And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
48. Therefore was the name, &c.] A popular etymology thus accounted for the name “Gilead” by derivation from “Galeed.” Probably, some well-known “cairn” on the hill-frontier of Gilead was the reputed scene of the compact between Laban and Jacob. That border feuds were waged between Aramaeans and Israelites, and that the boundaries between the two nations were marked by cairns, is indicated in this story.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 48. See Clarke on Ge 31:49.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And Laban said, this heap [is] a witness between me and thee this day. A witness of the covenant now about to be made between them that day, and a witness against them should they break it:
therefore was the name of it called Galeed; by Jacob, as before observed; [See comments on Ge 31:47].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
48. Laban said The following verses appear more like an antique song than formal narrative, and may be regarded as an ode composed upon this occasion, or soon after . We may regard the whole passage as the words of Laban, and translate, literally, thus:
And Laban said, This heap, a witness, Between me and thee to-day.
Therefore he called its name Galeed, And the Watch-Tower, as he said:
Let Jehovah watch between me and thee. For we are hidden, a man from his fellow, If thou afflict my daughters, And if thou take wives upon my daughters, No man with us!
Behold, God, a witness between me and thee! And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, And behold the pillar.
Which I have cast between me and thee! A witness this heap, And a witness the pillar, If I pass not to thee over this heap, And if thou pass not to me over this heap, And over this pillar for evil.
The God of Abraham, And the God of Nahor, Shall judge between us, The God of their father. And let Jacob swear In the Fear of his father Isaac.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you this day.” That is why its name was called Galeed and Mizpah (place of watching), for he said, “Yahweh watch (zapah) between me and you when we are hidden (i.e. out of sight) one from another.”
Laban, as head of the confederacy of which Jacob had been a part, takes the leading role in declaring the significance of what is happening. The heap is mentioned because that represents Laban’s part in the covenant. It is their witness to Jacob. Thus it is now given another name, ‘place of watching’, for it not just a witness to the covenant but the place from which God will observe for the fulfilment of the covenant. He will, as it were, stand on that border and guarantee the fulfilment of the covenant on both sides.
“Yahweh watch between me and you.” Laban cites Jacob’s God for it is Yahweh Who will watch for Jacob and see to the observance of the stipulations that follow.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 31:48 And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
Ver. 48. See Trapp on “ Gen 31:44 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
This heap: Jos 24:27
Galeed: or, Gilead, Gen 31:23, Deu 2:36, Deu 3:16, Jos 13:8, Jos 13:9
Reciprocal: Gen 31:44 – a witness Gen 31:52 – General Jos 15:38 – Mizpeh Jos 22:27 – a witness Jdg 10:3 – a Gileadite 1Sa 24:21 – Swear 2Sa 24:6 – Gilead Jam 5:3 – a witness
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE HEAP OF WITNESS
And Laban said, This heap is a heap of witness between me and thee this day.
Gen 31:48
I. God had appeared to Laban the previous night and warned him against doing any harm to Jacob. Compelled thus to abandon his real object, he can but explain the hot haste with which he has pursued his nephew, at such a loss of time and at so busy a season, by alleging a desire to give a parting parental salute to his daughters and grandchildren, and recover some household images which have been stolen from him. The cautious Jacob carefully restrains himself until a search has been made throughout the camp without result, and even makes a kind of apology for his unceremonious and secret departure.
But he is no sooner sure of his ground than he breaks out into hot and defiant words against his father-in-law, and relieves his mind of a long series of complaints against him during his twenty years sojourn with him, which his natural timidity had hitherto caused him to bear in silence. When at length calmer feelings prevail on each side, Laban proposes that they should make a solemn covenant with each other. It may be the hill-top above them was already known as a sacred spot, and may have received the name of Mizpah from the people of the land, as was the case with other similar spots. Thither, then, uncle and nephew ascend, each attended by his sons and brethren and the chief men of his company. Jacob selects the spot. From among the fragments of rock lying around he takes one larger than the rest, rolls it to the place, and sets it up on end. Holding it thus in position, he bids all those assembled bring each one his stone and pile around it until a considerable heap has been accumulated. This done, Laban as the elder first approaches it, and laying his hand upon it, while the rest of the company stand around and look on, he addresses Jacob in their hearing, saying, This heap shall be a witness between me and thee this day. If Jacob should afflict his daughters; if he should take beside them other wives; or if he should pass beyond this spot with harmful projects towards Labanthen this heap should be a silent witness of the broken faith, and God should see and judge between them. Jegar-sahadutha, says Laban, speaking in the Syrian tongueThe heap of witness shall this heap be called.
II. Jacob has now his part to perform. Labans fears, indeed, are but pretences to afford him plausible cover for retreat after so hot a pursuit. Jacob has no such intentions as the oath he is asked to make would seem to attribute to him. He can, therefore, the more easily enter into the covenant which Laban requires him to ratify. Stretching out his hand in his turn, and laying it upon the heap, he gives the undertaking required of himSwearing by the fear of his father Isaac. And he, too, solemnly names the heap, calling it in the Hebrew language Galeed, meaning, as before, the heap of witness. Thenceforward the spot came to be known among the Hebrew people by both its old and its new name, Mizpah Galeedthe watch-tower from which the Lord Himself would watch over covenants there made, the heap which should silently bear witness to the words of promise spoken.
The covenant thus ratified was followed by a sacrifice offered upon the mount, and a feast of which all partook.
Rev. J. Wagstaff, b.d.
Illustration
(1) The fear of his father Isaacwhat does that mean? The word fear should be printed with a capital F, and you will find it is printed so in the Revised Version. The Fearthat is the name which Isaac gave to his God. Laban sware by the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, that is, he sware by Jehovah, and by the idol whom their common ancestor worshipped as God. But Jacobit is this I wish to emphasisesware by the Fear of his father Isaac, that is, Jacob sware by Him whom Isaac worshipped as the Fear. All these Old Testament patriarchs and saints had their own name for the God whom they served; to one He was the Rock, to another the Shield, to another the Shepherd; but to Isaac He was the Fear, the Dreadful One, or the Terror.
That was Isaacs name for God. What think ye of God? How do we name Him? What is He to us? Nothing is easier, says John Henry Newman somewhere, than to use the name God and to mean nothing by it. I believe in Godso begins the Apostles Creed; and we must all begin therethere is the foundation, the starting-point. He that cometh to God must believe that He is.
(2) A midshipman, who was about to leave the sailors home, where he had been converted, came to the superintendent on the day of going on board, and asked him to write on a card, in plain bold characters, the words, I am a Christian. When he was asked his object, he said, As soon as I get on board I shall go to my hammock, and put this card where everybody can see it; it will save a lot of trouble, for everyone will know at once which side I am on, and will expect me to keep true to it. This is raising the heap of witness.
Let us raise that heap, let me help you rear it, gather stones, and pile them into the form of that cross by which the world was crucified to St. Paul and he to the world.
(3) One idea underlies this incidentthe sacredness of truth. Here we are taught to remember that there is One who hears our spoken promises and avenges all departures from fidelity and truth. He watches over the compacts which men make with each other, and takes note of falsity and perjury; of broken faith and untruthfulness in all its forms.