Daily Chumash Sheiyni Vayeitzei – Yaakov arrives to Charan

Sheiyni

1. Yaakov arrives to Charan:

• The rock sitting on the well: Yaakov lifted his feet and traveled towards the land of the east [to Charan]. He arrived [at Charan] and saw three flocks of sheep lying around the drinking well. There was a very large stone sitting on the opening of the well. Customarily, the shepherds would wait until all the flocks of sheep had arrived and they would then together roll the rock off the well and water the sheep.
• Yaakov converses with the shepherds: Yaakov asked the shepherds “My brothers, where are you from,” to which they replied “we are from Charan.” Yaakov then asked the shepherds if they knew Lavan the son of Nachor and they replied in the affirmative. They said that Lavan is doing well, and behold here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep. Yaakov chastised the shepherds, telling them it is not yet time to settle the sheep, as the day is still long, and they should water them and then go back to grazing. They replied that they cannot do so until all the shepherds have gathered and are then able to roll the stone off the well.
• Yaakov meets Rachel and removes the stone: While they were talking, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, as she was a shepherd. When Yaakov saw his cousin Rachel, he stepped forward and rolled the rock off the well opening and gave the sheep of Lavan to drink. Yaakov kissed Rachel and cried with a raised voice. He told her that he is her cousin, the son of Rivka. Rachel ran to tell her father of the news of his arrival.
• Yaakov meets Lavan: When Lavan heard of his nephews arrival he ran to greet him. He kissed him and hugged him and brought him into his house. Yaakov told Lavan all that had transpired [with Eisav]. Lavan responded to Yaakov “Do not worry, You are my bone and my flesh.” Yaakov lodged by Lavan for thirty days.

2. Yaakov works to marry Rachel:

• [Yaakov began working for Lavan for free, and thus] Lavan told Yaakov that just because they are family does not mean that he has to work for him for free, and that Yaakov should ask for a salary.
• Lavan’s daughters: Lavan had two daughters, the older one was Leah and the younger was Rachel. The eyes of Leah were tender while Rachel was beautiful in both figure and appearance.