Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
1 Then Jacob continued on his journey. He came to the land where the eastern tribes lived.
2
There he saw a well in the field. Three flocks of sheep were lying near it. The flocks were given water from the well. The stone over the opening of the well was large.
3
All of the flocks would gather there. The shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's opening. They would give water to the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the opening of the well.
4
Jacob asked the shepherds, "My friends, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied.
5
He said to them, "Do you know Nahor's grandson Laban?" "Yes, we know him," they answered.
6
Then Jacob asked them, "How is he?" "He's fine," they said. "Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep now."
7
"Look," he said, "the sun is still high in the sky. It's not time for the flocks to be brought together. Give water to the sheep and take them back to the grasslands."
8
"We can't," they replied. "We have to wait until all of the flocks are brought together. The stone has to be rolled away from the opening of the well. Then we'll give water to the sheep."
9
He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep. It was her job to take care of the flock.
10
Rachel was the daughter of Laban. He was the brother of Jacob's mother. When Jacob saw Rachel with Laban's sheep, he went over to the well. He rolled the stone away from the opening. He gave water to his uncle's sheep.
11
Jacob kissed Rachel. Then he began to sob loudly.
12
He had told Rachel he was a relative of her father. He had also said he was Rebekah's son. Rachel ran and told her father what Jacob had said.
13
As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he hurried to meet him. Laban hugged Jacob and kissed him. Then he brought him to his home. There Jacob told him everything.