But, however that may be, it is impossible not to be impressed by the remarkable manner in which Jacob, both in the brijjhter and in the darker as|iects of his character, is the prototj'pe of his descendants. His doubtful qualities e.xactly recall that remarkable faculty of acquiring wealtii and inlluence which the Jew possesses in such an extraordinary degree, and which, as must be admitted by his best friends, he is unfortunately apt to exercise with an exaggerated regard to self- interest. ' By Jacob's peculiar discipline of exile and suflering, a true counterpart is produced of the special faults and special gifts, knomi to us chielly tiirough his persecuted descendants in the Middle Ages. Professor Blunt has, with much ingenuity, pomted out how Jacob seems to have "learned, like maltreated animals, to have the /ear uf mnn luibituaUy before his eyes."X In Jacob we see the same timid, cautious watchfulness that we know- so well, though under darker colours, through our great masters of fiction, in Shylock of Venice, and Isaac of York. But no less, in the nobler side of his career, do we have the germs of the unbroken endurance, the undying resolution, which keeps the nation alive still even in its present outcast condition, and which was the basis, in its brighter days, of the heroic zeal, long-sutl'ering, and hope of Moses, of David, of Jeremiah, of the Alaccabeea, of the twelve Jewish apostles, and the first martyr, Stephen.'!
Literature. — Comma, on Gen. ; Ewald, Hist. i. 341-^G2 (who brings out well the dramatic aspect* of parta of Jacob'a cart'er) ; Stanley, Jrwuh Church, vol. i. LecL III. ; F. W. Robertson, A'oles on GenesU, and Sfrnums, i. 40 (T. (on the wrealllnj: at Penuel). For post-Biblical Jewiab \'iewB atxiut Jacob, it must auHice to refer to the Tarinima on Gn, the Mtdrash BrrfthUh Jiabba (tr. Wunsche, 1n>')), tlie Book of Jubilees (Dillm. in Ewald'8 yoArt. iii.; lionsch, 1S74 ; Charles, 169.i), the Mid- nujbim tr^ in Rdnsch. X04) ff., and art. Jacob iu Uamburver'a lieal-Eivcyclopudu /. liiUi u. Talmud.
2. i'lcLKu^) The father of Joseph the husband of Mary (Mt l"'). S. R. Driver.
JACOB'S WELL.— The ancient records contain no account of Jacob having dug a well. The earliest mention of it occurs in Jn 4* (irirrt toO 'Ian j.a). There, however, it is taken as matter of common belief that the well by which our Saviour conversed with the woman ot Samaria was mads by the patriarch. The traditions of Jew, Moslem, and Christian concur in identifying this well with that now universally known by the name lUr Yiikiib, or ' .lacob's well.' The Samaritans, who have dwelt in the locality for about 23iiO years, have never wavered in their conviction that this was the work of Jacob. The circumstances con- nected with the founding of their community would lead them to make the moat of all tradi- tional lus-sociations which their iieighl>oiirluKxl allorded, with the fathers of Israel. That they were tempted in some ca.sc8 to invent such aasiocia- tions, seems all too likely ; but there are ele-
• Ewald, Hut. I. S.1P, .178 f. : ct. Dillm. pp. S«0. 40a
t NVellh. ro'np rr bricllv HiX. S'."4 ; St«de, W«rA. L
147, 164 ; Kiltel. - il. TiJ); Sloore, Judgrj, p. S40t.-
who suppoiw thii' ■■ ri-ft-rred to look place when tha
l!4ra<-1il<-:i, after ti :i i .vnl, tlrat begmo to eat*bliah liicm
».-1m-.4 nn the W. of Jonlofi.
: I'ndrtitjnM Coineul*TW-*#, L rlU.
) Slaalej, Jtvuh ChuTcA', i. M f.
636
JACOIiS WELL
JACOB'S WELL
ments wliich go to cjnfirm this tradition. It is in itself a strong ]>resuiin>tion in favour of tliis Bite, that the Jewish behut coinciiies with that of the Samaritans. Considering the strenuous opposi- tion oll'ered to other identifications supported by the Samaritans, we may be sure this would not Iiave escaped had there been any ground on which to attack it. The agreement indicated in the narrative between the Jews and Samaritans in the 1st cent, may be taken to prove the existence of a tradition inherited by both from a time anterior to the great quarrel. But the tradition also allordcd a reasonable explanation of the presence of the well in this particular sjiot, in such close proximity to plentiful streams from nerennial sources. These were naturally in the liands of the people of Shechem. When Jacob pitched his camp in the plain near by, being a man of peace, he would desire to avoid all occasion for the strifes so often arising from the contentions of rival herdsmen at the springs. By digging this well, he could secure the necessary sujiplies, make good his own inile- pendence, and enjoy an added assurance of peace. Jacob's residence here in such conditions is the one circumstance recorded in history which satisfac- torily accounts for the existence of this well.
That it was here Jesus held His memorable interview with the woman of Samaria, seems beyond dispute. Going through Samaria to (Jalilee, Jesus must needs pass close by this pl.ace. As one journeys northward along the base of Mt. Gerizini, skirting the fertile plain of Mukhnch, almost opposite the entrance to the pass between Ebal and Gerizira, the road bifurcates, one branch bend- ing to westward, through the vale to Shechem, and thence by way of Sebastiyeh (Samaria) and Jenin to Galilee. 'The other goes northward, across the bay of the plain where it narrows between the mountains, and again divides ; one limb passing tlownwards to Beisdn and the Sea of Galilee, the other leading straight to Jentn. Either of these roads may still be taken. While that past Se- bastiyeh IS naturally the more frequented to-day, the other is more direct ; and it is impossible to Bay which was the more popular in Christ's time. But as the well in question lies in the fork between the two, it was equally easily accessible to the traveller from either.