Rashi writes: “In that place he lay down, but for the prior 14 years he did not lay down at night for he was studying Torah in the house of [his ancestor] Ever.”
R’ Michel Barenbaum z”l (mashgiach of Mesivta Tifereth Yerushalayim in New York) asks: How is it possible for the Torah to omit such a detail regarding Yaakov’s life? He answers that the Torah is teaching us Yaakov’s greatness. To him it was nothing to study Torah for 14 years without lying down in bed. To the contrary, it was obvious to Yaakov that one cannot go to the world of a Lavan without such preparation.
We are taught in Pirkei Avot: “If you have studied much Torah, do not be impressed with yourself; for that reason you were created!” A Jew must recognize that the goal of his existence is Torah study.
King David said (Tehilim 119:162), “I rejoice over Your word like one who finds a great treasure.” The Chafetz Chaim explained: If one stood before a treasure of gems knowing that he had only a limited amount of time to gather the stones, would he waste a moment? This is how David felt, and everyone should feel, about Torah study.
(Sichot Mussar as quoted by R’ Shlomo Katz in Hamaayan, courtesy of Torah.org)
