וְקוֹיֵ֤ יְהוָה֙ יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ כֹ֔חַ יַעֲל֥וּ אֵ֖בֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִ֑ים יָר֙וּצוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִיגָ֔עוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א יִיעָֽפוּ׃ (פ)
Ngunit ang mga umaasa sa Walang-Hanggan ay magpapanibagong-lakas; magpapatubo sila ng mga pakpak gaya ng mga agila; tatakbo sila at hindi mapapagod, lalakad sila at hindi manghihina.
Tur HaArokh
וירא והנה באר בשדה, “he looked and saw a well in the field.” The plain meaning of this verse is a practical illustration of Isaiah 40,31 וקווי ה' יחליפו כח, “the people placing their hope and trust in the Lord will experience physical rejuvenation, etc.” Yaakov’s ability to roll the rock from the well, something several shepherds had been unable to do even jointly, proves that the new hope he had been given through his dream about the ladder had left its mark also on his body. Our sages also derived from the description in the text that the well mentioned is an allusion to the Temple, and that the three flocks of sheep described as lying around the well represent the three annual holydays on which the Jewish people would make pilgrimages to the Temple, seeing that the Temple serves the Jewish people as their spiritual inspiration, just as water serves as the liquid which keeps the body alive and healthy. Not only that, but the Torah itself has been compared to spring-water, seeing that it makes life meaningful, and the people who study it and observe it become people who see a purpose in their existence. The “various flocks“ which are described as lying around that well symbolize the people congregating around the Temple, or around Torah scholars, waiting to become inspired. The replacing of the stone on the well symbolizes the period after the pilgrimages when the Temple is in a relatively dormant condition.
Ramban
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.
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.
HaKtav VeHaKabalah
He shall not exchange it. Usually חליפה connotes exchange from poor quality to high, as in (Yeshayahu 9:9): “Sycamores have been cut down, and we will exchange them with cedars,” and (ibid. 40:31): “But those who put their hope in Adonoy shall renew strength.” However, the matter of exchanging a sacrifice is the opposite, because one usually exchanges the fine one for one of poor quality, as it says (Hoshea 4:7): “I will exchange their honor for shame”.