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.
F8 Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.