1 Then Iacob went on his iourney, and came into the land of the people of the East.
2 And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and loe, there were three flocks of sheepe lying by it: for out of that wel they watered the flocks: and a great stone was vpon the welles mouth.
3 And thither were all the flockes gathered, and they rolled the stone from the wels mouth, & watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the wels mouth in his place.
4 And Iacob said vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? and they saide, Of Haran are we.
5 And he said vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? And they sayde, We knowe him.
6 And he said vnto them, Is hee well? and they said, He is well: and behold, Rachel his daughter commeth with the sheepe.
7 And hee said, Loe, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattell should be gathered together: water yee the sheepe, and goe and feed them.
8 And they said, We cannot, vntill all the flockes bee gathered together, and till they rolle the stone from the welles mouth: then wee water the sheepe.
9 ¶ And while hee yet spake with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she kept them.
10 And it came to passe, when Iacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother; that Iacob went neere, and rolled the stone from the wels mouth, and watered the flocke of Laban his mothers brother.
11 And Iacob kissed Rachel, and lifted vp his voyce, and wept.
12 And Iacob told Rachel, that hee was her fathers brother, and that hee was Rebekahs sonne: and she ranne, and told her father.
13 And it came to passe, when Laban heard the tidings of Iacob his sisters sonne, that he ranne to meete him, and imbraced him, and kissed him, & brought him to his house: and hee tolde Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh: and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
15 ¶ And Laban said vnto Iacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serue me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the yonger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed: but Rachel was beautiful and well fauoured.
18 And Iacob loued Rachel, and said, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rachel thy yonger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I giue her to thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with mee.
20 And Iacob serued seuen yeeres for Rachel: and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, for the loue hee had to her.
21 ¶ And Iacob said vnto Laban, Giue me my wife (for my dayes are fulfilled) that I may goe in vnto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to passe in the euening, that he tooke Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
24 And Laban gaue vnto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his mayde, for a handmayd.
25 And it came to passe, that in the morning, behold it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done vnto mee? did not I serue with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our countrey, to giue the yonger, before the first borne.
27 Fulfill her weeke, and wee will giue thee this also, for the seruice which thou shalt serue with mee, yet seuen other yeeres.
28 And Iacob did so, and fulfilled her weeke: and he gaue him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gaue to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmayd, to be her mayd.
30 And hee went in also vnto Rachel, and he loued also Rachel more then Leah, and serued with him yet seuen other yeeres.
31 ¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, hee opened her wombe: but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceiued and bare a sonne, and shee called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely, the LORD hath looked vpon my affliction; now therefore my husband will loue me.
33 And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne, and saide, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, hee hath therefore giuen mee this sonne also, and she called his name Simeon.
34 And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne, and said, Now this time will my husband be ioyned vnto me, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.
35 And shee conceiued againe, and bare a sonne: and she said, Now wil I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Iudah, and left bearing.
Jacob comes to the well of Haran. (1-8) His interview with Rachel, Laban entertains him. (9-14) Jacob's covenant for Rachel, Laban's deceit. (15-30) Leah's sons. (31-35)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, #Pr 31:26|. Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.
9-14 See Rachel's humility and industry. Nobody needs to be ashamed of honest, useful labour, nor ought it to hinder any one's preferment. When Jacob understood that this was his kinswoman, he was very ready to serve her. Laban, though not the best humoured, bade him welcome, and was satisfied with the account Jacob gave of himself. While we avoid being foolishly ready to believe every thing which is told us, we must take heed of being uncharitably suspicious.
15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years' service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, #Heb 6:10|. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a like deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord was righteous: see #Jud 1:7|. Even the righteous, if they take a false step, are sometimes thus recompensed in the earth. And many who are not, like Jacob, in their marriage, disappointed in person, soon find themselves, as much to their grief, disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation ought to be made with good advice and thought on both sides. There is reason to believe that Laban's excuse was not true. His way of settling the matter made bad worse. Jacob was drawn into the disquiet of multiplying wives. He could not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less could he refuse Leah. As yet there was no express command against marrying more than one wife. It was in the patriarchs a sin of ignorance; but it will not justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known by the Divine law, #Le 18:18|, and more fully since, by our Saviour, that one man and woman only must be joined together, #1Co 7:2|.
31-35 The names Leah gave her children, expressed her respect and regard, both to God and to her husband. Reuben, or See a son, with this thought, Now will my husband love me; Levi, or joined, expecting, Now will my husband be joined unto me. Mutual affection is both the duty and comfort of the married relation; and yoke-fellows should study to recommend themselves to each other, #1Co 7:33,34|. She thankfully acknowledges the kind providence of God in hearing her. Whatever supports and comforts us under afflictions, or tends to our deliverance from them, God must be owned in it. Her fourth son she called Judah, or praise, saying, Now will I praise the Lord. This was he, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing, ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving. Fresh favours should quicken us to praise God for former favours; Now will I praise the Lord more and better than I have done. All our praises must centre in Christ, both as the matter of them, and as the Mediator of them. He descended after the flesh from him whose name was "Praise," and He is our praise. Is Christ formed in my heart? Now will I praise the Lord.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.