Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
44. a covenant ] Cf. Gen 26:28.
a witness ] Heb. ‘ed. This word gives the keynote to the transaction, and introduces the play on the word Gilead in Gen 31:47. But “a covenant” is not “a witness.” Surely some words have dropped out. Several commentators suggest: “And let us make a heap, and let it be for a witness.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Both to our own consciences of our mutual obligations, and to God against either of us who shall break it, that he may severely punish us for it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
44. Come thou, let us make acovenantThe way in which this covenant was ratified was by aheap of stones being laid in a circular pile, to serve as seats, andin the center of this circle a large one was set up perpendicularlyfor an altar. It is probable that a sacrifice was first offered, andthen that the feast of reconciliation was partaken of by both partiesseated on the stones around it. To this day heaps of stones, whichhave been used as memorials, are found abundantly in the region wherethis transaction took place.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Now therefore, come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou,…. Let us be good friends, and enter into an alliance for mutual safety, and make an agreement for each other’s good. Laban perceiving that Jacob’s God was with him, and blessed him, and made him prosperous, and protected him, was fearful, lest, growing powerful, he should some time or other revenge himself on him or his, for his ill usage of him; and therefore was desirous of entering into a covenant of friendship with him:
and let it be for a witness between me and thee; that all past differences are made up, and former quarrels subside, and everything before amiss is forgiven and forgotten, and that for the future peace and good will subsist; of which a covenant made between them would be a testimony.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
44. Let us make a covenant, I and thou. Laban here acts as men conscious of guilt are wont to do, when they wish to guard themselves against revenge: and this kind of trepidation and anxiety is the just reward of evil deeds. Besides, wicked men always judge of others from their own disposition: whence it happens that they have fears on all sides. Moses before relates a somewhat similar example, when Abimelech made a covenant with Isaac. Wherefore we must take the greater care, if we desire to possess tranquil minds, that we act sincerely and without injury towards our neighbors. Meanwhile Moses shows how placable Jacob was, and how easily he permitted himself to be conciliated. He had endured very many and grievous wrongs; but now, forgetting all, he freely stretches out the hand of kindness: and so far is he from being pertinacious in defending his own right, that he, in a manner, anticipates Laban himself, being the first to take a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And truly it becomes the children of God, not only with alacrity to embrace peace, but even ardently to search for it, as we are commanded in Psa 34:14 (100) As to the heap of stones, it was always the practice to use some ceremony which might confirm the compact on both sides; on this occasion a heap of stones is raised, in order that the memory of the covenant might be transmitted to posterity. That Jacob took part in this was a proof, as we have said, of a mind disposed to peace. He freely complained, indeed, when it was right to do so; but when the season of pacification arrived, he showed that he cherished no rancour. Moses, in relating afterwards that they did eat there, upon the heap, does not observe the order of the history. For, on both sides, the conditions of the covenant were agreed upon and declared, before the feast was celebrated: but this figure of speech (as we have before seen) was sufficiently in use.
(100) “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
“And now, come, let us make a covenant, I and you, and let it be for a witness between me and you.”
This change of heart of Laban, who had originally intended to drag Jacob and his household back to Paddan-aram, has already been explained as arising from his vivid experience of the awesome presence of God (Gen 31:29; Gen 31:42). Thus he does not exert his rights but ensures the safety and status of his daughters by means of covenant. Such a covenant was seen as solemnly binding in the sight of the gods of both parties (Gen 31:53) who would exact revenge if it was broken. Its terms are found in verses Gen 31:49-52.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 31:44. Now therefore come, &c. Finding it impossible to do Jacob any injury, Laban assumes the language of tenderness and affection; and, like a true worldly man, carefully provides against receiving any injury from Jacob, whom his conscience assured him he had great cause to fear: he therefore proposes the solemn engagement of a mutual covenant, which was accordingly ratified between them by all the usual ceremonies of sacrifice, Gen 31:54 feasting and erecting heaps of stone in memorial. Jacob said to his brethren, Gen 31:46. (where, as well as in Gen 31:23 we have further instances of the general sense given to the word brethren,) gather stones, &c.; and they did EAT there the feast upon the sacrifice. Laban gave the pillar, or heap of stones; a Syrian name, Jegarsahadutha, and Jacob a Hebrew one, Galeed, each importing the same thing, namely, the heap of witness, as Laban explains in Gen 31:48. And for another purpose it was also called Mizpah, Gen 31:49 that is, a beacon, or watch-tower, for the reasons immediately assigned. Laban uses the word Jehovah in that verse; whence it seems to follow, that Jehovah was known to him, the God of Jacob, as indeed there can be no doubt but he was, considering the time Jacob had sojourned with him.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
Ver. 44. Now therefore come thou, &c. ] “A fool is full of words,” saith Solomon. Which odious custom of his is expressed, , in his vain tautologies: “A man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell?”. Ecc 10:14 Laban likewise talks a great deal here; and is up with the more, and down with the less, as they say. A covenant he will have, a pillar he will have, and a heap he will have; and that heap shall be a witness, and that pillar a witness, and God a witness, and a Judge too, &c., – there is no end of his discourse; as if, Domnio-like, he cared not so much what, as how much, he spake. a The basest things are ever most plentiful. History and experience tell us, that some kind of mouse breedeth an hundred and twenty young ones in one nest whereas the lion and elephant bears but one at once. So the least worth yields the most words.
a Qui non quid, sed quantum dicat, ponderare consuevit. – Hieron. in Apol. ad Domnion.
make. Hebrew cut (Compare Gen 15:10, Gen 15:18) = solemnize.
let us: Gen 15:18, Gen 21:22-32, Gen 26:28-31, 1Sa 20:14-17
a witness: Gen 31:48, Gen 31:52, Gen 21:30, Deu 31:19, Deu 31:21, Deu 31:26, Jos 22:27, Jos 24:25-27, God can put a bridle into the mouth of wicked man to restrain their malice; and then, though they have no love for his people, they will pretend to it, and try to make a merit of necessity. Scott.
Reciprocal: Gen 21:23 – swear Gen 21:27 – made Gen 24:3 – swear Gen 26:31 – sware Jos 24:27 – General
31:44 Now therefore {i} come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
(i) His conscience reproved him for his misbehaviour toward Jacob, and therefore moved him to seek peace.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes