Genesis Chapter 31  PDF  MSWord

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Go to Bible: Genesis 31
 
Gen 31:1- (top)
Gen 31:2- (top)
Gen 31:3- (top)
Gen 31:4- (top)
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Gen 31:12- (top)
Gen 31:13

“where you anointed a standing-stone.” Jacob set up and anointed a standing-stone to commemorate the place where God appeared to Jacob in a dream (Gen. 28:18).

[For more on standing-stones, see commentary on Genesis 28:18.]

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Gen 31:14- (top)
Gen 31:15- (top)
Gen 31:16- (top)
Gen 31:17- (top)
Gen 31:18- (top)
Gen 31:19

“teraphim.” Teraphim were household gods. There is some evidence they were connected with dead relatives, and also that they had something to do with the authority in the house. It has been suggested that Rachel stole them to take authority from Laban and transfer it to her husband Jacob, but there is no solid proof of that, she might well have stolen them because she used them for some kind of divination. Teraphim were used in divination, which makes sense if they somehow represented dead ancestors, because then asking of a teraphim would be like asking a dead relative (cp. 1 Sam. 15:23; Ezek. 21:21; Zech. 10:2). Teraphim were idol gods, and as such, they were an abomination to god. Josiah got rid of them in Judah in accordance with the Law (2 Kings 23:24).

Believers need to recognize that trying to get information from idols or occult practices is a lose-lose situation. When idols are consulted or divination is used it is not God who answers the person, it is demons, and if the demons think they can get away with giving evil and harmful advice they do, and cause trouble for those who ask for answers from them (cp. Zech. 10:2). On the other hand, if the demons give good advice then people trust them and are pulled deeper into idolatry and disobedience to God which always has bad consequences.

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Gen 31:20- (top)
Gen 31:21- (top)
Gen 31:22- (top)
Gen 31:23- (top)
Gen 31:24- (top)
Gen 31:25- (top)
Gen 31:26- (top)
Gen 31:27- (top)
Gen 31:28- (top)
Gen 31:29- (top)
Gen 31:30- (top)
Gen 31:31- (top)
Gen 31:32- (top)
Gen 31:33- (top)
Gen 31:34

“teraphim.” Teraphim were household gods (see commentary on Gen. 31:19).

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Gen 31:35

“the way of women is upon me.” Rachel told her father that she was having her period and could not rise up.

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Gen 31:36- (top)
Gen 31:37- (top)
Gen 31:38- (top)
Gen 31:39- (top)
Gen 31:40- (top)
Gen 31:41- (top)
Gen 31:42- (top)
Gen 31:43- (top)
Gen 31:44- (top)
Gen 31:45

“set it up for a standing-stone.” In this case, Jacob set up the standing-stone to be a witness to the agreement that he had made with Laban. This is the second standing-stone that Jacob erected. His first was a small one at Bethel (Gen. 28:18.) This second one was when he made a covenant with Laban (Gen. 31:45). His third one is again in Bethel (Gen. 35:14). He erected a fourth standing-stone over Rachel’s grave (Gen. 35:20).

[For more on standing-stones, see commentary on Genesis 28:18.]

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Gen 31:46- (top)
Gen 31:47- (top)
Gen 31:48- (top)
Gen 31:49- (top)
Gen 31:50- (top)
Gen 31:51

“the standing-stone.” This standing-stone was a witness to the covenant that Jacob and Laban had made together (Gen. 31:44).

[For more on standing-stones, see commentary on Genesis 28:18.]

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Gen 31:52

“standing-stone.” For more on standing-stones, see commentary on Genesis 28:18.

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Gen 31:53- (top)
Gen 31:54- (top)
Gen 31:55- (top)
  

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