2 And he looked, H7200 and behold a well H875 in the field, H7704 and, lo, there were three H7969 flocks H5739 of sheep H6629 lying H7257 by it; for out of that well H875 they watered H8248 the flocks: H5739 and a great H1419 stone H68 was upon the well's H875 mouth. H6310
And he made H1288 his camels H1581 to kneel down H1288 without H2351 the city H5892 by H413 a well H875 of water H4325 at the time H6256 of the evening, H6153 even the time H6256 that women go out H3318 to draw H7579 water.
Now when Pharaoh H6547 heard H8085 this thing, H1697 he sought H1245 to slay H2026 Moses. H4872 But Moses H4872 fled H1272 from the face H6440 of Pharaoh, H6547 and dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of Midian: H4080 and he sat down H3427 by a well. H875 Now the priest H3548 of Midian H4080 had seven H7651 daughters: H1323 and they came H935 and drew H1802 water, and filled H4390 the troughs H7298 to water H8248 their father's H1 flock. H6629
He maketh me to lie down H7257 in green H1877 pastures: H4999 he leadeth H5095 me beside the still H4496 waters. H4325
Look H7200 not upon me, because I am black, H7840 because the sun H8121 hath looked H7805 upon me: my mother's H517 children H1121 were angry H2787 with me; they made H7760 me the keeper H5201 of the vineyards; H3754 but mine own vineyard H3754 have I not kept. H5201 Tell H5046 me, O thou whom my soul H5315 loveth, H157 where thou feedest, H7462 where H349 thou makest thy flock to rest H7257 at noon: H6672 for H4100 why should I be as one that turneth aside H5844 by the flocks H5739 of thy companions? H2270
Now G1161 Jacob's G2384 well G4077 was G2258 there. G1563 Jesus G2424 therefore, G3767 being wearied G2872 with G1537 his journey, G3597 sat G2516 thus G3779 on G1909 the well: G4077 and it was G2258 about G5616 the sixth G1623 hour. G5610
But G1161 whosoever G3739 G302 drinketh G4095 of G1537 the water G5204 that G3739 I G1473 shall give G1325 him G846 shall G1372 never G1519 G165 G3364 thirst; G1372 but G235 the water G5204 that G3739 I shall give G1325 him G846 shall be G1096 in G1722 him G846 a well G4077 of water G5204 springing up G242 into G1519 everlasting G166 life. G2222
For G3754 the Lamb G721 which G3588 is in the midst G303 G3319 of the throne G2362 shall feed G4165 them, G846 and G2532 shall lead G3594 them G846 unto G1909 living G2198 fountains G4077 of waters: G5204 and G2532 God G2316 shall wipe away G1813 all G3956 tears G1144 from G575 their G846 eyes. G3788
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 29
Commentary on Genesis 29 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 29
Ge 29:1-35. The Well of Haran.
1. Then Jacob went, &c.—Hebrew, "lifted up his feet." He resumed his way next morning with a light heart and elastic step after the vision of the ladder; for tokens of the divine favor tend to quicken the discharge of duty (Ne 8:10).
and came into the land, &c.—Mesopotamia and the whole region beyond the Euphrates are by the sacred writers designated "the East" (Jud 6:3; 1Ki 4:30; Job 1:3). Between the first and the second clause of this verse is included a journey of four hundred miles.
2. And he looked, &c.—As he approached the place of his destination, he, according to custom, repaired to the well adjoining the town where he would obtain an easy introduction to his relatives.
3. thither were all the flocks gathered; and a stone, &c.—In Arabia, owing to the shifting sands and in other places, owing to the strong evaporation, the mouth of a well is generally covered, especially when it is private property. Over many is laid a broad, thick, flat stone, with a round hole cut in the middle, forming the mouth of the cistern. This hole is covered with a heavy stone which it would require two or three men to roll away. Such was the description of the well at Haran.
4. Jacob said, My brethren—Finding from the shepherds who were reposing there with flocks and who all belonged to Haran, that his relatives in Haran were well and that one of the family was shortly expected, he enquired why they were idling the best part of the day there instead of watering their flocks and sending them back to pasture.
8. They said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered—In order to prevent the consequences of too frequent exposure in places where water is scarce, the well is not only covered, but it is customary to have all the flocks collected round it before the covering is removed in presence of the owner or one of his representatives; and it was for this reason that those who were reposing at the well of Haran with the three flocks were waiting the arrival of Rachel.
9-11. While he yet spake with them, Rachel came—Among the pastoral tribes the young unmarried daughters of the greatest sheiks tend the flocks, going out at sunrise and continuing to watch their fleecy charges till sunset. Watering them, which is done twice a day, is a work of time and labor, and Jacob rendered no small service in volunteering his aid to the young shepherdess. The interview was affecting, the reception welcome, and Jacob forgot all his toils in the society of his Mesopotamian relatives. Can we doubt that he returned thanks to God for His goodness by the way?
12. Jacob told Rachel, &c.—According to the practice of the East, the term "brother" is extended to remote degrees of relationship, as uncle, cousin, or nephew.
14-20. he abode a month—Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.
17. Leah tender-eyed—that is, soft blue eyes—thought a blemish.
Rachel beautiful and well-favored—that is, comely and handsome in form. The latter was Jacob's choice.
18. I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy daughter—A proposal of marriage is made to the father without the daughter being consulted, and the match is effected by the suitor either bestowing costly presents on the family, or by giving cattle to the value the father sets upon his daughter, or else by giving personal services for a specified period. The last was the course necessity imposed on Jacob; and there for seven years he submitted to the drudgery of a hired shepherd, with the view of obtaining Rachel. The time went rapidly away; for even severe and difficult duties become light when love is the spring of action.
21. Jacob said, Give me my wife—At the expiry of the stipulated term the marriage festivities were held. But an infamous fraud was practised on Jacob, and on his showing a righteous indignation, the usage of the country was pleaded in excuse. No plea of kindred should ever be allowed to come in opposition to the claim of justice. But this is often overlooked by the selfish mind of man, and fashion or custom rules instead of the will of God. This was what Laban did, as he said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born." But, then, if that were the prevailing custom of society at Haran, he should have apprized his nephew of it at an early period in an honorable manner. This, however, is too much the way with the people of the East still. The duty of marrying an elder daughter before a younger, the tricks which parents take to get off an elder daughter that is plain or deformed and in which they are favored by the long bridal veil that entirely conceals her features all the wedding day, and the prolongation for a week of the marriage festivities among the greater sheiks, are accordant with the habits of the people in Arabia and Armenia in the present day.
28. gave him Rachel also—It is evident that the marriage of both sisters took place nearly about the same time, and that such a connection was then allowed, though afterwards prohibited (Le 18:18).
29. gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah to be her maid—A father in good circumstances still gives his daughter from his household a female slave, over whom the young wife, independently of her husband, has the absolute control.
31. Leah … hated—that is, not loved so much as she ought to have been. Her becoming a mother ensured her rising in the estimation both of her husband and of society.
32-35. son … his name Reuben—Names were also significant; and those which Leah gave to her sons were expressive of her varying feelings of thankfulness or joy, or allusive to circumstances in the history of the family. There was piety and wisdom in attaching a signification to names, as it tended to keep the bearer in remembrance of his duty and the claims of God.