And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
The verse belongs to Jacob's break with Laban after Jacob had increased exceedingly with cattle and servants, when Laban's sons charged him with taking all their father's wealth and glory and Laban's countenance was no longer toward him as before, and fearing violence from Laban's sons Jacob remembered the Bethel promise, prayed for direction, and was answered in a dream to return to the land of his fathers and kindred with God with him. It is Laban himself who cast and set the heap and the pillar between himself and Jacob and who points to them in the verse.
The heap of stones and the pillar serve as visible witnesses to the solemn covenant of peace between Laban and Jacob made before God. They mark a boundary between the two men that neither would pass over to the other for harm.
They seal Jacob's promise not to afflict Laban's daughters or take other wives besides them, guarding the welfare of Leah and Rachel. The covenant was made before the Lord, with God as witness and judge between them. Jacob confirmed the covenant by swearing by the fear of his father Isaac.
The verse belongs to Jacob's break with Laban after Jacob had increased exceedingly with cattle and servants, when Laban's sons charged him with taking all their father's wealth and glory and Laban's countenance was no longer toward him as before, and fearing violence from Laban's sons Jacob remembered the Bethel promise, prayed for direction, and was answered in a dream to return to the land of his fathers and kindred with God with him. It is Laban himself who cast and set the heap and the pillar between himself and Jacob and who points to them in the verse.
The heap of stones and the pillar serve as visible witnesses to the solemn covenant of peace between Laban and Jacob made before God. They mark a boundary between the two men that neither would pass over to the other for harm.
They seal Jacob's promise not to afflict Laban's daughters or take other wives besides them, guarding the welfare of Leah and Rachel. The covenant was made before the Lord, with God as witness and judge between them. Jacob confirmed the covenant by swearing by the fear of his father Isaac.