INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 29 This chapter informs us of Jacob's coming to a well near Haran, where meeting with some shepherds he inquires after Laban, Genesis 29:1; and there also with Rachel his daughter, the shepherds made known to him, and acquainted her who he was, Genesis 29:9; upon which she r... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JACOB WENT ON HIS JOURNEY,.... After the above vow at Bethel, and having had some intimation that what he desired would be granted him; or "he lift up his feet" x, which not only shows that he walked afoot, but that he went on his journey with great cheerfulness; for having such gracious promis... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A WELL IN THE FIELD,.... Near Haran; he might purposely look out for a well, as knowing that there people frequently came for water for their families, or shepherds to water their flocks, of whom he might get intelligence concerning Laban's family, and where they dwelt; or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THITHER WERE ALL THE FLOCKS GATHERED,.... The three above mentioned, Genesis 29:2: AND THEY ROLLED THE STONE FROM THE WELL'S MOUTH, AND WATERED THE SHEEP; that is, when they watered the sheep, they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well in order to do it; for as yet the flocks,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB SAID UNTO THEM,.... To the shepherds, though not expressly mentioned; it cannot be imagined he spoke to the flocks, but to the keepers of them: MY BRETHREN, WHENCE [BE] YE? a kind and affable way of speaking, used even to strangers, since all men are brethren by nature; or might be used b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, KNOW YE LABAN THE SON OF NAHOR?.... He was the son of Bethuel, and grandson of Nahor; grandsons being called the sons of their grandfather; and Nahor might be more known than Bethuel, Haran being Nahor's city, Genesis 24:10; and not Bethuel his mother's father, but Laban her b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, [IS] HE WELL?.... In good health, he and his family, or "is peace unto him" b; does he enjoy prosperity and happiness? for this word was used in the eastern nations, and still is, for all kind of felicity: AND THEY SAID, [HE IS] WELL; or has peace; he and his family are in go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, LO, [IT IS] YET HIGH DAY,.... Noonday, when the sun is highest; at which time in those hot countries flocks used to be made to lie down in shady places, and by still waters, to which the allusion is in Psalms 23:2; or however the sun was still up very high, and there was a great deal of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID, WE CANNOT,.... That is, water the sheep; either because the stone was a great one, as Jarchi observes, and therefore used to be removed by the joint strength of all the shepherds when they came together, though Jacob rolled it away of himself afterwards; but this is imputed to his gre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE HE YET SPAKE WITH THEM,.... While Jacob was thus discoursing with the shepherds: RACHEL CAME WITH HER FATHER'S SHEEP; to water them at the well. She was within sight when Jacob first addressed the shepherds, but now she was come to the well, or near it, with the sheep before her: FOR SHE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JACOB SAW RACHEL, THE DAUGHTER OF LABAN HIS MOTHER'S BROTHER,.... Coming with her flock towards the well, and for whom and whose flock only the shepherds might be waiting: AND THE SHEEP OF LABAN HIS MOTHER'S BROTHER; wherefore out of respect to him and his, he being so nea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB KISSED RACHEL,.... Which he did in a way of courtesy and civility; this was done after he had acquainted her with his relation to her; he saluted her upon that: AND LIFTED UP HIS VOICE, AND WEPT; for joy at the providence of God that had brought him so opportunely to the place, and at the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB TOLD RACHEL,.... Or "had told" i her; before he kissed her, and lift up his voice and wept, as Aben Ezra observes: THAT HE [WAS] HER FATHER'S BROTHER; his nephew by his sister, for such were sometimes called brethren, as Lot, Abraham's brother's son, is called his brother, Genesis 14:12:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN LABAN HEARD THE TIDINGS OF JACOB HIS SISTER'S SON,.... That there was such a man at the well, thus related to him, and what he had done there, had rolled away the stone, and watered his flock. The Jewish writers l make this report chiefly to respect his great strength showe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN SAID TO HIM, SURELY THOU [ART] MY BONE AND MY FLESH,.... Nearly allied in blood, being his sister's son: AND HE ABODE WITH HIM THE SPACE OF A MONTH; or "a month of days" m, a full month to a day; all this while feeding his flocks, and doing whatsoever service he had for him to do. m חדש... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN SAID UNTO JACOB, BECAUSE THOU [ART] MY BROTHER,.... Or nephew, his sister's son, Genesis 29:12: SHOULDEST THOU THEREFORE SERVE ME FOR NOUGHT? nearness of kin was no reason why he should serve him freely, or for nothing, but rather why he should be more kind to him than to a stranger, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN HAD TWO DAUGHTERS,.... Grown up and marriageable: AND THE NAME OF THE ELDER WAS LEAH; which signifies labour or weariness: AND THE NAME OF THE YOUNGER WAS RACHEL; before mentioned, whom Jacob met with at the well, Genesis 29:10; and whose name signifies a sheep, as before observed, Genes... