Genesis 29:1-35
Jacob <03290> [Jacob.]
moved on <05375 07272> [went on his journey. Heb. lifted up his feet. came.]
people <01121> [people. Heb. children. east.]
The district of Mesopotamia, and the whole country beyond the Euphrates, are called Kedem, or the East, in the Sacred Writings.
well ................. well ........... well <0875> [a well.]
three <07969> [there.]
large stone <068 01419> [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.
flocks <05739> [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.
Haran <02771> [Of Haran.]
[Charran.]
grandson ... Nahor <01121 05152> [son of.]
[Is he well? Heb. there peace to him?]
Since <02005> [Lo.]
day <01419 03117> [it is yet high day. Heb. yet the day is great.]
flocks <05739> [until.]
rolled <01556> [roll.]
Rachel <07354> [Rachel.]
tending <07462> [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.
rolled <01556> [rolled.]
kissed <05401> [kissed.]
weep <01058> [and wept.]
relative <0251> [brother.]
ran <07323> [and she.]
news <08088> [tidings. Heb. hearing. he ran.]
kissed <05401> [kissed.]
<01697> [all these.]
flesh <06106> [art my.]
month <02320 03117> [the space of a month. Heb. a month of days.]
Tell ..... wages <05046 04909> [tell me.]
Leah <03812> [was Leah.]
Rachel <07354> [Rachel.]
lovely .... beautiful <03303> [beautiful.]
love <0157> [loved.]
serve <05647> [I will serve.]
In ancient times, it was a custom among many nations to give dowries for their wives; but Jacob, being poor, offered for Rachel seven year's service.
worked <05647> [A.M. 2251. B.C. 1753. served.]
<0160> [for the love.]
Give .... wife <03051 0802> [Give me.]
time <03117> [my days.]
have marital relations <0935> [go in.]
prepared <06213> [and made.]
brought ......... had marital relations <0935> [brought her.]
Zilpah <02153> [Zilpah.]
morning <01242> [in the morning.]
tricked <07411> [wherefore.]
here <04725> [country. Heb. place.]
week <07620> [week.]
give <05414> [we will.]
When ... completed .... week <07620 04390> [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. 22) and probably Laban wished to keep the fraud from the public eye. It is perfectly plain that Jacob did not serve seven years more before he got Rachel to wife.
Bilhah <01090> [Bilhah.]
loved <0157> [he loved.]
worked <05647> [served.]
saw <07200> [saw.]
unloved <08130> [was hated.]
enabled ... to become pregnant <06605> [he opened.]
named <08034> [A.M. 2252. B.C. 1752. his name.]
Reuben <07205> [Reuben. that is, See a son. looked.]
Lord <03068> [A.M. 2253. B.C. 1751. Because.]
So she <07121> [called.]
Simeon <08095> [Simeon. that is, Hearing.]
named <08034> [A.M. 2254. B.C. 1750. was.]
Levi <03878> [Levi. that is, joined.]
she <07121> [A.M. 2255. B.C. 1749. called.]
Judah <03063> [Judah. that is, Praise. left bearing. Heb. stood from bearing.]
That is, for a time; for she had several children afterwards. (See ch. 30:17, etc.).
Genesis 37:2
account <08435> [the generations.]
{Toledoth,} the history, narrative, or account of the lives and actions of Jacob and his sons; for in this general sense the original must be taken, as in the whole ensuing history there is no genealogy of Jacob's family.
wives <0802> [wives.]
bad report <01681 07451> [evil report.]
Genesis 37:2
account <08435> [the generations.]
{Toledoth,} the history, narrative, or account of the lives and actions of Jacob and his sons; for in this general sense the original must be taken, as in the whole ensuing history there is no genealogy of Jacob's family.
wives <0802> [wives.]
bad report <01681 07451> [evil report.]
Genesis 22:14
called <07121> [called.]
<03070> [Jehovah-jireh. i.e., The Lord will see, or provide.]
mountain <02022> [In.]
provides .............. provision <07200> [it shall be seen.]
"In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." The meaning is, that God, in the greatest difficulties, when all human assistance is vain, will make a suitable provision for the deliverance of those who trust in Him.
Genesis 22:1
God <0430> [A.M. 2132. B.C. 1872. Jos. Ant. God.]
tested <05254> [tempt.]
Or prove, or try, as tempt, from tento, originally signified.
[Behold, here I am. Heb. Behold me.]
Genesis 18:1
appeared <07200> [appeared.]
Mamre <04471> [Mamre.]
sitting <03427> [and he sat.]
In these verses we have a delightful picture of genuine and primitive hospitality: a venerable father sits at the tent door, not only to enjoy the current of refreshing air, but that if he saw any weary and exhausted travellers, he might invite them to rest and refresh themselves during the heat of the day, and the same custom still continues in the east. It was not the custom, nor was there any necessity, for strangers to knock at the door, or to speak first, but to stand till they were invited.
