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.
All the flocks would gather there, and the shepherds would roll the stone away from the opening of the well to give water to the sheep. Then they would put the stone back over the well's opening where it belonged.
This verse describes the daily routine of shepherds who would gather at a communal well, work together to remove a heavy stone, water their flocks, and carefully replace the stone to protect the water source.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient times, wells were precious and carefully protected water sources in arid regions. Large stones were placed over well openings to prevent contamination, keep animals from falling in, and control access to the water. This particular scene takes place as Jacob arrives in Haran, where he will meet Rachel and work for her father Laban.
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