Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 29:2

"And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well`s mouth was great." — Genesis 29:2 (ASV)

Behold a well in the field. —This was not the well from where Rebekah drew the water; for it was in the field, the open pasture ground, whereas Rebekah’s well was just outside the city (Genesis 24:11), and she obtained the water by going down the steps which led to it (Genesis 24:16).

A great stone was upon the well’s mouth. —The region around Haran, though fertile, is very dry, and the chief use of the stone was to prevent the well from being choked with sand. Since the proper translation is the stone upon the well’s mouth was great, it would also serve to prevent the well from being used, except at fixed times. This is because it probably required the strength of two or three men to remove it (compare Robinson, Bibl. Res. ii. 180), and the language of Genesis 29:10 does not necessarily imply that Jacob rolled it away without the aid of others.

Besides this, the stone may have marked that the well was private property. As we have seen in the account of the covenants of Abraham and Isaac with Abimelech, no possession was more valued than that of wells.

We also find the shepherds all waiting for Rachel. Immediately on her arrival, the stone is rolled away, and her sheep are watered first, while the rest, though they had been there long before her, must wait until her needs are met. This makes it probable that Laban had at least a first claim upon its enjoyment.

In contrast, no such courtesy was shown to the daughters of Jethro (Exodus 2:17).