Bereshis 29:24

24 And Lavan gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah shifchato (his maid) for a shifchah.

Bereshis 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.

Bereshis 29:24 In-Context

22 And Lavan gathered together all the anshei hamakom, and made a mishteh (feast).

23 And it came to pass in the erev, that he took Leah his bat, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24 And Lavan gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah shifchato (his maid) for a shifchah.

25 And it came to pass, that in the boker, hinei, it was Leah! And he said to Lavan, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? So why then hast thou deceived me?

26 And Lavan said, It must not be so done in our land, to give the younger before the bechirah.