Genesis 31:23

WEB

He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.

KJV

And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

Commentary

And he took his brethren with him,.... Some of his relations, the descendants of his father's brethren, the sons of Nahor, of whom there were seven, besides Bethuel; and who all perhaps lived in Ha ran the city of Nahor, see Gen 22:20 ; or some of his neighbours and acquaintance whom he might call to: and pursued after him seven days' journey; which must be reckoned, not from Jacob's departure from Haran, but from Laban's; for Laban being three days' journey from thence, whither he had to return, after he received the news of Jacob being gone; Jacob must have travelled six days before Laban set out with his brethren from Haran; so that this was, as Ben Gerson conjectures, the thirteenth day of Jacob's travel; for Laban not having cattle to drive as Jacob, could travel as fast again as he, and do that in seven days which took up Jacob thirteen: and they overtook him in the mount Gilead; said to be three hundred and eighty miles from Haran (e). (e) Bunting's Travels, p. 72.