“He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying: Jacob has taken everything that is our father’s, and from that which is our father’s he has accumulated all this wealth” (Genesis 31:1). “He heard the words of Laban's sons” – Ḥizkiya said: Until our patriarch Jacob descended there, he [Laban] was not remembered to beget males. When Jacob descended there, he was remembered to beget males. That is what is written: “He heard the words of Laban's sons.”22If Laban had had sons before Jacob’s arrival, they would have herded the flocks, not Rachel.
“All this wealth [hakavod]” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Kavod is nothing other than silver, just as it says: “Loot silver, loot gold; there is no limit to the amount, wealth [kavod] of all vessels of delight” (Nahum 2:10). “Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as in the past” (Genesis 31:2). “Jacob saw the countenance of Laban” – Bar Sira said: A person’s heart affects his countenance for both good and bad.
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Your father-in-law is not welcoming to you and you remain here? “Return to the land of your fathers…and I will be with you”’ (Genesis 31:3).