Thither were all the flocks gathered— Houbigant, instead of כלאּהעדרים (cal-hangadarim) all the flocks, would read after the Samaritan version כלאּהרעים (cal-haroim) all the shepherds, both here and in the eighth verse. And it must be allowed that the alteration seems very just. It is said, Genesis 29:2 that there were THREE flocks, with which all the flocks, in this verse, do not seem to agree; not to say that they rolled refers to the flocks, according to the common reading. Houbigant confirms the reading of the Samaritan version by other reasons; and, after him, we may properly translate, and thither were all the shepherds gathered, i.e.. to this well, with their flocks, at noon; and as there was a great stone laid over the well's mouth to preserve the water pure and clean, they waited for each other by joint consent, and then removed the stone. This whole event, as well as that recorded in ch. 24: affords us a fine picture of the primitive ages, and of that pastoral life which the sons and daughters of the greatest personages did not disdain. See Song of Solomon 1:6-7.
Kennicott espouses the reading above given by Houbigant. He observes further, that though the Samaritan text, and the Greek and Arabic versions, read shepherds, instead of flocks, in the eighth verse; and though the Samaritan and Arabic copies read also shepherds in verse the third, yet this passage is not clear of all its difficulties. The third verse, as translated with the correction before mentioned, tells us, that (when Jacob first came into the field and saw the well) all the shepherds were there gathered together, and watered the sheep, and replaced the stone upon the well's mouth. But the eighth verse tells us, that the shepherds were not yet assembled together; and therefore those who were present could not uncover the well, and water their own flocks separately.
The true method of reconciling these two verses is as follows:—The third verse speaks only of the custom of the shepherds assembling at that well and watering their flocks all together; a sense this which the words most naturally admit; for all the words in the third verse, though preter, have a future signification, on account of the conversive particle prefixed to every one of them; and therefore, as futures, cannot express a past assembly or action. But, being frequentative, and implying the continuance and custom of doing a thing, (the known signification of Hebrew future tenses,) they remarkably express this sense: And there (at this well) all the shepherds usually met together, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth. Consequently, when Jacob would have the shepherds then present to water their sheep, they might well answer, We cannot, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
But then, if these shepherds, who were before supposed to be assembled at the third verse, were not assembled, and if that verse be expressive only of the custom of their assembling, shall we not be thought to destroy the whole advantage of the Samaritan reading? For, it will be said, if the third verse does not express shepherds so assembled, no preceding verse expresses the presence of any shepherds. This difficulty, however formidable at first sight, may be satisfactorily removed. We have seen that the word is הרעים shepherds, in the third and eighth verses; now, let the second verse be read in the same manner, and the beauty and propriety of the passage is complete.
1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2. And he looked, and behold, a well in the field; and lo, three shepherds were lying by it; for out of that well they watered their flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3. (And there all the shepherds usually met together, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep; and put the stone again, upon the well's mouth, in its place.)
4. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, We are of Haran, &c.
7. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day; neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go feed them.
8. And they said, We cannot, until all the shepherds shall be gathered together, and roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.