“Jacob said to them: My brethren, from where are you? They said: We are from Ḥaran” (Genesis 29:4). “He said to them: Do you know Laban, son of Naḥor? They said: We know” (Genesis 29:5).
“He said to them: Is he well? They said: He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter, coming with the sheep” (Genesis 29:6). “Jacob said to them: My brethren…” – Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina interpreted the verses regarding the exile. “Jacob said to them…we are from Ḥaran” – we are fleeing from the wrath [ḥaron af] of the Holy One blessed be He.
“He said to them: Do you know Laban, son of Naḥor?” – do you know who is destined to cleanse your iniquities like snow? “He said to them: Is he well? They said: He is well” – by what merit? “Here is Rachel his daughter, coming with the sheep” – that is what is written: “So said the Lord: A voice is heard in Rama, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be consoled…So said the Lord: Restrain your voice from weeping…there is hope for your future” (Jeremiah 31:15–17).