Genesis 29:1. People of the east— Mesopotamia, and particularly Haran, lay northward of Beth-el: Babylon, however, lay eastward from both places; and therefore, Mesopotamia being part of the Babylonish dominions, the Babylonians might well be called the people of the east; and Jacob is only said to have gone into a country of which they were the lords and masters. See Bedford's Scripture Chronology. read more
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 ( :-). and came into the land, c.—Mesopotamia and the whole region beyond the Euphrates are by the sacred writers designated "the East" (Judges 6:3 1 Kings 4:30; Job 1:3). Between the first and the second clause of this verse is included a journey of four hundred miles. read more
"More than any other book in the OT, Genesis emphasizes the east (see Genesis 3:24; Genesis 4:16; Genesis 10:30; Genesis 11:2; Genesis 13:11; Genesis 25:6 [and Genesis 29:1]) as a direction of some significance." [Note: Hamilton, The Book . . . Chapters 18-50, p. 252.] Jacob had travelled about 450 miles from Beersheba to Haran (Genesis 29:4). Notice the absence of prayer for divine guidance to the woman of God’s choosing, which dominates the story of Abraham’s servant’s visit to the same area... read more
7. Jacob’s marriages and Laban’s deception 29:1-30The long account of Jacob’s relationship with Laban (chs. 29-31) is the centerpiece of the Jacob story (chs. 25-35). It is a story within a story, and it too has a chiastic structure. At its center is the account of the birth of Jacob’s sons, the forefathers of the tribes of Israel (Genesis 29:31-35).Jacob met Rachel at the well and watered the flocks in spite of opposition against doing so. His love for her led him to serve Laban for seven... read more
Jacob in Mesopotamia with LabanThe divine care and blessing promised to Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:15) are illustrated in the narrative of the sojourn of the patriarch at Haran, which apparently lasted for twenty years (Genesis 31:41), after which he returned to the land of promise, blessed with a numerous family, and rich in goods. But equally marked is the severe discipline to which he was subjected in order that the darker features in his character might be purified, and that he might learn... read more
XXIX.MARRIAGE OF JACOB WITH LEAH AND RACHEL.(1) Jacob went on his journey.—Heb., Jacob lifted up his feet, that is, hastened forward. Confirmed in the possession of the birthright by God as well as man, and encouraged by the promise of the Divine presence, and of a safe return home, he casts no wistful glances back, but pursues his journey under the inspiriting influence of hope.The people of the East.—Usually the Arabians are designated by this phrase, but it here signifies the tribes who... read more
THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS.Abraham begat Isaac—The Tôldôth in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired historian uses only so much of this as is necessary for tracing the development of the Divine plan of human redemption.The Syrian.—Really, the Aramean, or descendant of Aram. (See Genesis 10:22-23.) The... read more
Rachel the Placid Genesis 29:0 You will meet her type continually in the modern world. Do you not know women who seem to go through life easily? I. When Rachel is keeping her father's sheep at the Well of Haran she sees advancing a young man. It is her cousin Jacob. He has come as a fugitive, flying from his brother's vengeance. Jacob breaks into the red heat of love. He is dazzled by Rachel's beauty. He makes an offer to Laban for the hand of his younger daughter. He promises to serve him for... read more
CHAPTER 29 Jacob with Laban 1. Jacob’s arrival at Padan-aram (Genesis 29:1-14 ) 2. His service for Rachel (Genesis 29:15-20 ) 3. Laban’s deception (Genesis 29:21-25 ) 4. Jacob receives Rachel (Genesis 29:26-31 ) 5. Leah’s sons (Genesis 29:32-35 ) The Lord brought him to Padan-aram, where he was to dwell as an exile for twenty years. During these twenty years Jehovah did not manifest Himself to him, even as Israel dispersed among the nations has no communications from the Lord. His... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 29:1-6
"Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and the stone upon the wells mouth was great. And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the wells mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the wells mouth in its place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye?... read more