Genesis 29:24

24 And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant.

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 So Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast.

23 And it happened [that] in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her.

24 And Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to her, to Leah his daughter [as] a female servant.

25 And it happened [that] in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, "What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Now why did you deceive me?"

26 Then Laban said, "{It is not the custom} in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.