In early times custom required the bridegroom, before the ratification of a marriage engagement, to pay a sum of money or its equivalent in other property, according to his circumstances, to the father of his wife. This was regarded as a safeguard to the marriage relation. Fathers did not think it safe to trust the happiness of their daughters to men who had not made provision for the support of a family. If they had not sufficient thrift and energy to manage business and acquire cattle or lands, it was feared that 189 their life would prove worthless. But provision was made to test those who had nothing to pay for a wife. They were permitted to labor for the father whose daughter they loved, the length of time being regulated by the value of the dowry required. When the suitor was faithful in his services, and proved in other respects worthy, he obtained the daughter as his wife; and generally the dowry which the father had received was given her at her marriage. In the case of both Rachel and Leah, however, Laban selfishly retained the dowry that should have been given them; they referred to this when they said, just before the removal from Mesopotamia, "He hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money."

Med ny og vedholdende tro på Guds løfter og forsikringen om himmelske engles nærværelse og beskyttelse fortsatte Jakob sin rejse til "Østens børns land". 1. Mos. 29, 1. Men hvor var hans ankomst forskellig fra Abrahams sendebuds omtrent 100 år tidligere! Tjeneren var kommet med et følge ridende på kameler og med rige gaver af guld og sølv. Sønnesønnen var en ensom, træt rejsende uden anden ejendom end sin stav. Ligesom Abrahams tjener standsede Jakob ved en brønd, og det var her, han mødte Rakel, Labans yngste datter. Nu var det Jakobs tur til at hjælpe til ved at rulle stenen bort fra brønden og vande fårene. Da han fortalte om sit slægtskab, blev han budt velkommen i Labans hjem. Skønt han kom alene og uden ejendom, var nogle få ugers ophold nok til at vise værdien af hans flid og dygtighed, og han blev opfordret til at blive. Det blev aftalt, at han skulle yde Laban syv års tjeneste for Rakels hånd.