## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 31

###### Sforno on Genesis 31:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:1:1)

**וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת דִּבְרֵי בְנֵי לָבָן.** שֶׁסִּפְּרוּ עָלָיו לָשׁוֹן הָרָע בְּקִנְאָתָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**He heard the words.** He heard that Lavan’s sons were slandering him out of jealousy.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:2:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:2:1)

**וַיַּרְא יַעֲקֹב אֶת פְּנֵי לָבָן.** רָאָה שֶׁקִּבֵּל אֶת הַלָּשׁוֹן הָרָע.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Yaakov saw Lavan’s face.** He saw that he had accepted his sons’ slander.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:3:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:3:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל יַעֲקֹב שׁוּב.** הוֹדִיעַ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁבְּסִבַּת שָׁלֹשׁ אֵלֶּה בָּרַח וְלֹא נָטַל רְשׁוּת מִלָּבָן, שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִנְהַג אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כָּמוֹהוּ. כִּי חָשַׁב שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁקִּבֵּל לָשׁוֹן הָרַע עָלָיו, אִם יֵדַע נְסִיעָתוֹ יִגְזְלֵהוּ, כְּאָמְרוֹ **פֶּן תִּגְזֹל אֶת בְּנוֹתֶיךָ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
!ויאמר אלוקים אל יעקב שוב, The Torah informs us that as a result of the meeting between Yaakov and his wives he fled from Charan without taking formal leave of Lavan as ordinary courtesy would have required him to do. He was convinced that in view of the fact that Lavan had accepted the badmouthing of him by his sons, he would steal some or most of his belongings before allowing him to leave. He said so himself during the confrontation in verse 31 when he expressed concern that Lavan would even have robbed him of his wives, claiming them as his seeing that they were his daughters.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:3:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:3:2)

**וְאֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ.** שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרְךָ הֵיזֶק בַּדֶּרֶךְ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואהיה עמך. So that you will not be harmed on the way.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:5:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:5:1)

**כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ אֵלַי כִּתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם.** כְּחוֹשֵׁב שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדִי מִשֶּׁלּוֹ.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:5:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:5:2)

**וֵאלֹהֵי אָבִי הָיָה עִמָּדִי.** וְהוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ נָתַן לִי כָּל מַה שֶּׁבְּיָדִי, וְלֹא גָּזַלְתִּי מִלָּבָן מְאוּמָה:


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:14:1)

**הַעוֹד לָנוּ.** אֵיךְ תַּחְשֹׁב שֶׁיִּקְשֶׁה עָלֵינוּ לְהִפָּרֵד מֵאָבִינוּ?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Do we still have a portion.** Why do you think it will be difficult for us to part from our father?


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:16:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:16:1)

**כִּי כָל הָעֹשֶׁר.** כְּמוֹ ״כִּי צָחַקְתְּ״ (בראשית יח:טו), לֹא נְקַוֶּה לִנְחוֹל מִשֶּׁל אָבִינוּ, אֶלָּא כָּל הָעֹשֶׁר אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֱלֹהִים מִמֶּנּוּ הוּא לְבַדּוֹ לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
bAll the wealth that Elokim rescued. We do not expect to receive from him anything other than what Hashem has already rescued.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:16:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:16:2)

**וְעַתָּה.** מֵאַחַר שֶׁרָאִיתָ שֶׁקִּבֵּל לָשׁוֹן הָרַע עָלֶיךָ וְיֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ שֶׁיִּגְזֹל:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Now.** Now that he has accepted the slander about you and may use it to justify stealing whatever you have.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:16:3
[Sforno on Genesis 31:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:16:3)

**כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמַר אֱלֹהִים.** בִּלְבַד עֲשֵׂה, נְהַג וָלֵךְ, וְאַל תִּטּוֹל רְשׁוּת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Whatever Hashem has said, do it.** There is no need for you to seek further permission.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:20:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:20:1)

**וַיִּגְנֹב יַעֲקֹב אֶת לֵב לָבָן.** שֶׁלֹּא הֶרְאָה לוֹ שֶׁהִרְגִּישׁ כְּלָל בְּמַה שֶּׁקִּבֵּל עָלָיו לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, וּבְמַה שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ פָנָיו עִם יַעֲקֹב כִּתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Yaakov fooled Lavan.** He did not give any sign that he knew that Lavan had accepted the slander about him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:20:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:20:2)

