Parshas Vayeitzei 5777

Why was the well covered with a rock?

The Torah writes (Genesis 29:2-3):

There before his eyes was a well in the open. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for the flocks were watered from that well. The stone on the mouth of the well was large.When all the flocks were gathered there, the stone would be rolled from the mouth of the well and the sheep watered; then the stone would be put back in its place on the mouth of the well.

The Shadal explains (29:8):

Because of the agreement they made among themselves that no one is allowed to use the water from the well alone

Radak explains further (29:2):

seeing that there was no other source of water nearby to water the flocks of the people of Charan, the local people had placed an extremely large and heavy rock on top of it so that only in the presence of all the shepherds would the flocks be watered so as to ensure a fair distribution of the available water. This would also help to avoid wasting water remaining in the troughs when no other flock had already lined up at the troughs. Placing such a large stone on the well then was a device designed to help everyone entitled to this water to receive his fair share in the presence of all the shepherds.

Chizkuni provides another reason (ibid) [see also Rashbam]:

And the large stone was placed on the mouth of the well so nothing alive or utensils fall into it and also so others don't draw water from it

HaEmek Davar (29:3) adds another reason:

First that would place it on the mouth of the well and then move it around to make a good cover - all of this because of magic