The Vow
Jacob, filled with joy, sets out on a journey to Haran, where he encounters shepherds and a mysterious well guarded by a heavy stone. Upon learning that Rachel, the daughter of Laban, is approaching with her flock, Jacob’s heart stirs. With a surge of strength and emotion, he rolls the stone away and waters her sheep. Overcome by love, Jacob kisses Rachel, weeping as he reveals his identity and his troubled past. Welcomed into Laban’s household, he offers seven years of service in exchange for Rachel’s hand, while the weight of family loss casts a shadow over his newfound hope.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
59%
JASHER
38%
JUBILEES
3%
Exposition
J: 45 | Y: 2187 | Jacob arrives in Haran
Genesis 29:1, Jasher 30:4
Rising Action
Jacob talks with the men at the well
Genesis 29:2-8, Jasher 30:5-6
Climax
Jacob interacts with Rachel at the well
Genesis 29:9-12, Jasher 30:7-9
Laban comes to the well and brings Jacob to his home
Genesis 29:13, Jasher 30:10-11
Falling Action
Jacob stays with Laban for 1 month
Genesis 29:14-15, Jasher 30:12
The difference between the twins Rachel and Leah
Genesis 29:16-17, Jasher 30:13
Resolution
Jacob vows to serve Laban for 7 years to marry Rachel
Genesis 29:18-19, Jasher 30:14, Jubilees 28:1
Y: 2188 | Eber died
Genesis 11:17, Jasher 30:15-16
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2187
Jacob arrives in Haran
Genesis 29:1
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Jasher 30:4
4 And Jacob rose up from that place quite rejoiced, and when he walked his feet felt light to him for joy, and he went from there to the land of the children of the East, and he returned to Haran and he set by the shepherd’s well.
Jacob talks with the men at the well
Genesis 29:2-3
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, 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.
3 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.
Genesis 29:4-6
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
Jasher 30:5-6
5 And he there found some men; going from Haran to feed their flocks, and Jacob made inquiries of them, and they said, We are from Haran.
6 And he said unto them, Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor? and they said, We know him, and behold his daughter Rachel is coming along to feed her father’s flock.
Genesis 29:7-8
7 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.
8 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.
Jacob interacts with Rachel at the well
Genesis 29:9
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.
Jasher 30:7
7 Whilst he was yet speaking with them, Rachel the daughter of Laban came to feed her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
Genesis 29:10
10 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.
Genesis 29:11-12
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 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.
Jasher 30:8-9
8 And when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, he ran and kissed her, and lifted up his voice and wept.
9 And Jacob told Rachel that he was the son of Rebecca, her father’s sister, and Rachel ran and told her father, and Jacob continued to cry because he had nothing with him to bring to the house of Laban.
Laban comes to the well and brings Jacob to his home
Genesis 29:13
13 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.
Jasher 30:10-11
10 And when Laban heard that his sister’s son Jacob had come, he ran and kissed him and embraced him and brought him into the house and gave him bread, and he ate.
11 And Jacob related to Laban what his brother Esau had done to him, and what his son Eliphaz had done to him in the road.
Jacob stays with Laban for 1 month
Genesis 29:14-15
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
Jasher 30:12
12 And Jacob resided in Laban’s house for one month, and Jacob ate and drank in the house of Laban, and afterward Laban said unto Jacob, Tell me what shall be thy wages, for how canst thou serve me for nought?
The difference between the twins Rachel and Leah
Genesis 29:16-17
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Jasher 30:13
13 And Laban had no sons but only daughters, and his other wives and handmaids were still barren in those days; and these are the names of Laban’s daughters which his wife Adinah had borne unto him; the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel; and Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored, and Jacob loved her.
Jacob vows to serve Laban for 7 years to marry Rachel
Genesis 29:18-19
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
Jasher 30:14
14 And Jacob said unto Laban, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter; and Laban consented to this and Jacob served Laban seven years for his daughter Rachel.
Jubilees 28:1
1 And he went on his journey, and came to the land of the east, to Laban, the brother of Rebecca, and he was with him, and served him for Rachel his daughter one week.
Year: 2188
Eber died
Genesis 11:17
17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
Jasher 30:15-16
15 And in the second year of Jacob’s dwelling in Haran, that is in the seventy ninth year of the life of Jacob, in that year died Eber the son of Shem, he was four hundred and sixty-four years old at his death.
16 And when Jacob heard that Eber was dead he grieved exceedingly, and he lamented and mourned over him many days.
No notes.
Exposition
J: 45 | Y: 2187 | Jacob arrives in Haran
Genesis 29:1, Jasher 30:4
And Jacob rose up from that place quite rejoiced, and when he walked his feet felt light to him for joy, and he went from there to the land of the children of the East, and he returned to Haran and he set by the shepherd’s well.
Rising Action
Jacob talks with the men at the well
Genesis 29:2-8, Jasher 30:5-6
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were 3 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 there 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 to them, “My brothers, where are you?”
And they said, “Of Haran are we.”
And he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
And he said to them, “Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.”
And he said, “Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water you the sheep, and go and feed them.”
And they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and until they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
Climax
Jacob interacts with Rachel at the well
Genesis 29:9-12, Jasher 30:7-9
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel the daughter of Laban came to feed her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
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 when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, he ran and 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 Jacob continued to cry because he had nothing with him to bring to the house of Laban.
Laban comes to the well and brings Jacob to his home
Genesis 29:13, Jasher 30:10-11
And when Laban heard that his sister’s son Jacob had come, he ran and kissed him and embraced him and brought him into the house and gave him bread, and he ate. And Jacob related to Laban what his brother Esau had done to him, and what his son Eliphaz had done to him in the road.
Falling Action
Jacob stays with Laban for 1 month
Genesis 29:14-15, Jasher 30:12
And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.”
And Jacob resided in Laban’s house for 1 month, and Jacob ate and drank in the house of Laban. And Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
The difference between the twins Rachel and Leah
Genesis 29:16-17, Jasher 30:13
And Laban had no sons but only daughters, and his other wives and handmaids were still barren in those days; and these are the names of Laban’s daughters which his wife Adinah had borne to him; the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel; and Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored, and Jacob loved her.
Resolution
Jacob vows to serve Laban for 7 years to marry Rachel
Genesis 29:18-19, Jasher 30:14, Jubilees 28:1
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, “I will serve you 7 years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
And Laban consented and said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.”
Y: 2188 | Eber died
Genesis 11:17, Jasher 30:15-16
And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. And in the 2nd year of Jacob’s dwelling in Haran, that is in the 79th year of the life of Jacob, in that year died Eber the son of Shem, he was 464 years old at his death. And when Jacob heard that Eber was dead he grieved exceedingly, and he lamented and mourned over him many days.
This chart shows who was alive in years 2187-2205.
Years with question marks are estimates.