John Gill Commentary Genesis 31

And he heard the words of Laban's sons That is, Jacob, as is expressed in the Septuagint and Syriac versions, either with his own ears, overhearing their discourse in their tents, or in the field, or from the report of others, his wives or some of his friends, who thought proper to acquaint him with it; these were the sons of Laban, who had the care of the cattle committed to them, separated by the direction of Jacob, and with the consent of Laban, (Genesis 30:35).

saying, Jacob has taken away all that [was] our father's ; meaning not precisely all that their father had, for that would have been a downright lie; for what was become of them that were committed to their care? besides, we afterwards read of Laban's shearing his sheep, (Genesis 31:19) ; but that all that Jacob had was their father's, and he had taken it away from him, if not by force and stealth, yet by fraud; and so Jacob might fear he would treat him in an ill manner, and therefore began to think it was high time for him to be gone.

and of [that] which [was] our father's has he gotten all the glory ; his many servants, numerous cattle, sheep, camels and asses, in which carnal men place all their happiness; or those riches, as the Targum of Jonathan, by which he got the name and glory of a rich man among men: and it was so far true what they say, that it was out of their father's flock that Jacob got all his increase; but then it was according to a covenant that Laban and he entered into, and therefore was obtained in a just and lawful manner.

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban Upon this he observed Laban's looks, that he might gather from thence how he took his prosperity; what were his thoughts about it, and what he might expect from him on that account: and, behold, it [was] not towards him as before; he said nothing to Jacob, nor charged him with robbing of him, or any false dealing with him, yet was uneasy at his growing prosperity; he put on sour looks, and an envious countenance, sad, and surly, and lowering; so that Jacob saw it foreboded no good to him, and therefore thought it most advisable to depart as soon as he could; though perhaps he first sought the Lord about it, who spoke to him as in (Genesis 31:3).

And the Lord said to Jacob
In answer to a prayer of his; or seeing what difficulties and discouragements Jacob laboured under, he appeared to him for his encouragement and instruction how to proceed: return to the land of your fathers ;
the land of Canaan, given to Abraham and Isaac by promise:

and to your kindred :
his father and mother, and brother, who all dwelt in the land of Canaan at this time, or as many as were living: or "to your nativity" ^F23 , the place where he was born, and to which he must have a natural desire to return:

and I will be with you ;
to protect him from any injury that might be attempted to be done to him, either by Laban or Esau.

FOOTNOTES:

• F23: (Ktdlwml) "ad natale solum", Tigurine version; "ad nativitatem tuam", Vatablus, Drusius.

And Jacob sent
Having this encouragement and direction from the Lord, which seems to have been given him in the field, while he was attending his flocks, he dispatched a messenger home to his wives, one of his servants or under shepherds. The Targum of Jonathan says it was his son Naphtali, whom he sent, because he was a swift messenger; the Targumist alludes to (Genesis 49:21) ; but the former is more probable; and called Rachel and Leah ; Rachel is mentioned first, as being his proper and lawful wife, and is only called so, (Genesis 46:19) ; and it was for her sake Jacob has Leah.

Jacob, like a prudent man and an affectionate husband, thought proper to acquaint his wives with his case, and advise with them, and neither leave them nor take them away suddenly and by force; and therefore sent for them, to the field unto his flock ; where he was feeding his flock.

This he might do for divers reasons: he might not judge it so proper and convenient to go home to them, since it might be difficult to get one of them to come to the apartment of the other; and it was proper they should be together, and that might cause some suspicion in Laban's family, who might listen to overhear what passed between them; and besides, he might be afraid of Laban and his sons, that being in such an ill temper they would lay violent hands on him, and do him a mischief; and therefore he sent for his wives to him in the field, where they could more privately and freely converse together, without being overheard or interrupted, and the flock in the mean while not neglected.

And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it
[is] not towards me as before (See Gill on Genesis 31:2); no notice is taken of what their brethren, the sons of Laban, had said: but the God of my father has been with me;
not only by affording him his gracious presence with him, which supported him under all his troubles; but by his good providence prospering and succeeding him in his outward affairs, as well as he had lately appeared to him, and encouraged him to return to his own country.