Genesis 29:1

Jacob Flees to Haran

1 And Jacob {continued his journey} and went to 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.

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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 And Jacob {continued his journey} and went to the land of the Easterners.

2 And he looked, and behold, [there was] a well in the field, and behold, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. And the stone on the mouth of the well [was] large.

3 And [when] all the flocks were gathered there, they rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well. And they watered the sheep and returned the stone upon the mouth of the well to its place.

4 And Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where [are] you from?" And they said, "We [are] from Haran."

5 And he said to them, "Do you know Laban, son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know [him]."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "lifted up his feet"
• [b]. Or "children of the east"