**הָאֲרַמִּי.** וְזֶה עָשָׂה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה לָבָן אֲרַמִּי בַּעַל מִרְמָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאִם הָיָה מַרְגִּישׁ שֶׁיָּדַע יַעֲקֹב דָּבָר זֶה, הָיָה סוֹפֵר כָּל צְעָדָיו וְלֹא הָיָה אֵצֶל יַעֲקֹב דֶּרֶךְ לְהִמָּלֵט.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**The Aramean.** Besides indicating his nationality, which is irrelevant here, this hints that he was an experienced swindler (*ramai*). Thus if he had realized that Yaakov knew of the change in his attitude he would not have left him any escape.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:20:3
[Sforno on Genesis 31:20:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:20:3)

**עַל בְּלִי הִגִּיד לוֹ.** כְּמוֹ "עַל עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד" (במדבר כח:י). הֶרְאָה יַעֲקֹב עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ בִּלְתִּי מַרְגִּישׁ בְּאֵיבַת לָבָן, מִלְּבַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיד לוֹ שֶׁחָפֵץ לָלֶכֶת, וְכָל זֶה עָשָׂה לֹא לְהֶעְדֵּר מוּסָר אֶלָּא כְּמֻכְרָח, וְזֶה כִּי בּוֹרֵחַ הוּא, מִדְּאָגָה שֶׁיִּגְזְלֵהוּ לָבָן בְּעֶזְרַת אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר בְּהִתְנַצְּלוּתוֹ לְלָבָן אַחַר כֵּן:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
על בלי הגיד לו, the word על here is used as in על עולת התמיד in Numbers 28,10 where it means: “with, in addition to.” Yaakov acted as if unaware of Lavan’s hatred in addition to not informing him of his intended departure. All of this was not exactly in accordance with accepted norms of conduct, but as dictated by sheer necessity, his survival instinct.
 כי בורח הוא; out of fear that Lavan would rob him with the aid of the people of his town. He said so to Lavan later when explaining his decision and his actions.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:21:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:21:1)

**וַיִּבְרַח.** מִלַּת הַבְּרִיחָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם תּוֹרֶה עַל סוּר הָאָדָם מֵאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם וְאֵין רוֹדֵף, וְזֶה מִדַּאֲגַת הֶיזֵּק עָתִיד, אֲבָל סוּר הָאָדָם מִן הַמָּקוֹם מִפְּנֵי הֶיזֵּק הוֹוֶה אוֹ מִפְּנֵי רוֹדֵף יִקָּרֵא נִיסָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויברח, usually the word בריחה, flight, means that someone departs without being pursued. The flight is inspired by fear of damage and harm not imminent. When the word ניסה is used to describe flight, this describes people fleeing from pursuers, out of fear from immediate damage and harm.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:24:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:24:1)

**פֶּן תְּדַבֵּר עִם יַעֲקֹב.** אֲפִלּוּ דִּבּוּר אָסוּר לְךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Guard yourself that you do not speak.** You are forbidden even to speak!


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:24:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:24:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:24:2)

**מִטּוֹב עַד רָע.** לֹא תְּפַתֵּנּוּ שֶׁיָּשׁוּב בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ תִּקְוָה לְהֵיטִיב עִמּוֹ, וְלֹא תַּגְזֵם אוֹתוֹ לְהָרַע עִמּוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Either good.** Do not try to lure Yaakov into returning with offers of benefits. **Or evil.** And do not threaten him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:29:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:29:1)

**וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבִיכֶם.** לֹא בִּזְכוּתְכֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואלוקי אביכם, not because of your merits.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:30:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:30:1)

**וְעַתָּה.** מֵאַחַר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁתֵּלֵךְ בְּלִי רְשׁוּת וְשֶׁתִּגְנֹב אֶת לְבָבִי לָלֶכֶת:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ועתה Now that you have left without obtaining my permission and you misled me, I assume


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:30:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:30:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:30:2)

**הָלוֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ כִּי נִכְסוֹף נִכְסַפְתָּ לְבֵית אָבִיךָ.** יִתְחַיֵּב שֶׁהָלַכְתָּ בְּאוֹפֶן זֶה מֵרוֹב תַּאֲוָתְךָ לָשׁוּב לְבֵית אָבִיךָ, וִיהִי מַה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Now you have gone.** You must have run off in this manner because you so yearned for your father’s house.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:30:3
[Sforno on Genesis 31:30:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:30:3)

