That which was torn [of beasts] I brought not unto thee; I bore the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen by night.
39. I brought not unto thee ] Jacob allowed himself to be the loser by the animals that were killed by wild beasts. Instead of bringing the mangled remains so that their value might not be deducted, he cheerfully bore the full loss: see Exo 22:12-13; Amo 3:12. Jacob had exceeded the standard of fairness which was required by custom: “I bare the loss of it,” i.e. “I used to make myself responsible for the loss.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 39. That which was torn – of my hand didst thou require it] This more particularly marks the covetous and rigorous disposition of Laban; for the law of God required that what had been torn by beasts the shepherd should not be obliged to make good, Ex 22:10; Ex 22:13. And it is very likely that this law was in force from the earliest times.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which was unjust and unreasonable, except where it fell out through the shepherds default. See Exo 22:13.
Quest. How could Jacob pay these losses, seeing he came empty from his fathers house, and got nothing by his service, for the first fourteen years, but his wives?
Answ. Either, 1. He had some supplies sent from his father, though it be not mentioned in this history. Or,
2. He might have some inconsiderable allowances or privileges from Laban, out of which he could easily defray these charges, which because of his great care and watchfulness did but seldom happen. Or,
3. These losses were put to his account, to be satisfied by him as soon as he should be able to do it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
39. That which was torn of beasts Ibrought not unto theeThe shepherds are strictly responsiblefor losses in the flock, unless they can prove these were occasionedby wild beasts.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That which was torn [of beasts] I brought not unto thee,…. To show what had befallen it; that so it might appear he had one the less to account for to him:
I bore the loss of it; took it upon himself, as if it had been somewhat blameworthy in him, as the word used signifies; and so made satisfaction for it; which, how he did, when he had no wages, is difficult to say: he might have some perquisites allowed him by Laban, though he had no settled salary; or he might lay himself under obligation to make it good whenever it was in his power, as follows:
of mine hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen by night; whether by men or beasts; or by men in the daytime, and by beasts in the night, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem distinguish: Laban was so rigorous and unjust as to require the restoration of them, or an equivalent for them at the hand of Jacob; all which were contrary to the law of God, Ex 22:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 31:39 That 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.
Ver. 39. Of my hand didst thou require it. ] Which was against all right and reason; Exo 22:10 ; Exo 22:13 but that weighed little with this covetous cormorant. God “smites his fists” at such “dishonest gain,” as Balak did at Balaam, in token of extreme indignation. Eze 22:13 And lest Laban, or any like, should object, that these were but great words; – The Lord would not do it; They would deal well enough with the Lord for that matter; – he adds, in the next verse, “Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it”. Gen 31:14
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
my hand. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), hand put for “me”. Compare Gen 31:29.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
torn of: Exo 22:10, Exo 22:31, Lev 22:8, 1Sa 17:34, 1Sa 17:35, Joh 10:12, Joh 10:13
I bare: Exo 22:10-13
or stolen: Luk 2:8
Reciprocal: Gen 25:27 – a plain man Gen 43:9 – of my hand Exo 22:12 – stolen from him Joh 10:11 – giveth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 31:39-40. That which was torn I brought not unto thee What Jacob here affirms, and for the truth of which he appeals to Laban, shows him to have been of a very industrious and faithful disposition, and that Labans temper was exceedingly selfish and sordid: for though Jacob was his relation, and his substance had increased so greatly under his hand, yet he was very rigid toward him, and required him to make good all the cattle that were lost, by whatever accident it happened. In the day the drought consumed me In Europe, says Sir John Chardin, quoted by Harmer, vol. 1. p. 74, the days and nights resemble each other, with respect to the qualities of heat and cold; but it is quite otherwise in the East. In the lower Asia, in particular, the day is always hot, and, as soon as the sun is fifteen degrees above the horizon, no cold is felt in the depth of winter itself. On the contrary, in the height of summer, the nights are as cold as at Paris in the month of March. It is for this reason that in Persia and Turkey they always make use of furred habits in the country, such only being sufficient to resist the cold of the nights.