1-3. Jacob set out again on his way to the people of the east. He noticed a well out in an open field with three flocks of sheep bedded down around it. This was the common well from which the flocks were watered. The stone over the mouth of the well was huge. When all the flocks were gathered, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well and water the sheep; then they would return the stone, covering the well.
4. Jacob said, “Hello friends. Where are you from?”They said, “We’re from Haran.”
5. Jacob asked, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?”“We do.”
6. “Are things well with him?” Jacob continued.“Very well,” they said. “And here is his daughter Rachel coming with the flock.”
7. Jacob said, “There’s a lot of daylight still left; it isn’t time to round up the sheep yet, is it? So why not water the flocks and go back to grazing?”
8. “We can’t,” they said. “Not until all the shepherds get here. It takes all of us to roll the stone from the well. Not until then can we water the flocks.”
14-15. Laban said, “You’re family! My flesh and blood!”When Jacob had been with him for a month, Laban said, “Just because you’re my nephew, you shouldn’t work for me for nothing. Tell me what you want to be paid. What’s a fair wage?”
16-18. Now Laban had two daughters; Leah was the older and Rachel the younger. Leah had nice eyes, but Rachel was stunningly beautiful. And it was Rachel that Jacob loved.So Jacob answered, “I will work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19. “It is far better,” said Laban, “that I give her to you than marry her to some outsider. Yes. Stay here with me.”
20. So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. But it only seemed like a few days, he loved her so much.