Jacob Leaves Haran

Laban is reluctant to let Jacob go, so Jacob flees with his family and flocks. Since Laban received word two or three days after Jacob's flight (v. 22), and overtook him after a pursuit of seven days, it appears that the two met nine or ten days after Jacob's departure from the vicinity of Haran. The mountains of Gilead lie more than 275 mi. from Haran, a distance that can be covered by fast camels in 7 days, the time required by Laban. But it would be impossible to drive the flocks and herds such a distance in that length of time, since they could cover no more than 9 or 10 mi. a day.

Apparently Laban did not pursue the fugitives immediately upon receiving word of their flight. He knew that Jacob could make but slow progress (ch. 33:13, 14), and that he himself need therefore be in no haste. Since Rachel had taken her father's household gods, her departure must have been from Haran, where her father's home was situated (ch. 29:4, 5). The fact that Laban knew his idols had been stolen suggests that he must have returned home before pursuing Jacob. He may have finished the shearing of his sheep, concluded the accompanying festivities, and arranged for the care of the flocks Jacob had forsaken before leaving Haran. The time that elapsed between his receiving word of Jacob's flight and his own departure may easily have been 30 days or more.

Overtaking Jacob, Laban assumed the role of a good—natured but grievously wronged and deeply hurt father. Did Jacob not realize how easily Laban could compel him to return to Haran? That Laban was talking with him at all instead of treating him as he presumably deserved, Jacob owed solely to the intervention of the God of his fathers the previous night. But why should Jacob's ardent longing to return to his father lead him to steal his father—in—law's gods? This was Laban's only legitimate complaint, a polished shaft aimed to hit hard and well. After making a covenant, they part their ways. It does not appear that Laban kissed Jacob on taking his final leave, as he had done upon meeting him the first time (ch. 29:13).

Though Laban and Jacob parted reconciled to each other, and not as enemies, they were not exactly the best of friends. Laban blessed them. Laban, whose better nature appears to have prevailed as a result of the covenant, or perhaps of the feast, or of the contemplated parting with his daughters, poured out his feelings in a farewell blessing upon them. Thus Laban disappears from the Scripture narrative. With this, all contact between the family in Canaan and relatives in Mesopotamia ceases.