Jacob’s truthful words to Laban clearly cut Laban to the heart. He was publically exposed as a scoundrel, and now using emotion to assuage the situation. Then Laban clearly losing the confrontation with Jacob tries to save face by making two claims.
1. First he says that the daughters, children and flocks belong to him. 2. Second he claims that he has some power over his daughters and grandchildren.
Both of these claims were charades. He knew that his daughters were given to Jacob as wives in a work arrangement, which lasted for fourteen years. He also knew that Jehovah God had stopped him from harming Jacob as originally intended. Clearly still trying to preserve his dignity in this situation he proposes a treaty with Jacob to accurately frame the independence of Jacob from Laban after twenty years of servitude. In so doing Laban states the purpose of the treaty, which was: to “let it be for a witness between me and thee.” Laban was concerned that now that he was exposed Jacob might try and harm him! When one has an evil heart he sees others as capable of the same. When one’s heart is pure he usually does not conceive of other concocting evil against them. This is why the Lord Jesus warned his first wave of disciples who he sent out as evangelists to be wary of the culture.
Matthew 10: 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves
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