him to frown upon laziness and inactivity for the unaffected simplicity of the times ; (Stnrke, Kalisch, B118h), but the fact that she does not resent his Ver. 8.-And they said, We cannot,-not conduct as o.n undue liberty perhaps sug- because of any physical difficulty (Kalisch), gests that he had first informed her of his since three men could easily have accom- relationship to the inmates of Laban's house plished what Jo.cob by himself did, but because (Calvin). On kissing vide eh. xxvii. 26- they had agreed not to do so (Rosenmiiller, !lnd lifted ~p his voice, and wept-partly for Murphy), but to wait-until all the flocks JOY at findmg his relatives (cf. eh. xliii. 30 ; be gathered together (when the watering was xlv. 2, 14, 15) ; partlf in grateful acknow- done at once, instead of o.t so many different ledgment of God's kmdness in conducting times), and till they roll the stone from the him to his mother's brother's house. well's mouth ;-more correctly rendered, and Ver. 12.-And J"acob told (or, had told, ut (sc. then, i. e. when the flocks are assembled) supra) Rachel that he was her father's bro- they (i. e. the shepherds) roll away the atone tber,-as Lot i.~ uuled Abraham's brother, -then (or, and) we water the sheep. The t~ougb in realit) his nephew (eh. xiii. 8 ; object of watering the flocks collectively may xiv. 14, 16)-and that he was Rebekah's have been, as above stated, for convenience, son (this clause would explain the meanina or to prevent the well from being opened too of the term "brother" in the former): and frequently, in which case dust might rapidly she ran and told her father. Like Rebekah, accumulate within it (Kalisch), or perhaps to believing the stranger's words and running to secnre an equal distribution of the water report them, though, unlike Rebekah, first (Murphy). relating them to her father (cf. eh. xxiv. Ver. 9-And while he yet spake with them 28). (literally, he yet speaking with them), Rachel Ver. 13.-And it came to pass, when Laban came with her father's sheep: for she kept heard the tidings (literally, heard the hear- th~m-or, she was a shepll'erdess, the part. ing, or thing heard, i. e. the report of the i1~1 being used o.s a substantive (Gesenius, arrival) of J'acob his sister's eon,-he acted 'Lex.,' sub. nom.). very much as he did ninety-seven years be- Ver. 10.-And it came to pass, when J'acob fore, when Abraham's servant came to woo saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mo- bis sister (eh. xxiv. 20, 30)-that (literally, ther's brother,-" the term mother's brother and) he ran to meet him, and embraced him, is not unintentionally repeated three times in -so nitemo.rds Esau did Jacob (eh. xxriii 4), this verse to describe with the greatest pos- and Jacob the two sons of Joseph (eh. xlviii. sible stress thnt Jacob had met with his own 10)-o.nd kissed him, and brought him to relations, with " bis bone aml his flesh" his house-thus evincing the same kindness (Knliscb) - and the sheep of Laban his o.nd hospitality that hnd che.r.icterised him mother's brother (Jacob from the first takes on the previous occasion. And he (Jacob) particular notice of Labnn's flock perhaps told Laban all these things-what his mother regarding them as a sign of Laban 1s wealth. bad instructed him to say to attest his kin- If Lo.ban's d1mghter hnd her attractions for ship (Cnlvin) ; the things relnted in tho the son of Isaac, so also bad Laban's sheep), immediate context (Keil); more likely the that J'acob went near, and rolled the stone entire story of bis life, and in particular of from the well's mouth (probnbly disregarding bis exile from homo, with its co.use and object the shepherds' rule to wait for the gathe1ing (Rosenmilller, Kalisch, Lange). of all the flocks, unless, indeed, Rachel's was Ver. 14. -And Laban ea.id unto him (giving the last), and watered the flock of Laban his utterance to tho impression Jo.cob's recital mother's brother. The threefold repetition bo.d produced upon his mind), Surely thou of this phrase does not prove that Jacob o.ctecl ort my bone and my flesh-i. e. my blood in all this purely as a cousin (Lange). The rcla tion (cf. Judges ix. 2 ; 2 8nm. v. 1 ). phrase is the historian's, nncl Jacob had not Lo.b:m meant that Jacob bnd satisfoctorily yet informed Rachel of bis no.me. proved himself Robekah's son. And he abode Ver. 11.-ADd J'acob kissed Rachel,-in with him the space of a month-literally, a demonstration of his cousinly affection, If month of days (cf. eh. xli. 1; Numb. xi. 20), Ja cob bad not yet di.ticovered who he was or II month as ro~rds time, "the second to tho fair shepherdess, bis behaviour must substantive deso.ibmg the general notion of have filled her with surprise, even allowing which the first is n specification" (Ii:Rlisch).
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-14.-Jacob at the well of Haran: a romantic adventure. I. JACOB'B 'MEETING WITH THE SHEPHERDS, 1. Tlie yrO'IJidential discovery. The well in the field with the three flocks of sheep lying by it ennbled Jncob to ascertain hie whereabouts, nncl ultimntely l~d to his finding Rachel. God guides the steps of his 558 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [en. XXIX. 1-14.