THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Jacob, having crafted a reasonable justification, responds by saying, "My lord is aware that the children are young and that I have both small and large livestock to tend to. If I push them too hard for even a single day, all the livestock will perish." He explains that he cannot hasten his journey; he must proceed steadily and gradually for the well-being of the children and the animals, to avoid causing them undue strain through excessive effort.