See Genesis xxviii, xxxix.

THIS engraving is a representation of quiet pastoral life in the time of the patriarchs. Jacob is seen tending the flocks of Laban, which are gathered near a well, from which Rachel is returning with her pitcher. Jacob was the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, and became, like Abraham and Isaac, a herdsman. Esau had grieved his parents by taking two wives from among the Canaanites, and Rebekah wished Jacob to marry from among his own people, as his father had done. Hence, when Esau threatened to slay Jacob, who had not only selfishly obtained his birthright, but had also defrauded him of his father's blessing, Rebekah urged him to flee for safety to her brother Laban. "And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife from thence, of the daughters of Laban, thy mother's brother." Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and 10, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered, and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye and they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well and they said, He is well: and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth: then we water the sheep. . «And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran, and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh: and he abode with him the space of a month. .

“And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought tell me, what shall thy wages be And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."