Parshat v'etzei

Here are a few of my musings from this past week's Torah portion. It is abbreviated simply for lack of ample time attached to a typing device. More this week!

28:10 says that Jacob went out from beer sheva to heron. Yet, we know that if he went to heron he left Beersheva. So why is this important? Rashi posits that this is because he was a righteous man and the fact that he was leaving would make an impact on the place. What's also interesting is that Abraham's leaving of Beersheva is not mentioned with any fanfare, demonstrating that something was special with Jacob. Or, simply that the conditions for Abraham's departure were less noteworthy. Another thought is that when Abraham left Beersheva, he was not yet known as a righteous man, but when Jacob left, he had acquired a reputation.

28:13 God comes to Jacob in his dream and tells him אני ה׳ אלוהי אברהם אביך ואלוהי יצחק... I am God, the God of Abraham your father and Isaac. Yet, Isaac is Jacob's father, not Abraham. Why then are we told that Abraham is Jacob's father?

28:16 even the songs with which I am familiar from camp are part of this parsha. אכן יש ה׳ במקום הזה ואנוכי לא ידעתי. Surely God was in this place and I didn't know it. Yet, don't we talk about God being all around? So what is so strange about Heron that Jacob thinks God isn't even present there? Even stranger, he becomes afraid with this realization (28:17. Why fear, especially in a place where one has felt God (maybe the fear is precisely because Jacob felt the presence of God.

29:11 "and Jacob kissed Rachel." The question is how innocent of a kiss is this? And why was he looking for Rachel to begin with? He didn't know her from Leah, unless there is a backstory that we aren't aware of.

29:15, 18. Laban asks Jacob how he wants to receive payment for his work, to which Jacob responds that he will work 7 years for Rachel (or at least the privilege to marry her)! Jacob is the one to suggest that he will work such a short time. But it's interesting that the suggestion of some form of augment comes from Laban, and he initially agrees to the terms Jacob sets down. Yet why does Jacob set down such a long time; to demonstrate his seriousness in wanting to marry her? Also, although not surprising,  Rachel has no voice in this...