Genesis 29
TSK
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

a well.

Genesis 24:11,13 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of …

Exodus 2:15,16 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses …

John 4:6,14 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his …

there.

Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

Songs 1:6,7 Look not on me, because I am black, because the sun has looked on …

Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun …

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, …

a great stone. In Arabia, and other places in the East, they cover up their wells of water, lest the sand, which is put in motion by the winds, should fill and quite stop them up. So great was their care not to leave the well open any length of time, that they waited till the flocks were all gathered together before they began to draw water; and when they had finished, the well was immediately closed again.

And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

the flocks. Instead of haadarim, 'the flocks,' the Samaritan reads haroin, 'the shepherds,' as does also the Arabic in Walton's Polyglott. This verse describes what was usually done by some mutual compact among the shepherds, and shows the purpose for which the flocks lay by the well; for the stone was not removed till all the flocks had been collected. Scott.

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

Rachel.

Genesis 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah …

Exodus 2:15,16,21 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses …

Songs 1:7,8 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make …

for she kept them. In those primitive times, a pastoral life was not only considered useful but honourable: nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from the well, or tend the sheep. Jacob, Moses, and David were shepherds.

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

fulfilled her week. The public marriage feast made on this occasion, seems to have formed the regular method of recognising the marriage, and lasted seven days: it would therefore have been improper to have broken off the solemnities to which all the men of the place had been invited (ver.

Genesis 29:22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

saw.

Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people …

was hated.

Genesis 29:30 And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than …

Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father …

Deuteronomy 21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they …

Malachi 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for …

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and …

Matthew 10:37 He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: …

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, …

John 12:25 He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life …

he opened.

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children: and she had an handmaid, …

Genesis 20:18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, …

Genesis 21:1,2 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah …

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: …

Genesis 30:1,2,22 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied …

Judges 13:2,3 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, …

1 Samuel 1:5,20,27 But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but …

1 Samuel 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bore three …

Psalm 127:3 See, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb …

Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they …

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission

Bible Hub
Genesis 28
Top of Page
Top of Page