Genesis 29:1

Jacob meets Rachel

1 Jacob got to his feet and set out for the land of the easterners.

Genesis 29:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:1

Then Jacob went on his journey
After the above vow at Bethel, and having had some intimation that what he desired would be granted him; or "he lift up his feet" ^F24, which not only shows that he walked afoot, but that he went on his journey with great cheerfulness; for having such gracious promises made him, that God would be with him, and keep him, and supply him with all necessaries, and return him again to the land of Canaan, which made his heart glad; his heart, as the Jewish writers say ^F25, lift up his legs, and he walked apace, and with great alacrity: and came into the land of the people of the east;
the land of Mesopotamia or Syria, which lay to the east of the land of Canaan, see ( Isaiah 9:11 ) ; hither he came by several days' journeys.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F24 (wylgr-avyw) "et levavit pedes suos", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Fagius; "sustulit", Drusius, Schmidt.
F25 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 62. 2. Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 29:1 In-Context

1 Jacob got to his feet and set out for the land of the easterners.

2 He saw a well in the field in front of him, near which three flocks of sheep were lying down. That well was their source for water because the flocks drank from that well. A huge stone covered the well's opening.

3 When all of the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well's opening, water the sheep, and return the stone to its place at the well's opening.

4 Jacob said to them, "Where are you from, my brothers?" They said, "We're from Haran."

5 Then he said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" They said, "We know him."