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAH [WAS] TENDER EYED,.... Blear eyed, had a moisture in them, which made them red, and so she was not so agreeable to look at; though Onkelos renders the words, "the eyes of Leah were beautiful,'' as if her beauty lay in her eyes, and nowhere else; BUT RACHEL WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WELL FAVOURED; in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB LOVED RACHEL,.... As he seems to have done from the moment he saw her at the well, being beautiful, modest, humble, affable, diligent, and industrious: AND HE SAID, I WILL SERVE THEE SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL THY YOUNGER DAUGHTER: signifying, that he desired no other wages for his service th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN SAID,.... Deceitfully, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, pretending great respect for Jacob, and that what he had proposed was very agreeable to him, when he meant to impose upon him: [IT IS] BETTER THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER TO THEE, THAN THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER TO ANOTHER MAN; by which he not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB SERVED SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL,.... The whole term of time, diligently, faithfully, and patiently. Reference is had to this in Hosea 11:12: AND THEY SEEMED UNTO HIM [BUT] A FEW DAYS, FOR THE LOVE HE HAD TO HER; for though to lovers time seems long ere they enjoy the object beloved; yet Jac... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB SAID UNTO LABAN, GIVE [ME] MY WIFE,.... Meaning Rachel, who was his wife by contract; the conditions of her being his wife were now fulfilled by him, and therefore he might challenge her as his wife: FOR MY DAYS ARE NOW FULFILLED; the seven years were up he agreed to serve him for his dau... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN GATHERED TOGETHER ALL THE MEN OF THE PLACE,.... Of the city of Haran, which may be understood of the chief and principal of them, to make the marriage of his daughter public and authentic: AND MADE A FEAST; a marriage or marriage feast, as the Septuagint version, see Matthew 22:2; which w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE EVENING,.... After the feast was over, and the guests were departed; when it was night, a fit season to execute his designs, and practise deceit: THAT HE TOOK LEAH HIS DAUGHTER, AND BROUGHT HER TO HIM, to Jacob, in his apartment, his bedchamber, or to him in bed: for it i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN GAVE UNTO HIS DAUGHTER LEAH ZILPAH HIS MAID, [FOR] AN HANDMAID. It was usual to have many given them at this time, as Rebekah seems to have had, Genesis 24:59; but Leah had but one, and this was all the portion Jacob had with her. The Targum of Jonathan is, "and Laban gave her Zilpah his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, IN THE MORNING, BEHOLD, IT [WAS] LEAH,.... The morning light discovered her, and her veil being off, her tender eyes showed who she was: it is much her voice had not betrayed her; but perhaps there might be a likeness of voice in her and her sister; or she might keep silen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN SAID, IT MUST NOT BE SO DONE IN, OUR COUNTRY,.... Or "in our place" s; in this our city it is not usual and customary to do so; he does not deny what he had done in beguiling him, nor the agreement he had made with him, but pleads the custom of the place as contrary to it: TO GIVE THE YOU... [ Continue Reading ]
FULFIL HER WEEK,.... Not Rachel's week, or a week of years of servitude for her, but Leah's week, or the week of seven days of feasting for her marriage; for a marriage feast used to be kept seven days, according to the Jewish writers t, and as it seems from Judges 14:17; and the Targum of Jerusale... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB DID SO, AND FULFILLED HER WEEK,.... The week of the days of the feast of Leah, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; he agreed to it; during which time he cohabited with Leah as his wife, and which confirmed the marriage: how justifiable this was, must be left. The marrying of two sisters was fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABAN GAVE TO RACHEL HIS DAUGHTER, BILHAH HIS HANDMAID TO BE HER MAID. As he had given Leah an handmaid he gave Rachel another; and this in the Targum of Jonathan is said to be a daughter of Laban by a concubine also, as the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WENT IN ALSO UNTO RACHEL,.... Cohabited with her as his wife: AND HE LOVED ALSO RACHEL MORE THAN LEAH; she was his first love, and he retained the same love for her he ever had; as appears by his willingness to agree to the same condition of seven years' servitude more for her sake, and whic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT LEAH [WAS] HATED,.... Not properly and simply hated by Jacob, as appears by his doing the duty of an husband to her, but comparatively; she was less loved than Rachel: and there are many things to be said for it; she was not beautiful as Rachel was; she was not Jacob's cho... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LEAH CONCEIVED, AND BARE A SON, AND SHE CALLED HIS NAME REUBEN,.... That is, "see the son", as if she by this name called upon her husband, her friends, and all about her, to look at him, and view him; perhaps hoping and imagining he might be the famous son, the promised seed, the Messiah that w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, AND BARE A SON,.... As soon as she well could. The Jews x have a notion, that Leah brought forth her sons at seven months' end: AND SAID, BECAUSE THE LORD HATH HEARD THAT I [WAS] HATED; or less loved than her sister: HE HATH THEREFORE GIVEN ME THIS [SON] ALSO; to comfort h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, AND BARE A SON,.... A third time, as soon as she well could after the former birth: AND SAID, NOW THIS TIME WILL MY HUSBAND BE JOINED TO ME; in greater affection and stronger ties of love, and cleave unto her: BECAUSE I HAVE BORN HIM THREE SONS; which she considered as a t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, AND BARE A SON,.... A fourth son, a son in whose line, and from whose tribe, the Messiah was to spring: AND SHE SAID, NOW WILL I PRAISE THE LORD; she had praised him before for looking on her affliction, and hearing her cries, and giving her one son after another; but now s... [ Continue Reading ]