n28:10] Why go to Haran? Because that is where Lot lived? Was that not out of the Holy Land?
n28:11] וַיִּפְגַּ֨ע - He went to meet, or encountered, the place.
n28:11] וַיָּ֖שֶׂם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו - took the stones and placed them around his head. Could this not also be translated as “from his head”, i.e., according to some conscious design. What comes to mind is the Native American medicine wheel. Because for what reason would one collect stones to place around one’s head? It cannot be for comfort, that is certain.
n28:12] The angels that ascend and descend upon Jacob’s ladder, could be us, as we are born, and we eventually die.
n28:13] So the land upon which he lies, is part of the Holy Land? Then why did Abraham have to leave it to come to the Land of Canaan?
n28:13] לְךָ֥ אֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ - I bestow this land to you and to your seed. Very poetic, especially this form of the word נתןּ - to give.
n28:14] “And your seed will be like dust of the land, and you will expand (with power, or explode) west, ימה - towards the sea; east, קדמה - forward; north, צפונה; and south, נגבה - towards the Negev (was it called that even then? Or did it get that name because of the word for south?)”
n28:15] What a lovely dream.
n28:16] וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ - The impression is he awoke suddenly (become suddenly active)
n28:18] אֶת־הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו - The story of the stones. He places stones “around” or by his head (plural). But here he only takes one stone, the one he placed his head upon, and used it as a sign (monument). Then later on there is the large rock that blocks the well. (v29:2 et. seq.)
n28:20] Then, Jacob, swears an oath to G-d, that if He will do as He has promised, then he will have Jacob’s obedience forevermore. Thus this comes out as a negotiation, not as an act of faith, but rather as an act of response to G-d’s promises. Even though G-d did not fulfil His promise in Jacob’s lifetime, He did fulfil His promise of protecting Him.
Chapter 29
n29:1] וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו - Jacob’s feet carried him, and he walked (went) to…
n29:6] הֲשָׁל֣וֹם ל֑וֹ - how is he? In the modern vernacular, we say משׁלומך. This is a biblical way of saying it, emphasising the state of שׁלום, fullness.
29:7] הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־עֵ֖ת - Behold, the day is still young literally: the day still has much time - also "experiences (to be had) or occurrances (in it).
29:9] רָחֵ֣ל ׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־הַצֹּאן֙ - this was mentioned in v6, almost the same phrase, except for the inclusiong בִּתּ֔וֹ. Is it necessary to repeat it, because Rachel is obviously his “chosen” woman?
29:10] Jacob, upon seeing Rachel – daughter of Laban, brother of his mother, and the sheep of Laban, brother of his mother – strides up to the stone and promptly rolls it from its place covering the well. This is Jacob, who was the one who resided in the tents, in contrast to his brother, who was physically strong – whereas perhaps Jacob is spiritually strong – especially now with G-d supporting Him. So was it with physical or spiritual strength that he moved the rock that required the combined strength of all the shepherds to move.
Love does not weaken us. On the contrary it gives us strength.
וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃
It ends with the phrase: וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן - the sheep quenched their thirst.
n29:11] וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ - He then gave water to Rachel (though some say kiss - which is a kind of watering, I suppose, and thus we have the word לנשׁק, to kiss). His voice was then heard (he shouted), and began to cry (shed the waters of his heart).
This is a poignant expression of the effect she had upon him. One could say she disturbed the waters of his heart.
n29:13] לָבָ֜ן - Once again, we have this interesting juxtaposition of meanings. Although he is constantly referred to as Laban, his name in Hebrew, is actually Lavan, which means white. And yet he is the “dark” one in the relationship with Jacob.
n29:14-15] אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה - You are family, and welcome here. Jacob stays there for the month. Then, Laban approaches him, saying:“You have been working here for a month and you received no wages. Tell me what wage you would want?”
n29:16-17] Now, Laban had two daughters. The eldest was named Leah, and the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were tender, while Rachel’s form was lovely and she was beautiful to look at.
n29:18-19] (It was obvious that) Jacob was in love with Rachel. So he responded, “I will work seven years for you for Rachel, your younger daughter.” Laban agrees. “It is better that she be with you, (for you are family), rather than with some other man”
n29:20] The seven years Jacob toiled for Rachel’s hand where in his eyes like a few days, so great was his love for her.went by