John Calvin Commentary Genesis 31:36

"And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me?" — Genesis 31:36 (ASV)

And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban. Jacob again acts wrongly, by contending with Laban about a matter not fully known, and by wrongfully accusing him of slander. For although he believed his whole family to be free from blame, yet he was deceived by his own negligence.

He acts, indeed, with moderation, because in reasoning with Laban he does not use insults; but he cannot be excused for this: that he takes up the cause of his whole family when they were not free from blame. If anyone should object to this statement, saying that Jacob was compelled by fear because Laban had brought a large group of companions with him, the circumstances themselves show that his mind was influenced by moderation rather than by fear.

For he boldly resists and shows no sign of fear; he only abstains from insulting language. He then adds that he had just cause for accusing Laban; not because he wished to engage in counter-accusations against his father-in-law, but because it was right that Laban's relatives and associates should be made witnesses of all that had happened, so that, through Jacob's long-suffering patience, his integrity might become more evident.

Jacob also recalls not only that he had been a faithful keeper of the flock, but also that his labor had been made prosperous by God's blessing; he adds, furthermore, that he had been held responsible for all losses. By this, he insinuates that Laban was greatly unjust, for it was not Jacob's duty to voluntarily incite his father-in-law's greed and rapacity by trying to appease him; instead, he was forced to yield to Laban's mistreatment.

When he says that sleep departed from his eyes, he not only suggests that he passed sleepless nights, but that he had struggled so much against nature itself as to deprive himself of necessary rest.