Genesis 29:1-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:8

And they said, we cannot ,.... That is, water the sheep; either because the stone was a great one, as Jarchi observes, and therefore used to be removed by the joint strength of all the shepherds when they came together, though Jacob rolled it away of himself afterwards; but this is imputed to his great strength: or rather it was a custom that obtained among them, or an agreement made between them, that the stone should not be removed from the mouth of the well, and any flock watered: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:9

And while he yet spake with them ,.... While Jacob was thus discoursing with the shepherds: Rachel came with her father's sheep ; to water them at the well. She was within sight when Jacob first addressed the shepherds, but now she was come to the well, or near it, with the sheep before her: for she kept them : or "she was the shepherdess" F4 כי רעה הוא "quia pastor illa", Montanus, "pastrix", Schmidt. ; the chief one; she might have servants under her to do some parts of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:10

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother's brother ,.... Coming with her flock towards the well, and for whom and whose flock only the shepherds might be waiting: and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother ; wherefore out of respect to him and his, he being so nearly allied to him, it was that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth , either with the help of the shepherds, or of himself by his own strength; which the Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:11

And Jacob kissed Rachel ,.... Which he did in a way of courtesy and civility; this was done after he had acquainted her with his relation to her; he saluted her upon that: and lifted up his voice, and wept ; for joy at the providence of God that had brought him so opportunely to the place, and at the sight of a person so nearly related to him; and who he hoped would be his wife, and was the person designed of God for him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:12

And Jacob told Rachel ,.... Or "had told" F9 ויגד "et puntiaverat", Pagninus, Montanus; "renuntiaverat", Vatablus. her; before he kissed her, and lift up his voice and wept, as Aben Ezra observes: that he was her father's brother ; his nephew by his sister, for such were sometimes called brethren, as Lot, Abraham's brother's son, is called his brother, Genesis 14:12 , and that he was Rebekah's son ; sister to her father, and aunt to her, and whose name and relation she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:13

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son ,.... That there was such a man at the well, thus related to him, and what he had done there, had rolled away the stone, and watered his flock. The Jewish writers F12 Targ. Jon. in loc. Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 36.) make this report chiefly to respect his great strength showed in the above instance, with other things: that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:14

And Laban said to him, surely thou art my bone and my flesh ,.... Nearly allied in blood, being his sister's son: and he abode with him the space of a month ; or "a month of days" F13 חדש ימים "mensem dierum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Schmidt. , a full month to a day; all this while feeding his flocks, and doing whatsoever service he had for him to do. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:15

And Laban said unto Jacob, because thou art my brother ,.... Or nephew, his sister's son; see Gill on Genesis 29:12 , shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought ? nearness of kin was no reason why he should serve him freely, or for nothing, but rather why he should be more kind to him than to a stranger, and give him better wages: tell me, what shall thy wages be ? by the day, or month, or year; signifying he was willing to give him anything that was just and reasonable,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:16

And Laban had two daughters ,.... Grown up and marriageable: and the name of the elder was Leah ; which signifies labour or weariness: and the name of the younger was Rachel ; before mentioned, whom Jacob met with at the well, Genesis 29:10 ; and whose name signifies a sheep, as before observed; see Gill on Genesis 29:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:17

Leah was tender eyed ,.... Blear eyed, had a moisture in them, which made them red, and so she was not so agreeable to look at; though Onkelos renders the words,"the eyes of Leah were beautiful,'as if her beauty lay in her eyes, and nowhere else: but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured ; in all parts, in the form of her countenance, in her shape and stature, and in her complexion, her hair black, her flesh white and ruddy, as Ben Melech observes. read more

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