Good News Carried Jacob's Feet and the Wilderness Well

"And Jacob lifted up his feet" (Genesis 29:1). "A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh" (Proverbs 14:30). Once he was told good tidings, his heart carried his feet. This is what people say: the belly carries the feet. "And he looked, and behold" (Genesis 29:2-3). Rabbi Hama bar Hanina expounded it in six ways. "And he looked, and behold a well in the field" this is the well [of Miriam in the wilderness]. "And behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it" these are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. "For out of that well they watered the flocks" for from there each one drew for his tribe, his banner, and his family. "And the stone on the mouth of the well was great" it held about the measure of a small sieve's opening. "And all the flocks were gathered there" at the time of encampments. "And they rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep" for from there each one drew for his tribe, his banner, and his family. "And they put the stone back on the mouth of the well in its place" at the time of the journeys.