| Geneva Study Bible Then Jacob {a} went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. (a) Or, lifted up his feet. King James Translators' Notes went...: Heb. lift up his feet people: Heb. children Scofield Reference Notes [1] and came into the land Jacob at Haran becomes a sterling illustration, if not type, of the nation descended from him in its present long dispersion. Like Israel, he was: (1) Out of the place of blessing Gen 26:3. (2) without an altar Hos 3:4,5. (3) gained an evil name Gen 31:1 Rom 2:17-24. (4) but was under the covenant care of Jehovah Gen 28:13,14 Rom 11:1,25-30. (5) and was ultimately brought back Gen 31:3 35:1-4 Ezek 37:21-23. The personal lesson is obvious: while Jacob is not forsaken, he is permitted to reap the shame and sorrow of his self-chosen way. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary CHAPTER 29 Ge 29:1-35. The Well of Haran. 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 (Ne 8:10). and came into the land, &c.-Mesopotamia and the whole region beyond the Euphrates are by the sacred writers designated "the East" (Jud 6:3; 1Ki 4:30; Job 1:3). Between the first and the second clause of this verse is included a journey of four hundred miles. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 29:1-8 Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern which our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is known of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water was scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interests should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherds came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, they watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power, Pr 31:26. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him. |