John Calvin Commentary Genesis 31:17

"Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon the camels;" — Genesis 31:17 (ASV)

Then Jacob rose up. Moses later relates Jacob's departure more fully; he now only briefly says that Jacob "rose up"; by this, he means that as soon as Jacob could obtain his wives' consent to go with him, he yielded to no other obstacles. This shows the manly strength and constancy of his mind.

For Moses leaves many things for his readers to reflect upon, especially that intermediate period during which the holy man was undoubtedly agitated with a multitude of cares.

He had believed that his exile from home would be only for a short time. But, deprived of the sight of his parents and his native soil for twenty years, he suffered many things so severe and bitter. Indeed, enduring them might have rendered him callous or, at least, might have so oppressed him as to consume the remainder of his life.

He was now approaching old age, and the coldness of old age produces slowness. Yet the flight for which he was preparing was not free from danger.

Therefore, it was necessary that he should be armed with the spirit of fortitude, so that the vigor and alacrity of which Moses speaks might cause him to hasten his steps.

And since we read that the holy man's departure was accomplished by stealth and was attended with discredit, let us learn, whenever God humbles us, to turn our minds to examples such as this.