² There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well.^(A) The stone^(B) over the mouth of the well was large.

³ When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone^(A) away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep.^(B) Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

⁷ “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

⁸ “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone^(A) has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water^(B) the sheep.”