Interesting Facts

• Laban’s wife, Adinah, was initially barren, and the Lord remembered her and blessed her with children on account of Jacob’s presence in their household.
• Despite knowing what he had done to deceive Jacob regarding Leah and Rachel, the people at the wedding feast did not reveal the truth to Jacob.
• Laban engaged in the practice of using “images” (possibly teraphim) which were believed to have the power to speak and reveal future events, as Rachel stole these from him.
• Laban pursued Jacob with the intention of doing him harm but was warned by God in a dream not to speak to Jacob either good or bad.
• Laban died because God struck him for transgressing the covenant he had made with Jacob.

Genealogy

• Laban was the son of Bethuel.
• His mother is not named in the provided texts.
• He was the brother of Rebecca, who married Isaac.
• His daughters were Leah and Rachel, both of whom became wives of Jacob.
• He had sons named Beor, Alib, and Chorash, who were born after Jacob had resided with him for four years, suggesting the Lord blessed Laban on account of Jacob.
• Nahor was his grandfather, the father of Bethuel.

Historical Context

The narratives involving Laban unfold in a patriarchal society where familial ties and the transfer of inheritance were significant. The practice of arranged marriages and the importance of offspring are evident in Laban’s eagerness for Jacob to marry his daughters. The custom of the elder daughter being given in marriage before the younger was a societal norm that Laban invoked to justify his deception of Jacob. The mention of “images” suggests a cultural context where such objects were considered significant, possibly for religious or divinatory purposes. The act of making a covenant with a heap as a witness indicates a common practice for formalizing agreements. Furthermore, the narratives highlight the belief in divine intervention in human affairs, as seen in God’s warning to Laban in a dream and the assertion that Laban’s prosperity increased because of Jacob’s presence.

Narrative

Laban’s story is primarily intertwined with the narrative of his nephew and son-in-law, Jacob. Initially, Laban welcomes Jacob, his sister’s son, into his household with apparent warmth upon hearing of his arrival. After Jacob had resided with him for a month, Laban proposes that Jacob should work for him and asks him to name his wages. This marks the beginning of a long and often fraught relationship. Laban deceives Jacob by giving him his elder daughter Leah in marriage instead of Rachel, for whom Jacob had served seven years. He justifies this by citing the custom of their land, stating that the younger daughter should not be given before the elder. Laban then agrees to give Rachel to Jacob as well, on the condition of another seven years of service. During Jacob’s subsequent six years of service for Laban’s flocks, Laban repeatedly changes Jacob’s wages, ten times in total, demonstrating a lack of integrity and a desire to exploit Jacob’s labor. Despite Laban’s attempts to disadvantage him, God’s favor rests upon Jacob, allowing him to prosper. When Jacob eventually decides to return to his homeland with his wives and children, he does so secretly, fearing Laban’s reaction. Upon discovering Jacob’s departure, Laban pursues him with his kinsmen, accusing him of stealing his daughters and his “gods”. However, God intervenes in a dream, warning Laban not to harm Jacob. The confrontation between Laban and Jacob at Mount Gilead is marked by accusations and Jacob’s defense of his actions, highlighting Laban’s possessiveness and Jacob’s resentment of Laban’s deceit. Ultimately, they make a covenant, symbolized by a heap of stones, to not harm each other. Laban eventually returns to his place. The narrative concludes with the information that Laban died because God smote him for breaking the covenant he had established with Jacob. This suggests that Laban’s character is portrayed as self-serving and prone to duplicity, ultimately facing divine retribution for his transgressions against Jacob.