<b>Take heed to thyself that thout speak not to Jacob either good or bad (Gen. 31:24).</b> From this episode we learn that the merit acquired from labor may be helpful even when the influence of one’s ancestors is not. It is written: <i>Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been on my side</i> (Gen. 31:42). This implies that the merit of Jacob’s ancestors saved him financially, but it is followed by: <i>God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and gave judgment yesternight</i> (ibid.), which indicates that He warned him not to harm Jacob because of the merit of the work he had performed.
This teaches that a man must not say: “I will eat and drink and enjoy the good things of life, but I will not work, for heaven will protect me.” It is said: <i>Thou hast blessed the work of his hands</i> (Job 1:10). Hence, a man must work and labor with both hands before the Holy One, blessed be He, will send his blessing.
<i>And Jacob was wroth, and strove with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin?”</i> (Gen. 31:36). These verses teach us: The fury of the patriarchs is preferable to the gentleness of their descendants. Though it is written: <i>And Jacob was wroth and strove with Laban</i>, notice that he said to him at the height of his anger: <i>What is my trespass? What is my sin?</i> But concerning David, who was so gentle that he would not turn his hand against Saul, it is written: <i>Nay, but the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle, and be swept away</i> (I Sam. 26:10).
<i>This heap is witness between me and thee</i> (Gen. 31:48). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: <i>And crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall</i> (Num. 22:25). The heap alluded to in our text was the very wall at which Balaam violated the promise he had made to Jacob, as it is said: <i>I will not pass over this heap to harm you</i> (Gen. 31:52). Balaam and Laban were one and the same,<sup class="footnote-marker">13</sup><i class="footnote">Sanhedrin 105a. See Ginzberg, <i>Legends of the Jews</i> 6:123.</i> for it is said of him: <i>An Aramean was destroying my father</i> (Deut. 26:5). Balaam was called an Aramean, because he desired to annihilate Israel, as is said: <i>Come, execrate Israel</i> (Num. 23:7). Hence, it was the very wall that had borne witness to the oath that he had made that called him to account, as is written: <i>The hand of the witness shall be first upon him</i> (Deut. 17:7). <i>And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father, Isaac</i> (Gen. 31:53). This righteous man did not swear by the name of the king, but rather on the life of his father. He did it just as a man who desires to prove the truth of this remarks says: “I swear by the life of my father.” He swore this oath only out of respect, as is written: <i>A son shall honor his father</i> (Mal. 1:6).