Genesis 31:4 - Exposition

And Jacob went —being unwilling to approach the house lest Laban should discover his design (Rosenmüller)— and called Rachel and Leah —Rachel may be placed first as the beloved wife of Jacob (Wordsworth, Lange), scarcely as the principal wife in comparison with Leah, who was adventitia (Rosenmüller; cf. Genesis 31:14 )— to the field unto his flock. The expression "his flock" indicates that Jacob had abandoned Laban's sheep and taken possession of those which belonged to himself—probably in preparation for his departure.