Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
Laban is the one who proposes making a covenant between himself and Jacob. The proposed covenant is one of peace, and Jacob accepts it. The covenant itself is to stand as a witness between Laban and Jacob. A heap of stones is raised as a visible token of the compact, and a pillar, a stone pillar, is also set up as a witness to the agreement.
Its terms forbid either man from crossing the boundary to harm the other. Through it Laban assures Jacob of his continuing interest in his daughters and their children and that he will not harm them. Through it Jacob swears before God not to take other wives besides Laban's daughters and not to mistreat them, with God called to witness.
The place is called Mizpah, meaning watch tower, because Laban calls on the Lord to watch between them while they are apart from each other. Both parties appeal to God as judge over the covenant. The covenant is confirmed with a feast.
Laban is the one who proposes making a covenant between himself and Jacob. The proposed covenant is one of peace, and Jacob accepts it. The covenant itself is to stand as a witness between Laban and Jacob. A heap of stones is raised as a visible token of the compact, and a pillar, a stone pillar, is also set up as a witness to the agreement.
Its terms forbid either man from crossing the boundary to harm the other. Through it Laban assures Jacob of his continuing interest in his daughters and their children and that he will not harm them. Through it Jacob swears before God not to take other wives besides Laban's daughters and not to mistreat them, with God called to witness.
The place is called Mizpah, meaning watch tower, because Laban calls on the Lord to watch between them while they are apart from each other. Both parties appeal to God as judge over the covenant. The covenant is confirmed with a feast.