Genesis 29:2

2 He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

Genesis 29:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:2

And he looked, and behold a well in the field
Near Haran; he might purposely look out for a well, as knowing that there people frequently came for water for their families, or shepherds to water their flocks, of whom he might get intelligence concerning Laban's family, and where they dwelt; or he might lookout for this particular well, where his grandfather's servant had met with his mother Rebekah, of which he had been informed, and very probably had some directions how to find it: of this well, (See Gill on Genesis 24:11); to which may be added what another traveller says ^F26, there is in this city (Orpha, the same with Haran) a fountain, which both Jews, Armenians, and Turks, reported unto us was Jacob's well, and that here he served his uncle Laban: near Alexandretta is a fine well, called Jacob's well, and its water is excellent; not far from which the Greeks say are the remains of Laban's house ^F1: and, lo, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it;
in order to be watered, when it should be opened: for out of that well they watered the flocks;
the shepherds: and a great stone [was] upon the well's mouth;
so that until that was rolled off, they could not be watered, which was the reason of their lying by it: this stone was laid upon it, partly to keep the water from flowing out, and being wasted, that there might be a sufficiency for the flocks; and partly to keep the water pure and clean, that it might be wholesome for the flocks, as well as entire for the use of those that had a property in it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Cartwright's Preacher's Travels, p. 15.
F1 Egmont and Heyman's Travels, vol. 2. p. 329.

Genesis 29:2 In-Context

1 Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east.

2 He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

3 It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well.

4 Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.

5 “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked. “Yes, we do,” they replied.