A couple: Jacob and Rachel

Understand the scene

The meeting of Jacob and Rachel is a real love at first sight.

The young man arrives at his uncle’s house and sees beautiful Rachel who is a shepherdess. He gives her a kiss or he helps her by lifting the stone above the well to water her flock.

But Jacob is not yet out of his pains since his uncle asks him to work for seven years to obtain his daughter and since, at the last moment, he will replace Rachel by her elder sister Lea!

Without losing courage Jacob will work for another seven years to marry Rachel and will find himself married to both sisters.

Do not confuse with

 Isaac and Rebecca

Isaac welcomes Rebecca who arrives on a camel. It is this oriental aspect which differentiates the two scenes.

 See Isaac and Rebecca

Rebecca meeting Isaac; Julius Schnorr von CAROLSFELD; 1898; woodcut from “Bibel in Bildern”.

Emory

The biblical narrative

The Book of Genesis, chapter 29

And Jacob said to them : "My brethren, Know ye Laban? Is he well? " And they said : "He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep." …  And while he yet spoke 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.
Genesis 29:4-12)
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But Rachel’s father wants first to marry his elder daughter Lea, hence Jacob’s disappointments....

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