Genesis 29:15

And Laban said, &c.— During the month which Jacob passed with Laban, he shewed so much industry and diligence that Laban was desirous of retaining his services; he therefore requests to know what salary, or gratuity, he would expect. And Jacob, who admired his younger daughter Rachel, offered, by way of dowry for her, his services for seven years. Jacob was now seventy-seven years old (according to Lightfoot). It was usual, in many countries, for the husbands to purchase their wives, and to give the parents a dowry: Herodotus, as quoted by Calmet, mentions a peculiar custom of this sort among the Babylonians. See lib. i. c. 196.