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Genesis 31:24
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Laban Pursues Jacob

22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 Then he took ahis brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.  
24 But God ahad come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you bspeak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”  
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and acarried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?  
27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?
28 And you did not allow me ato kiss my sons and my daughters. Now byou have done foolishly in so doing.  
29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the aGod of your father spoke to me blast night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’  
30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you asteal my gods?”  
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was aafraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’  
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< Genesis 31:23   Genesis 31:25 >>


Genesis 31:24

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 honor, so termed, which commence with, "I hope you are well" - "I am infinitely glad to see you" - "I am happy to see you well," etc., 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.




Other Adam Clarke entries containing Genesis 31:24:

1 Chronicles 16:22

 

<< Genesis 31:23   Genesis 31:25 >>

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