Genesis 29:18

Jacob had no rich gif ts to offer for Rachel, such as Abraham sent for Rebekah (Genesis 24:53). He therefore offered his services. Kitto says that 'personal servitude to the father is still in some places in the East, including to this day Palestine, the price paid by young men who have no other means of providing the payment which a father has always been entitled to expect for his daughter, as compensation for the loss of her domestic services.'