Jacob Arrives at Laban’s House: This episode is a betrothal type-scene. In such a scene a person travels to a distant place, stops at a well, meets a girl, and draws water for her flock by overcoming some obstacle. The girl’s father invites the traveler to stay; eventually the young man marries the local girl (other variations of this type-scene are Abraham’s servant and Rebekah in 24:10–61 and Moses and the daughters of Reuel in Exod. 2:15b–21; R. Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative, [New York: Basic Books, 1981], pp. 51–53, 54–56). This account consists of two scenes: Jacob arrives at the well (vv. 1–8) and meets Rachel (vv. 9–14).

29:1–3 Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. Having reached his destination, he stopped at the local well, a primary mee…