Genesis 29:8

29:8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water ¹  the sheep.”

Genesis 29:2-3

29:2 He saw ²  in the field a well with ³  three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now ⁴  a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 29:3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds ⁵  would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth.

Genesis 32:19

32:19 He also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying, “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. ⁶ 

[29:8]  ¹ tn The perfect verbal forms with the vav (ו) consecutive carry on the sequence begun by the initial imperfect form.

[29:2]  ² tn Heb “and he saw, and look.” As in Gen 28:12-15, the narrator uses the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) here and in the next clause to draw the reader into the story.

[29:2]  ³ tn Heb “and look, there.”

[29:2]  ⁴ tn The disjunctive clause (introduced by the noun with the prefixed conjunction) provides supplemental information that is important to the story.

[29:3]  ³ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the shepherds) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “And he commanded also the second, also the third, also all the ones going after the herds, saying: ‘According to this word you will speak when you find him.’”