Genesis 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.