 | VaYetse |  |
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| | 31:21 |
He thus fled with all he owned. He set out and crossed the Euphrates, heading in the direction of the Gilead Mountains.
Vayivrach hu vechol-asher-lo vayakom vaya'avod et-hanahar vayasem et-panav har haGil'ad. |
| 31:22 |
On the third day, Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
Vayugad le-Lavan bayom hashlishi ki varach Ya'akov. |
| 31:23 |
He took along his kinsmen and pursued [Jacob] for seven days, intercepting him in the Gilead Mountains.
Vayikach et-echav imo vayirdof acharav derech shiv'at yamim vayadbek oto behar haGil'ad. |
| 31:24 |
God appeared to Laban the Aramaean that night in a dream, and said, 'Be very careful not to say anything, good or bad, to Jacob.'
Vayavo Elohim el-Lavan ha'Arami bachalom halaylah vayomer lo hishamer lecha pen-tedaber im-Ya'akov mitov ad-ra. |
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Commentary:
Euphrates
Literally, 'river.' See Targum. At this point, the Euphrates was 70 miles south of Charan on the way to the Holy Land.
| Gilead Mountains
These were the mountains to the east of the Jordan and north of the Jabbok River, some 300 miles south of the Euphrates. Jacob was thus heading south through Damascus. This area is identified with the land of the Rephaim (Genesis 14:5; Yov'loth 29:9). Jacob was thus taking the same route as the four invading kings in the time of Abraham.
| third day
See Genesis 30:36.
| seven days
See note on Genesis 30:36. The normal distance covered would be 238 miles, but if rushing, the entire distance of 370 miles could have been covered (see notes on Genesis 14:15, 28:19). In ten days, Jacob could easily have covered the distance.
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