And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
He abode ... a month. Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.