291 Then Jacob went on his journey , and came to the land of the sons of the east . 2 He looked , and saw a well in the field , and behold , three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks . Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large . 3 When all the flocks were gathered there , they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep , and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well . 4 Jacob said to them, "My brothers , where are you from?" And they said , "We are from Haran ." 5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor ?" And they said , "We know him." 6 And he said to them, "Is it well with him?" And they said , "It is well , and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep ." 7 He said , "Behold , it is still high day ; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered . Water the sheep , and go , pasture them."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 29:1-7
Commentary on Genesis 29:1-8
(Read Genesis 29:1-8)
Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern which our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is known of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water was scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interests should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherds came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, they watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power, Proverbs 31:26. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.