**לָמָּה גָנַבְתָּ אֶת אֱלֹהָי.** כִּי בָּזֶה אֵין הִתְנַצְּלוּת, שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה תַּאֲוָתְךָ לְבֵית אָבִיךָ סִבָּה שֶׁתִּגְנוֹב אֶת אֱלֹהַי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**But why did you steal.** Your yearning for your father’s house was no justification for stealing my gods.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:31:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:31:1)

**פֶּן תִּגְזֹל אֶת בְּנוֹתֶיךָ.** כִּי בְּאָמְרְךָ שֶׁלֹּא נָתַתָּ אֶת בְּנוֹתֶיךָ לְהַרְחִיקָם מֵעָלֶיךָ, תִּגְזֹל אוֹתָן מֵעִמִּי לְעַכֵּב גַּם הַבָּנִים וְהַמָּמוֹן, כְּעִנְיַן אָמְרוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ **הַבָּנוֹת בְּנוֹתַי וְהַבָּנִים בָּנַי וְהַצֹּאן צֹאנִי**, וְכָל זֶה אוּלַי הָיִיתָ עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶזְרַת אַנְשֵׁי אַרְצְךָ בִּהְיוֹתִי שָׁם, וְלֹא תַּשִּׂיג זֶה אַחֲרֵי שֶׁיָּצָאתִי מֵאַרְצְךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
פן תגזול את בנותיך, by saying that you had not given me your daughters in marriage in order for me to remove them from your homeland you would in effect commit robbery as you would detain both my children and my estate. In fact, Lavan used exactly this kind of argument when he said: “the children are my children the daughters are my daughters, etc.” (verse 43). You might have succeeded in doing all this with the help of the local townspeople. Now that I have left your country you will not be able to carry out such a plan.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:32:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:32:1)

**לֹא יִחְיֶה.** כִּי חָשַׁב שֶׁגָּנַב אוֹתָם אֶחָד מֵהָעֲבָדִים לְעָבְדָם וְלַחֲזֹר לְסוּרוֹ, וּבָזֶה הָיָה חַיָּב מִיתָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא יחיה. He thought that one of the servants must have stolen the teraphim in order to worship them as he had been in the habit of doing before becoming part of Yaakov’s household.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:32:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:32:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:32:2)

**הַכֶּר לְךָ מָה עִמָּדִי.** מִשֶּׁלְּךָ וְקַח לְךָ כְּשֶׁתַּכִּירֵהוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הכר לך מה עמדי, if you can find amongst my possessions any that you recognise as belonging to you, take them!


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:32:3
[Sforno on Genesis 31:32:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:32:3)

**וְלֹא יָדַע יַעֲקֹב.** שֶׁאִם הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ לֹא הָיָה מֵעִיז פָּנָיו לִכְחַשׁ, וְלֹא הָיָה אוֹמֵר **לֹא יִחְיֶה**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולא ידע יעקב, if he had known that Rachel had taken the teraphim he would not have had the audacity to deny this. Also, he most certainly would not have cursed her by saying “he shall not live!” [actually he had not cursed the thief but the one with whom the stolen goods would be found, and in the event Lavan never did find the teraphim. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:36:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:36:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:36:1)

**וַיִּחַר לְיַעֲקֹב וַיָּרֶב בְּלָבָן.** אַחַר שֶׁלֹּא מָצָא דָּבָר, חָשַׁב יַעֲקֹב שֶׁלֹּא נִגְנְבוּ תְּרָפִים כְּלָל, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה הַמְצָאַת לָבָן כְּדֵי לְחַפֵּשׂ כְּלֵי יַעֲקֹב שֶׁהָיָה חוֹשֵׁד אוֹתוֹ שֶׁמָּא גָּנַב אֵיזֶה דָּבָר מִשֶּׁלּוֹ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויחר ליעקב וירב בלבן, after Lavan did not find anything, Yaakov thought that his teraphim had never been stolen at all, but that Lavan had used the accusation as a pretext to search Yaakov’s belongings and to make him appear as a suspected thief.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:36:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:36:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:36:2)

**מַה פִּשְׁעִי מַה חַטָּאתִי.** מָה מָצָאתָ בִּי עָוֶל לְשֶׁעָבַר שֶׁחֲשַׁדְתַּנִי עַתָּה לְגַזְלָן?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
?מה פשעי מה חטאתי, What wrong have I ever committed that entitles you to treat me now as suspect of stealing?


