Genesis 29:10

10 Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban's sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban's sheep.

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 replied, "We can't until all the flocks are gathered. When the stone is rolled off the opening of the well, we can water the sheep."

9 While he was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, because she was a shepherd.

10 Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban's sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban's sheep.

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and sobbed loudly.

12 When Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's nephew and that he was Rebekah's son, she ran and told her father.