Genesis 29:24

24 And Laban gave to his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid [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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.

Genesis 29:24 In-Context

22 And Laban assembled all the men of the place, and made a feast.

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

24 And Laban gave to his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid [for] a handmaid.

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done to me? did I not serve with thee for Rachel? why then hast thou deceived me?

26 And Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born.