פירוש על בראשית 29:2

ישקו העדרים THEY GAVE THE DROVES DRINK —the shepherds used to water the flocks: this verse uses an elliptical phrase (omitting the subject “the shepherds”).

AND HE LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A WELL IN THE FIELD, AND LO THREE FLOCKS OF SHEEP LYING THERE BY IT. Scripture tells this story at length in order to let us know that they that wait for the Eternal shall renew their strength,⁵⁹Isaiah 40:31. and the fear of Him gives strength. For here our father Jacob is coming from the journey and he is tired, yet he alone rolls away the stone, a task which required all the shepherds. The many shepherds and all the watchmen of the three flocks of sheep could not shift the rock.
With respect to this chapter, our Rabbis in Bereshith Rabbah⁶⁰70:8. also have a secret which alludes to the future. For it happened to him that he came to Haran by way of the well, and only three of all the flocks were gathered. He arrived at the time when the stone was yet upon the mouth of the well, and the flocks waited for the water thereof. Likewise, the matter which is narrated here is all for the purpose of letting it be known that Jacob will succeed in this venture and will have children worthy of the fulfillment of this allusion. For the well alludes to the Sanctuary, and the three flocks of sheep are symbolic of the pilgrims ascending to the Sanctuary during the three festivals.⁶¹Pesach, Shevuoth, and Succoth. See Deuteronomy 16:16. The expression, For out of that well they watered the flocks, alludes to the fact that they drew holy inspiration from the pilgrimages to the Sanctuary. It may be that it alludes to the verse, For out of Zion shall go forth Torah⁶²Isaiah 2:3. Thus both prophecy and law emanated from the Sanctuary. — which has been likened to water,⁶³Ibid., 55:1, Baba Kamma 17a. and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem.⁶²Isaiah 2:3. Thus both prophecy and law emanated from the Sanctuary. — And thither were all the flocks gathered⁶⁴Verse 3 here. — from the entrance of Hamath unto the Brook of Egypt.⁶⁵I Kings 8:65. The verse refers to the gathering of pilgrims for the festival of Succoth. — And they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered,⁶⁴Verse 3 here. for they drew holy inspiration therefrom. And they put the stone back⁶⁴Verse 3 here. to lie dormant until the next festival.

רבצים עליה, waiting until all the shepherds would gather there with their flocks and they would roll the rock off the top of the well.