Genesis 29:24

24 Lavan gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Le'ah for a handmaid.

Genesis 29:24 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, [for]
an handmaid.
] It was usual to have many given them at this time, as Rebekah seems to have had, ( Genesis 24:59 Genesis 24:61 ) ; but Leah had but one, and this was all the portion Jacob had with her. The Targum of Jonathan is,

``and Laban gave her Zilpah his daughter, whom his concubine bore unto him:''

hence the Jews say ^F17, that the daughters of a man by his concubines are called maids.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.

Genesis 29:24 In-Context

22 Lavan gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 It happened in the evening, that he took Le'ah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.

24 Lavan gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Le'ah for a handmaid.

25 It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Le'ah. He said to Lavan, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

26 Lavan said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first born.