Genesis 29:1

1 And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.

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 And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.

2 And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.

3 And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.

4 And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are ye? and they said, We are of Charrhan.

5 And he said to them, Know ye Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said, We do know .

Footnotes

• [a]. Gr. having lifted up his feet, went, etc.
• [b]. Gr. month of days.