291 And Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east; 2 and he looketh, and lo, a well in the field, and lo, there three droves of a flock crouching by it, for from that well they water the droves, and the great stone 'is' on the mouth of the well. 3 (When thither have all the droves been gathered, and they have rolled the stone from off the mouth of the well, and have watered the flock, then they have turned back the stone on the mouth of the well to its place.) 4 And Jacob saith to them, 'My brethren, from whence 'are' ye?' and they say, 'We 'are' from Haran.' 5 And he saith to them, 'Have ye known Laban, son of Nahor?' and they say, 'We have known.' 6 And he saith to them, 'Hath he peace?' and they say, 'Peace; and lo, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.' 7 And he saith, 'Lo, the day 'is' still great, 'it is' not time for the cattle to be gathered; water ye the flock, and go, delight yourselves.'
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.