On the way from Beth'el to Mes-o-po-ta'mia Ja'cob passed through many trials and dangers, and must have grown very tired. But on he marched, feeling less weary now that he had cast his burdens upon the LORD, and greatly encouraged by the blessings which had been promised him. Having put himself in the hands of Divine Providence, he knew that God would lead him safely to the home of La'ban.
At last he paused to rest for a moment by a well some distance from the town of Ha'ran, where his grandfather A'bra-ham had once lived, and where many of his kindred still made their homes. Here he began to talk with some of the shepherds who had come to water their sheep, and learned that they knew La'ban, who was Re-bek'ah's brother. When Ja'cob politely inquired about the health and prosperity of his uncle, he was told that La'ban was well, and that his daughter Ra'chel was now coming toward them with her father's sheep.
From the first moment that he saw her, Ja'cob was carried away by the beauty and grace of Ra'chel. After removing the stone from the top of the well, and drawing water for her sheep, he told her that he was the son of her aunt Re-bek'ah. Overjoyed by the sight of his lovely cousin, Ja'cob embraced her most tenderly.
Ra'chel then went home and told her father of the meeting with Ja'cob, and La'ban went out to invite his nephew to come and stay at his home. Ja'cob was unwilling to accept the food and shelter of his uncle without giving something in return, and for this reason he helped in the care of the sheep, and did his part in the work that made La'ban prosperous. After thirty days had passed, La'ban offered to give wages to Ja'cob if he would stay.
There were two daughters in the household of La'ban, the elder named Le'ah, and the younger Ra'chel. The eyes of Le'ah were dull and without charm, while those of Ra'chel were brilliant and attractive; Ra'chel, moreover, was truly beautiful. Jac'ob had been attracted to Ra'chel from the moment that he first saw her at the well, and this feeling had grown even stronger during the month that he had spent in her father's home.
It was a custom in that country for a young man to make some payment to the parents of the woman whom he had chosen as a wife. Since Ja'cob had no money or property to give La'ban, he offered to work seven years to gain Ra'chel as his wife. It must have been hard for Ja'cob, who was the son of a wealthy man back in Ca'naan, and to whom great riches had been promised, to have nothing but his own labor to offer for the hand of the woman he loved.
