“Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. went: Heb. lift up his feet people: Heb. children”
East. Mesopotamia, where Laban dwelt. (Haydock)
“And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.”
Stone. Not of such an immoderate size, but that Jacob could remove it. In that country water was scarce, and preserved with care. (Calmet)
“And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.”
Sheep. Instead of this, Kennicott would read shepherds; as also ver. 2. and 8. In which last, the Samaritan, Arabic and Septuagint agree with him; as the two former do likewise in this third verse. (Haydock)
“And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.”
Brethren. Jacob understands and speaks their language, either because it was not very different from his own, or he had learnt the Chaldean language from his mother. In the days of Ezechias, the Jews did not understand it. (4 Kings xviii. 26; Jeremias v. 15.) (Calmet)
“And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.”
Of Nachor, by Bathuel, who was not so well known. (Menochius)
“And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. Is he: Heb. Is there peace to him?”
Health. Hebrew, “in peace;” by which name all good things are designated. (Du Hamel)
“And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. it is: Heb. yet the day is great”
To feed. He shews his knowledge of pastoral affairs, and his concern for them. (Menochius)
“And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.”
She. Hebrew He, ipsa. Eva is put for Eia, the letters being similar, chap. iii. 15. (Haydock) — Other copies agree with the Vulgate and the Septuagint (Calmet)
“And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.”
Cousin-german, and uncle, are put for brevity’s sake by St. Jerome, instead of the Hebrew, “the daughter of Laban, brother of Rebecca his mother,” and “his mother’s brother.” (Haydock)
“And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.”
Kissed her, according to the custom of the country, (Chap. xxiv. 26,) having told her who he was. He was not so young, that she could suspect him guilty of an unbecoming levity, being above 77 years old, chap. xxvii. 1. (Haydock) — In that age of simplicity, beautiful maids might converse with shepherds, without suspicion or danger. (Menochius) — Wept, through tenderness, and perhaps on account of his present inability to make her a suitable present. (Calmet)
“And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.”
Brother, or nephew. The name of brother, in Scripture, almost corresponds with the Consanguineus of the Latins, or our relation.
“And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. the space: Heb. a month of days”
My flesh, entitled to my utmost protection and friendship. (Calmet)
“Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.”
Blear-eyed. Hebrew, racoth. Watery and tender, unable to look steadfastly at any object, but at the same time very beautiful. (Onkelos; &c.) — The beauty of Rachel was perfect; not confined to one part. These two sisters represented the synagogue and the Church of Christ. Lia, though married first, never gains the entire affection of her husband. (Calmet)
“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.”
For Rachel. It was then the custom to buy or to pay a dowry for a wife. (Chap. xxxiv. 12; Osee iii. 2.) Herodotus says, i. 196, that the Babylonians sold their beautiful women as high as possible, and gave part of the price to help off the more deformed. The Turks do the like. (Calmet) — A few, &c. So highly did he esteem Rachel, that he thought he had obtained her for just nothing, though delays naturally seem long to lovers. (Tirinus) — Calmet supposes that he was married to her the second month after he arrived at Haran; and on this account, easily explains his words, as love made all labour tolerable, and even easy, in the enjoyment of the beautiful Rachel. Usher also places the birth of Ruben in the first year of Jacob’s service, A. 2246[the year of the world 2246]. But Salien and the context decide, that he waited full seven years, and then obtained Lia, by fraud, of Laban; and seven days after, Rachel. (Haydock) — He was then 84 years old! (Du Hamel)
“And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.”
Go in, &c. To consummate my marriage; (Menochius) as the time is expired. (Haydock)
“And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.”
Friends. Hebrew, Septuagint and Chaldean say, “all the men of that place.” He was rich, and, though very greedy, could not well avoid conforming to the custom of making a splendid entertainment on such a joyful occasion. (Haydock)
“And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.”
A handmaid, by way of dowry, as he did afterwards to Rachel. Both sisters considered it so small, as to say they had nothing, chap. xxxi. 14. — Lia, who committed a great sin of adultery, though she was more excusable than Laban; inasmuch as she obeyed his order. (Menochius) — Jacob might justly have refused to marry her; and then what a dishonour would have been entailed upon her for life! In consequence of this imposition, the legitimacy of Ruben’s conception was rendered doubtful. We may suppose, that shame hindered Lia from opening her mouth; so that Jacob had no means of discovering the cheat till day-break, having gone into the nuptial chamber after it was dark, according to custom, and the woman being also covered with a veil, Tobias viii. 1. Hence Jacob was guilty of no fault, as his mistake was involuntary. (Haydock) — He afterwards consented to marry her, (Calmet) probably on the second day of the feast. (Haydock)
“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. country: Heb. place”
Custom. This appears to be a false pretext: for all the people saw that Rachel was adorned like the intended bride, (Haydock) and were invited to her wedding. (Menochius)
“And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.”
Week. Seven days; not years, as Josephus would have it. The nuptial feast lasted a week, Judges xiv. 15.
“And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.”
Latter. Jacob is the figure of Jesus Christ; who rejected the synagogue, and treated his Church, gathered from all nations, with the utmost affection. (Calmet) — Lia means “painful or labourious;” and Rachel a sheep; denoting, that a quiet contemplative life must be united with an active one; and that the Church must suffer here, and be crowned in heaven. (Haydock) (St. Gregory, Mor. vi. 28.)
“And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”
Despised, or loved less; so Christ orders us to hate father, &c., Matthew x. 17.[37.?][Luke xiv. 26.] (Calmet)
“And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. Reuben: that is, See a son”
Ruben. “See the son, or the son of vision;” alluding perhaps, distantly, to ver. 24, He saw Lia. (Haydock)
“And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. Simeon: that is, Hearing”
Despised, or the hated wife, Deuteronomy xxi. 15. — Simeon, “hearing or obedient.”
“And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. Levi: that is, Joined”
Levi, “adhesion or union.” My husband will now stick to me.
“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. Judah: that is, Praise left: Heb. stood from bearing”
Juda, “praise or confession.” (Calmet) — Left bearing for a time. (Haydock) — In the imposition of these names, Lia testified her gratitude to God. (Tirinus)