GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 29 (Gen 29:1) Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. When he spoke here of the “land of the people of the east” he was speaking of Mesopotamia, which lies on the other side of the Euphrates river. His destination was the city of Haran. Rich in distant hopes, but cheerlessin his immediate prospects, Jacob left the land of promise. He was a true pilgrim; and his whole life was a wearisome and changeful pilgrimage. The gold of his capacious and lofty mind was to be purified from its strong alloy of dishonesty and cunning in the furnace of misery and toil; his moral education commenced at his departure from the parental house, and after many tribulations only, resulted in that peace of mind which is at once the surest symptom and the choicest reward of true virtue. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)
(Gen 29:2) And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. There is quite a contrast between Jacob and the servant of Abraham when the two got to this well. The servant of Abraham prayed for the Lord to lead him and he “being in the way, the Lord led him.” Jacob worked things out his own way and there was no hint of prayer. He saw shepherds at the well and approached them. God prepared the bride to be at the well in both cases,but Jacob missed her becausehe failed to pray. (Gen 29:3) And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. That is, that is what was usually done. They were now waiting for all other shepherds to arrive before they rolled the stone away. People have a tendency to follow their customs even past the time of their usefulness, and even when it is detrimental to their well-being. When traditions are good they may be wonderful guides, but when they are merely made for momentary purposesthey become hindrances.
GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 29—PAGE 1