Genesis 31:21
ESV
He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
NIV
So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
NASB
So he fled with all that he had; and he got up and crossed the Euphrates River, and set out for the hill country of Gilead.
CSB
He fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
NLT
So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.
KJV
So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
NKJV
So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
What does Genesis 31:21 mean?
For some two decades, Jacob has been abused and cheated by Laban. This began with a jaw-dropping betrayal, tricking Jacob into marrying Leah, and coercing him into working a second stint of seven years as a result (Genesis 29:20–28). It continued with Laban's repeated efforts to take advantage of Jacob, including unfair tactics (Genesis 30:31–36), and an attempt to change their agreement several times (Genesis 31:4–13). Even Laban's feuding daughters (Genesis 30:8), now the wives of Jacob, recognized that their father was a dishonest, greedy man who held no real love for them (Genesis 31:14–16). So, with the blessing of his wives, Jacob has pushed his caravan of family, camels, donkeys, servants, belongings, and livestock as quickly as he could. He wanted to put real distance between himself and Laban before his father-in-law realized he was gone.Jacob's strategy here strongly implies that Laban wouldn't have voluntarily allowed them to leave. In fact, based on Laban's own words later on, Jacob might have had reason to fear violence (Genesis 31:29).
By waiting until Laban was a few days away, shearing his own flock (Genesis 31:19), Jacob achieved some distance, reaching and crossing the Euphrates River and heading toward Gilead. It would not be enough, however, to keep Laban from catching up to him.
Genesis 31:1–21 describes the events that propel Jacob to sneak away from Laban and head toward his homeland of Canaan. First, he learns that Laban and his sons are dangerously unhappy with him for taking so many of Laban's profits. Then God commands Jacob to go, promising to be with him. After securing the support of his wives, Jacob packs up his large family and property and sneaks away toward Gilead and then home.
Genesis 31 describes Jacob's difficult separation from Laban, his father-in-law, as well as his boss for twenty years. During that time, Jacob was routinely mistreated and cheated by his master. Commanded by God to return to the land of Canaan, Jacob packs up his wives, children, and all of his possessions and leaves without telling Laban. Laban soon catches up with the large company. Laban and Jacob confront each other bitterly. Eventually, though, they make a covenant of separation and peace.
