1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Genesis 29:1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.*

Year of the World 2245. East. Mesopotamia, where Laban dwelt. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:2 And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.

Stone. Not of such an immoderate size, but that Jacob could remove it. In that country water was scarce, and preserved with care. (Calmet)
Genesis 29:3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.

Sheep. Instead of this, Kennicott would read shepherds; as also ver. 2. and 8. In which last, the Samaritan, Arabic and Septuagint agree with him; as the two former do likewise in this third verse. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

Brethren. Jacob understands and speaks their language, either because it was not very different from his own, or he had learnt the Chaldean language from his mother. In the days of Ezechias, the Jews did not understand it. (4 Kings 18:26; Jeremias 5:15.) (Calmet)
Genesis 29:5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.

Of Nachor, by Bathuel, who was not so well known. (Menochius)
Genesis 29:6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

Health. Hebrew, "in peace;" by which name all good things are designated. (Du Hamel)
Genesis 29:7 And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.

To feed. He shews his knowledge of pastoral affairs, and his concern for them. (Menochius)
Genesis 29:8 They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks.
Genesis 29:9 They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock.

She. Hebrew He, ipsa. Eva is put for Eia, the letters being similar, Genesis 3:15. (Haydock) --- Other copies agree with the Vulgate and the Septuagint (Calmet)
Genesis 29:10 And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.

Cousin-german, and uncle, are put for brevity's sake by St. Jerome, instead of the Hebrew, "the daughter of Laban, brother of Rebecca his mother," and "his mother's brother." (Haydock)
Genesis 29:11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept.

Kissed her, according to the custom of the country, (Chap. 24:26,) having told her who he was. He was not so young, that she could suspect him guilty of an unbecoming levity, being above 77 years old, Genesis 27:1. (Haydock) --- In that age of simplicity, beautiful maids might converse with shepherds, without suspicion or danger. (Menochius) --- Wept, through tenderness, and perhaps on account of his present inability to make her a suitable present. (Calmet)
Genesis 29:12 And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

Brother, or nephew. The name of brother, in Scripture, almost corresponds with the Consanguineus of the Latins, or our relation.
Genesis 29:13 Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
Genesis 29:14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,

My flesh, entitled to my utmost protection and friendship. (Calmet)
Genesis 29:15 He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
Genesis 29:16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel.
Genesis 29:17 But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.

Blear-eyed. Hebrew, racoth. Watery and tender, unable to look steadfastly at any object, but at the same time very beautiful. (Onkelos; etc.) --- The beauty of Rachel was perfect; not confined to one part. These two sisters represented the synagogue and the Church of Christ. Lia, though married first, never gains the entire affection of her husband. (Calmet)
Genesis 29:18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.
Genesis 29:19 Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.*

Year of the World 2252, Year before Christ 1752. For Rachel. It was then the custom to buy or to pay a dowry for a wife. (Chap. 34:12; Osee 3:2.) Herodotus says, 1:196, that the Babylonians sold their beautiful women as high as possible, and gave part of the price to help off the more deformed. The Turks do the like. (Calmet) --- A few, etc. So highly did he esteem Rachel, that he thought he had obtained her for just nothing, though delays naturally seem long to lovers. (Tirinus) --- Calmet supposes that he was married to her the second month after he arrived at Haran; and on this account, easily explains his words, as love made all labour tolerable, and even easy, in the enjoyment of the beautiful Rachel. Usher also places the birth of Ruben in the first year of Jacob's service, A. 2246[the year of the world 2246]. But Salien and the context decide, that he waited full seven years, and then obtained Lia, by fraud, of Laban; and seven days after, Rachel. (Haydock) --- He was then 84 years old! (Du Hamel)
Genesis 29:21 And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Go in, etc. To consummate my marriage; (Menochius) as the time is expired. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.

Friends. Hebrew, Septuagint and Chaldean say, "all the men of that place." He was rich, and, though very greedy, could not well avoid conforming to the custom of making a splendid entertainment on such a joyful occasion. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:23 And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,
Genesis 29:24 Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Lia.

A handmaid, by way of dowry, as he did afterwards to Rachel. Both sisters considered it so small, as to say they had nothing, Genesis 31:14. --- Lia, who committed a great sin of adultery, though she was more excusable than Laban; inasmuch as she obeyed his order. (Menochius) --- Jacob might justly have refused to marry her; and then what a dishonour would have been entailed upon her for life! In consequence of this imposition, the legitimacy of Ruben's conception was rendered doubtful. We may suppose, that shame hindered Lia from opening her mouth; so that Jacob had no means of discovering the cheat till day-break, having gone into the nuptial chamber after it was dark, according to custom, and the woman being also covered with a veil, Tobias 8:1. Hence Jacob was guilty of no fault, as his mistake was involuntary. (Haydock) --- He afterwards consented to marry her, (Calmet) probably on the second day of the feast. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:25 And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
Genesis 29:26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.

Custom. This appears to be a false pretext: for all the people saw that Rachel was adorned like the intended bride, (Haydock) and were invited to her wedding. (Menochius)
Genesis 29:27 Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
Genesis 29:28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:

Week. Seven days; not years, as Josephus would have it. The nuptial feast lasted a week, Judges 14:15.
Genesis 29:29 To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant.
Genesis 29:30 And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.

Latter. Jacob is the figure of Jesus Christ; who rejected the synagogue, and treated his Church, gathered from all nations, with the utmost affection. (Calmet) --- Lia means "painful or labourious;" and Rachel a sheep; denoting, that a quiet contemplative life must be united with an active one; and that the Church must suffer here, and be crowned in heaven. (Haydock) (St. Gregory, Mor. 6:28.)
Genesis 29:31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

Despised, or loved less; so Christ orders us to hate father, etc., Matthew 10:17.[37.?][Luke 14:26.] (Calmet)
Genesis 29:32 And she conceived and bore a son,* and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

Year of the World 2253, Year before Christ 1751. Ruben. "See the son, or the son of vision;" alluding perhaps, distantly, to ver. 24, He saw Lia. (Haydock)
Genesis 29:33 And again she conceived and bore a son, *and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

Year of the World 2254. Despised, or the hated wife, Deuteronomy 21:15. --- Simeon, "hearing or obedient."
Genesis 29:34 And she conceived the third time, and bore another son,* and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.

Year of the World 2256. Levi, "adhesion or union." My husband will now stick to me.
Genesis 29:35 The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda.* And she left bearing.

Matthew 1:2 		Juda, "praise or confession." (Calmet) --- Left bearing for a time. (Haydock) --- In the imposition of these names, Lia testified her gratitude to God. (Tirinus)