John Gill Commentary Genesis 29

Then Jacob went on his journey
After the above vow at Bethel, and having had some intimation that what he desired would be granted him; or "he lift up his feet" ^F24 , which not only shows that he walked afoot, but that he went on his journey with great cheerfulness; for having such gracious promises made him, that God would be with him, and keep him, and supply him with all necessaries, and return him again to the land of Canaan, which made his heart glad; his heart, as the Jewish writers say ^F25 , lift up his legs, and he walked apace, and with great alacrity: and came into the land of the people of the east ;
the land of Mesopotamia or Syria, which lay to the east of the land of Canaan, see (Isaiah 9:11) ; hither he came by several days' journeys.

FOOTNOTES:

• F24: (wylgr-avyw) "et levavit pedes suos", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Fagius; "sustulit", Drusius, Schmidt.
• F25: Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 62. 2. Jarchi in loc.

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.

FOOTNOTES:

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

And thither were all the flocks gathered
The three above mentioned, (Genesis 29:2) : and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the
sheep ;
that is, when they watered the sheep, they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well in order to do it; for as yet the flocks, now lying by it, had not been watered, as appears from (Genesis 29:7Genesis 29:8) : and put a stone upon the well's mouth in this place ;
this they were wont to do every time they watered the flocks.

And Jacob said to them To the shepherds, though not expressly mentioned; it cannot be imagined he spoke to the flocks, but to the keepers of them:

my brethren, from where are you? a kind and affable way of speaking, used even to strangers, since all men are brethren by nature; or might be used by Jacob, because they were of the same occupation with himself, shepherds, asking them of what city they were, and from whence they came? and which being answered, would lead on to a conversation, which was what he wanted:

and they said, of Haran are we; the very place he was bound for, and was sent to, (Genesis 27:43) (28:10) .

And he said to them, do you know Laban the son of Nahor ?
&c.] He was the son of Bethuel, and grandson of Nahor; grandsons being called the sons of their grandfather; and Nahor might be more known than Bethuel, Haran being Nahor's city, (Genesis 24:10) ; and not Bethuel his mother's father, but Laban her brother is inquired after; perhaps Bethuel was dead, and Laban was the head of the family, and well known, and it was to him he was sent: and they said, we know him ;
perfectly well; he lives in our city, and is our neighbour.