Genesis 29:24

24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

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 invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.

23 But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

25 When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.