Num 12:6, Num 22:20, Num 22:26, 1Ki 3:5, Job 33:15-17, Job 33:25, Mat 1:20, Mat 2:12, Mat 27:19
Take heed: Gen 31:42, Gen 24:50, Num 24:13, 2Sa 13:22, Psa 105:14, Psa 105:15, Isa 37:29
either good or bad: Heb. from good to bad
Reciprocal: Gen 25:20 – the Syrian Gen 31:28 – foolishly Gen 32:28 – with men Num 22:9 – God 1Ch 16:21 – He suffered Job 4:13 – thoughts
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 31:24. Speak not to Jacob either good or bad The Hebrew is, from good to bad That is, enter into no altercations, and use no harsh language with him, which may occasion a quarrel. Say nothing against his going on with his journey, for the thing proceedeth from the Lord. The same Hebraism we have, Gen 24:50. The safety of good men is very much owing to the hold God has on the consciences of bad men, and the access he has to them.