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:38:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:38:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:38:1)

**רְחֵלֶיךָ וְעִזֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁכֵּלוּ.** הִנֵּה הֵפֶךְ זֶה מָצָאתָ בִּי, שֶׁלֹּא בִּלְבַד שֶׁעֲבַדְתִּיךָ בֶּאֱמוּנָה כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַצַּדִּיקִים, אֲבָל הֵיטַבְתִּי לְךָ יוֹתֵר שֶׁהִשְׁתַּדַּלְתִּי בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא שִׁכֵּלוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
רחליך ועזיך לא שכלו, you have found me as possessing the very reverse of the characteristics of a thief. Not only did I serve you faithfully, but I have treated you even better than fairness dictates. I have endeavoured with all my skill to prevent your sheep from giving birth to premature, and stillborn young.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:38:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:38:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:38:2)

**וְאֵילֵי צֹאנְךָ לֹא אָכָלְתִּי.** אֲפִלּוּ כְּמִנְהַג שְׁאָר הָרוֹעִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואילי צאנך לא אכלתי, even things which according to accepted practice I could have treated as mine, I did not eat, seeing that they were nominally yours.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:39:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:39:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:39:1)

**טְרֵפָה לֹא הֵבֵאתִי אֵלֶיךָ אָנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה.** טְרֵפָה שֶׁנִּטְרְפָה בְּחֵטְא שֶׁלִּי וְשִׁגְגָתִי, אֲבָל הֵבֵאתִי בִּלְבַד טְרֵפָה שֶׁנִּטְרְפָה בְּאוֹנֶס, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן **מִיָּדִי תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה** שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא הבאתי אליך, אנכי אחטנה, I never brought you a diseased or fatally wounded animal whose death had been due to my negligence; all I ever brought you were animals which were the victims of genuine accidents, something I could not have prevented. Even so, מידי תבקשנה, you held me responsible for making good your loss, illegally, of course.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:41:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:41:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:41:1)

**וַתַּחֲלֵף אֶת מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי.** וְזֶה הֵפֶךְ מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ, כִּי אָמְנָם אַתָּה הוּא שֶׁהֶחְלַפְתָּ מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותחלף את משכרתי, by doing so you reversed yourself since it had been you who had determined what my wages should be.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:43:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:43:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:43:1)

**וְהַצֹּאן צֹאנִי.** וְאִם הֶחֱלַפְתִּי מַשְׂכֻּרְתְּךָ אוֹ שִׁלַּחְתִּיךָ רֵיקָם, לֹא הָיִיתִי נוֹטֵל דָּבָר מִשֶּׁלְּךָ, שֶׁהַכֹּל שֶׁלִּי, וּבְמִרְמָה בָּא לְיָדְךָ לֹא בְדִין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והצאן צאני, if I had indeed changed your wages or sent you home empty-handed I would not have taken anything from you, seeing that it all originated from me. You only acquired it by deceit and deviousness, not legally.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:43:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:43:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:43:2)

**וְלִבְנֹתַי.** וְשֶׁל בְּנוֹתַי הוּא לִנְדוּנְיָא:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולבנותי, it actually belongs to my daughters as a dowry.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:43:3
[Sforno on Genesis 31:43:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:43:3)

**מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאוּכַל לִטּוֹל הַכֹּל, מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה לְפַרְנְסָן אַחַר כָּךְ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מה אעשה לאלה, even though I could take all of it away from you, what would I do afterwards in order to provide for them.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:44:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:44:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:44:1)

**וְעַתָּה.** מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינִי חָפֵץ לְהַזִּיקְךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ועתה, seeing I do not wish to cause them any harm.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:44:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:44:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:44:2)

**לְכָה וְנִכְרְתָה בְרִית.** שֶׁגַּם אַתָּה לֹא תַּזִּיקֵנִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לכה ונכרתה ברית, to ensure that you on your part will not cause me any harm either.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:45:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:45:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:45:1)

**וַיְרִימֶהָ מַצֵּבָה.** לְהוֹרוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַדָּבָר יַצִּיב וְקַיָּם:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וירימה מצבה, as a symbol that this was to be something enduring.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:47:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:47:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:47:1)

