there to serve for a wife, Hos. 12. 12. wherein the mystery of Christ and his Church, was figured: Eph. 5. 32. 2 Cor. 11. 2.
Vers. 2. a well] at a well in the field, Abrahams [unspec 2] servant met with Rebekah Isaaks wife, Gen. 24. 11. 15. So here Iakob meeteth with Rachel his wife. A much like thing befell unto Moses, Exod. 2. 15. 16. 21. And Christ sitting on Iakobs Well (in Samaria) preached there of the living waters of his Gospell and spirit, which who so drinketh, they shall bee in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, Iohn 4. 6.—14. and 7. 38. 39. lying] This the Gr. translateth resting. The two works of shepherds to their flockes, are feeding, and causing them to lye downe, or to rest; both which Christ performeth to his people, Song, 1. 6. Ezek. 34. 15. Psal. 23. 1. 2.
Vers. 3. the stone] wherewith the well was closed [unspec 3] and sealed up, to keepe the waters safe and pure: and which the shepherds must remove to water the sheepe. A figure of the Pastors duty, in ope∣ning the mysteries of the Scripture, that men may with joy draw waters out of the wells of salvation, Esa. 12. 3. The three flocks here mentioned, are by the Hebrew Doctors (in Bresith rabbah upon this place,) applyed to the whole body of the Church, Priests, Levites, and the other Israelites.
Vers. 6. Is there peace] that is, welfare & prosperity. [unspec 6] This was the manner, in those places of saluting, or asking of ones welfare; as in Gen. 43. 27. 28. 1 Sam. 25. 5. 6. 2 Sam. 20. 9. The Greek translateth is he in health?
Vers. 7. is great] that is, much day yet remaineth; or [unspec 7] it is high day. He exhorteth to use the time, whiles it remained, for the good of their sheep: and not to take them so soone from their pasture.
Vers. 8. cannot] that is, are not able, the stone is so [unspec 8] great: or, may not, by right, till all come together. In this latter sense, the word is used, Gen. 34. 14. and 43. 32. and 44. 26. and other where.
Ver. 9. she fed them] or, she was shepherdesse. In Gr. [unspec 6] she fed her fathers sheepe. It seemeth, men used to im∣ploy their daughters in such workes, Exod. 2. 16. (whereupon Christs spouse is compared to a shep∣herdesse, Song. 1. 7. 8.) unlesse it were laid upon her through her fathers covetousnesse, as some thinke.
Ver. 10. rolled the stone] either, with the helpe of [unspec 10] the shepherds; or, by extraordinary strength of his own. This latter, some Rabbines hold, saying, Ia∣kobs steps were not straitned (as Prov. 4. 12) neither did his strength faile, but as a mighty strong man, hee rolled the stone from the wells mouth, &c. and the shepherds saw it, and wondred all, and were not able to role away the stone, but Iakob rolled it away himselfe alone. Pirkei R. Eliezer, chap. 36
Vers. 11. lifted-up] that is, with a loud voice wept: [unspec 11] the Greeke translateth, cried with his voice & wept. It argued his great affection, and passion of minde for her sake; as the like was after in Ioseph, Gen. 43 30. and 45. 2. 14. 15. Such things God setteth downe particularly and often, (though they may seeme of smal momēt, to shew how he is delighted in the actions of his children, whom the world contemneth.
Verse 13. the tidings] or, the hearesay: in He∣brew, [unspec 13] the hearing: figuratively put for the word (or matter) heard. The Apostles in Greeke some∣time keepe the phrase; as, who hath beleeved our hearing? Rom. 10. 16. that is, our report, preaching, or word preached. Sometime they explaine one an other, with other words; as, his hearing spread a∣broad, Mark. 1. 28. for which in Luk. 4. 37. is writ∣ten, his fame (or sound, ••••choe.) words] or things, to weet, about his journey, and the causes of it, as is before specified. For else, it might seeme strange unto him, that Isaaks sonne should come in that poore sort alone: whereas Abrahams servant came richly, with other men accompanying him: Gen. 24. 10. 32. 53.
Vers. 14. my bone] that is, my kinsman, as the [unspec 14] Chaldee explayneth it. The Greeke saith, of my bones. See the like phrase, in Iudg. 9. 2. 1 Chro. 11. 1. 2 Sam. 19. 12. 13. of dayes] that is, a whole moneth: as a yeere of daies. 2 Sam. 14. 28. is a whole yeere. See the notes on Gen. 4. 3.
Vers. 15. brother] that is, kinsman: see Gen. [unspec 15] 13. 8. shouldest thou?] The Greeke explaineth it, thou shalt not. See Gen. 18. 17.
Vers. 16. elder] Hebrew, greater: meaning in [unspec 16] age: and so the yonger, is the lesser. See Gen. 27. 1. By interpretation, Leah signifieth Labourious, or Painfull: and Rachel an Ewe or Sheepe.
Vers. 17. tender] as the Greeke translateth, in∣firme, [unspec 17] or weake: but the Chaldee translateth faire. Thargum Ierusalemy addeth, that they were tender with weeping and praying. informe] that is, in proportion of body, or personage: as the next in countenance, or visage, is for beauty of colour. Both together, make perfect beauty. The like is sayd of Esther, Esth. 2. 7. and of Ioseph, Gen. 39. 6. The Hebrew Doctors mystically apply this to the Church, the fairnesse in the congregation of Israel, when it was guiltlesse from the power of uncleannesse: as it is sayd, (in Song. 4. 7.) Thou art all faire my love, there is no spot in thee. R. Menachem, on Gen. 29.
Verse. 20. served] These things are set downe [unspec 20] to shew Labans churlishnesse, & Iakobs meeknes, poverty, patience, and hard condition in this life; which the Prophet after rehearseth, how Iaakob fled into Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife, kept (sheepe:) Hos. 12. 12. For whereas men used of their substance to give, dow∣ries, Gen. 34. 12. Exod. 22. 7. Iakob having no∣thing to give, out of his poverty, (Gen. 32. 10.) giveth his service to his uncle for a wife, which ser∣vice was hard unto him, Gen. 31. 40. 41. as David, instead of a dowry, gave 100 foreskins of the Phi∣listines, whom hee killed with great perill of his owne life; 1 Sam. 18. 23. 25. 27. These things of Iakob, may also (as the former of Abraham & Isaak) be mystically applyed to Christ, whose spouse and Church, is beautifull, Song. 4. 1. 7. Ephes. 5. 25. 27. & hath made him to serve with her sins, & wearied him, with her iniquities, Esay 43. 24. were in his eyes] that is, seemed unto him. loved her] & love suffereth, hopeth, and endureth all things, 1. Cor. 13. 7. much water cannot quench it, neither can the flouds drowne it: Song. 8. 7. See Gen. 24. 67.