Interesting Facts

• Laban was the king of Bethchoran.
• He was called upon by Jashub, the king of Tapnach, to join a coalition of kings to fight against Jacob and his sons, who had returned to Shechem.
• Laban was one of the kings who assembled with their armies opposite Tapnach.
• Laban fled from the sons of Jacob along with the other kings after the initial encounter.
• Laban was killed by Jacob with an arrow.
• After Laban’s death, the sons of Jacob continued their battle in Bethchorin.
• The sons of Jacob did unto Bethchorin as they had done to other cities like Gaash and Tapnach.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any information regarding Laban’s ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is solely identified by his title as the king of Bethchoran.

Historical Context

Laban’s involvement in the narrative occurs during a period of heightened conflict between Jacob’s family and the surrounding Canaanite and Amorite kingdoms following the return of Jacob’s sons to Shechem. The devastating aftermath of the Shechem incident prompted Jashub, the king of Tapnach, to seek retribution and rally other regional kings, including Laban of Bethchoran, against the perceived threat posed by Jacob’s increasingly powerful household. This was a time of inter-city alliances formed out of fear and a desire to maintain control over their territories in the face of the Hebrews’ military actions. The swift and brutal attacks by the sons of Jacob on various cities created a climate of fear among the Canaanite and Amorite rulers, influencing their decision to unite and confront this emerging power.

Narrative

Laban, the king of Bethchoran, is introduced as one of the rulers who heeded the call to arms from Jashub, king of Tapnach, to join a coalition against Jacob and his sons. Driven by the fear of the Hebrews, especially after the destruction of Shechem, Laban assembled his forces with other kings and their armies opposite Tapnach, indicating his commitment to this unified resistance. However, the initial battle led to the defeat of Jashub and a subsequent retreat of the Amorite kings, including Laban, towards their respective cities. The sons of Jacob pursued these fleeing kings, and in the ensuing battles, Jacob himself targeted and killed the remaining leaders, including Laban, striking him with an arrow. Laban’s death further weakened the Amorite coalition and paved the way for the sons of Jacob to continue their conquest of the surrounding cities, eventually reaching and subduing Bethchorin itself. The narrative surrounding Laban highlights the fierce opposition faced by Jacob’s family and the decisive role Jacob played in eliminating the Amorite leadership, ultimately leading to a period of fear and attempts at peace from the remaining Canaanite kings.