Genesis 29:10

10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his uncle, and the flock of Laban, Jacob came up, rolled the stone from the well's opening, and watered the flock of his uncle Laban.

Genesis 29:10 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:10

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of
Laban his mother's brother
Coming with her flock towards the well, and for whom and whose flock only the shepherds might be waiting:

and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother;
wherefore out of respect to him and his, he being so nearly allied to him, it was

that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth,
either with the help of the shepherds, or of himself by his own strength; which the Jewish writers ^F8 say amazed the shepherds, that he should do that himself, which required their united strength. The Targum of Jonathan says, he did it with one of his arms; and Jarchi, that he removed it as easily as a man takes off the lid cover of a pot:

and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother;
this he did partly out of respect to his relations, and partly that he might be taken notice of by Rachel.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.

Genesis 29:10 In-Context

8 They said to him, "We can't until all the herds are gathered, and then we roll the stone away from the well's opening and water the flock."

9 While he was still talking to them, Rachel came with her father's flock since she was its shepherd.

10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his uncle, and the flock of Laban, Jacob came up, rolled the stone from the well's opening, and watered the flock of his uncle Laban.

11 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

12 Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father and that he was Rebekah's son. She then ran to tell her father.