**וְיַעֲקֹב קָרָא לוֹ גַּלְעֵד.** שֶׁלֹּא שִׁנָּה אֶת לְשׁוֹנוֹ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**He therefore called its name Galeid.** He called it by the name that Yaakov had given it, but he explained it in his own way.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:48:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:48:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:48:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן הַגַּל הַזֶּה עֵד.** נִכְנַע לְקָרְאוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב וְאָמַר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עֵד עַל מַה שֶׁיֹּאמַר עַתָּה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויאמר לבן הגל הזה עד, he humbled himself to refer to it in Hebrew, Yaakov’s language, after having named it in Aramaic first. He meant that the pile of stones would serve as a witness to what he was about to say.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:49:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:49:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:49:1)

**וְהַמִּצְפָּה.** וְכֵן יָעִיד שֵׁם הַמִּצְפָּה שֶׁהוּא מָקוֹם סָמוּךְ לָנוּ, יִהְיֶה לְעֵד מַזְכִּיר מַה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והמצפה also the name מצפה itself was to serve as a witness. This was because immediately prior Lavan had said יצף ה' ביני ובינך, “may G’d watch between me and you.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:49:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:49:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:49:2)

**אֲשֶׁר אָמַר.** וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר שֶׁהַמִּצְפֶּה גַּם כֵּן תָּעִיד עַל דְּבָרָיו הוּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמַר אָז לָבָן לְיַעֲקֹב **יִצֶף ה' בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ** וְהָיָה לְדַיָּן וְשׁוֹפֵט:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אשר אמר, previously.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:50:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:50:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:50:1)

**רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים עֵד.** רְאֵה שֶׁאִם תִּבְגֹּד בִּי תִּמְעוֹל בּוֹ וְהוּא יִפְרַע מִמְּךָ, כְּעִנְיַן "וּמָעֲלָה מַעַל בַּה' וְכִחֵשׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ" (ויקרא ה:כא), כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁהוּא מְכַחֵשׁ בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶם:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ראה אלוקים עד, look that G’d will punish you if you do not treat my daughters properly, seeing He is a witness The whole line may be understood as analogous to Leviticus 5,21, ומעלה מעל בה', where the trespass against G’d is considered as something that only G’d is aware of, there being no human witnesses at hand to testify against the sinner. G’d is always the third party when two people have a disagreement, seeing He knows the true facts of the situation.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:53:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:53:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:53:1)

**אֱלֹהֵי אֲבִיהֶם.** אָמַר לָבָן: אֵין לְךָ לְמָאֵן מַה שֶׁיִּחַדְתִּי לְדַיָּן **אֱלֹהֵי נָחוֹר** עִם **אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם**, כִּי אָמְנָם **אֱלֹהֵי** נָחוֹר הָיָה אֱלֹהָיו שֶׁל תֶּרַח שֶׁהָיָה אֲבִיהֶם שֶׁל אַבְרָם וְשֶׁל נָחוֹר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אלוהי אביהם, Lavan meant that Yaakov could not take offence at Lavan pairing Nachor’s god and Yaakov’s G’d in a single expression. He had chosen Nachor to underline that Nachor’s god was also the god of Terach, who was the father of both Avraham and Nachor.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:53:2
[Sforno on Genesis 31:53:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:53:2)

**וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק.** שֶׁיִּצְחָק אֵינוֹ בֶּן תֶּרַח, וְנִשְׁבַּע שֶׁאֱלֹהָיו שֶׁל יִצְחָק לְבַדּוֹ יִשְׁפּוֹט אִם יִבְגּוֹד:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישבע יעקב בפחד אביו יצחק. He chose someone who was not the son of Terach to make certain it was understood that his oath was only to the G’d of Yitzchok. Only this G’d was entitled to judge him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 31:54:1
[Sforno on Genesis 31:54:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/31:54:1)

**וַיִּקְרָא לְאֶחָיו.** שֶׁל לָבָן, אֲבָל לֹא הֻצְרַךְ לִקְרוֹא אֶת לָבָן כִּי הוּא הָיָה אָז כְּאָב לִבְנֵי יַעֲקֹב:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויקרא לאחיו, of Lavan. There was no need to invite Lavan himself seeing he was like a father to Yaakov’s children.