Genesis 29:3

“And thither were all the flocks gathered, etc.] The three above mentioned, (<012902>Genesis 29:2): and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep; that is, when they watered the sheep, they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well in order to do it; for as yet the flocks, now lying by it, had not been watered, as appears from (<012907>Genesis 29:7,8): and put a stone upon the well’s mouth in this place; this they were wont to do every time they watered the flocks.”

“thither were all the flocks gathered; and a stone, &c.--In Arabia, owing to the shifting sands and in other places, owing to the strong evaporation, the mouth of a well is generally covered, especially when it is private property. Over many is laid a broad, thick, flat stone, with a round hole cut in the middle, forming the mouth of the cistern. This hole is covered with a heavy stone which it would require two or three men to roll away. Such was the description of the well at Haran.”