Faced with the prospect of losing his primary source of wealth, Laban desperately attempts to convince Jacob to stay. He masks his financial motives with flattery, appealing to their family bond and begging Jacob not to leave out of love [ספורנו, שד״ל]. Some view this emotional appeal as a calculated setup, paving the way for Laban to offer Jacob a blank check to name his own wage in exchange for remaining [ביאור יש״ר].
To prove his point, Laban claims to know exactly why his fortunes have turned. The primary approach among commentators is that Laban deduced this through practical experience, observing over time that Jacob's presence was a good omen that brought success. Conversely, many commentators explain that Laban actively engaged in witchcraft, magic, and idol worship to uncover the supernatural cause of his sudden financial boom [אבן עזרא, ספורנו, העמק דבר, חזקוני, שטיינזלץ]. A unique perspective suggests Laban was not speaking of divination at all, but was simply asking for a delay, begging Jacob to pause and wait so that he could continue to profit from him a little longer before they parted ways [הכתב והקבלה].
The divine blessing Laban enjoyed took several forms. One approach highlights that the blessing manifested in the birth of sons. Before Jacob arrived, Laban's daughter Rachel was the one tending the sheep. This dangerous task indicates that Laban had no sons at the time, as he would not have risked his daughter if he had male heirs; only after Jacob's arrival were sons born to him [רש״י, מזרחי, גור אריה, צאינה וראינה]. Another approach focuses on the sheer material wealth and the massive expansion of Laban's flocks and assets [ספורנו, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, this prosperity spread through Laban's entire household, enriching even the property that Jacob never directly managed. This illustrates a broader principle: hosting a righteous person brings divine favor into a home [העמק דבר, תורה תמימה, קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. When a person faithfully fulfills their divine mission, they draw abundance not only to their immediate surroundings but to the entire world [חומש קה״ת].
Beneath Laban's polite words lies a hidden struggle. Cunningly, Laban adopts a religious and flattering tone, attributing his newfound wealth to his mystical discoveries and Jacob's spiritual merit. He hopes that Jacob will be so flattered by this recognition of his righteousness that he will agree to stay without demanding any real payment for his grueling work [רש״ר הירש]. Since the blessing included the birth of sons—a matter completely unrelated to shepherding—Laban specifically needed his magic and divination to connect this personal success back to Jacob's presence [דברי דוד, גור אריה].
Jacob, however, firmly rejects this reliance on magic and prideful flattery. As their conversation continues, Jacob deliberately avoids claiming that the wealth arrived solely because of his spiritual merit, acting out of deep humility. Instead, he emphasizes to Laban that the abundance did not stem from abstract righteousness or mystical forces, but from his own exhausting and dedicated labor from the very moment he set foot in Laban's household [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך, רש״ר הירש, דברי דוד].