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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 29:26

It is not so done Cf. Genesis 20:9, Gen 34:7; 2 Samuel 13:12. Laban's excuse was specious, that it was necessary to conform to local customs, and that Jacob, as a stranger, did not know them. But, if so, he should in decency and honour have explained the custom to Jacob before consenting to the marriage with the younger sister. In this disgraceful deception Laban's character is revealed; while Jacob, who deceived his father and his brother, is made to suffer himself from deception.

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See also Genesis 29:26 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 29:26. _IT MUST NOT BE SO DONE IN OUR COUNTRY_] It was an early custom to give daughters in marriage according to their _seniority_; and it is worthy of remark that the oldest people no...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob’s Marriage 6. רחל _rāchēl_, Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה _lê'âh_, Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה _zı̂lpâh_, Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה _bı̂lhâh_, Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 29 JACOB WITH LABAN _ 1. Jacob's arrival at Padan-aram (Genesis 29:1)_ 2. His service for Rachel (Genesis 29:15) 3. Laban's deception (Genesis 29:21) 4. Jacob receives Rachel ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB SERVES SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL. LABAN SUBSTITUTES LEAH AND SECURES FOURTEEN YEARS'SERVICE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TWO. Apart from bits of P (Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:28_ b_, Genesis 29:29) the secti...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LABAN SAID, IT MUST NOT, &C.— This appears to have been a mere shift, as we read of no such custom; or, had the fact been true, he ought to have informed Jacob before....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. _Jacob's Double Marriage_ (Genesis 29:13-30). _The Meeting with Laban._ When Laban heard of Jacob's presence, _he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house._ T...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND LABAN GAVE UNTO HIS DAUGHTER LEAH ZILPAH HIS MAID FOR AN HANDMAID._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB IN MESOPOTAMIA WITH LABAN The divine care and blessing promised to Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:15) are illustrated in the narrative of the sojourn of the patriarch at Haran, which apparently las...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The custom which Laban pleaded was not uncommon. Among the Hindoos it is a law not to give the younger daughter in marriage until the elder is married....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Perhaps this was true. Perhaps Laban had a good reason to give Leah first, before he gave Rachel. But Laban ought to have explained that to Jacob. He ought to have told that to Jacob 7 years earlier....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 29 JACOB MEETS RACHEL V1 Then Jacob continued his journey. He came to the land where the people in the east lived. V2 As he looked, he saw a well...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IT MUST NOT BE SO DONE IN OUR COUNTRY. — Heb., _It is not so done in our place, to give,_ &c. We have seen that it is still customary for the elder cousin to take the elder daughter, and the younger t...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן לֹא ־יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בִּ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB MARRIES LEAH AND RACHEL Genesis 29:21 The chief lesson of this paragraph is its illustration of the awful nemesis which accompanies wrongdoing. No thoughtful person can watch the events of hist...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Pursuing his journey after his experience at Luz, now called Beth-el, Jacob came into "the land of the children of the east." Here the next twenty years of his life were to be spent, during which he a...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE DECEIVER IS DECEIVED When Jacob came to a well in a field in northern Mesopotamia, he inquired where he was. He learned he was near Haran and soon met Rachel, his uncle Laban's daughter, who was c...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Laban said, (i) It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. (i) He valued the profit he had from Jacob's service more than either his promise or the customs o...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Custom. This appears to be a false pretext: for all the people saw that Rachel was adorned like the intended bride, (Haydock) and were invited to her wedding. (Menochius)_...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND LABAN SAID, IT MUST NOT BE SO DONE IN, OUR COUNTRY,.... Or "in our place" s; in this our city it is not usual and customary to do so; he does not deny what he had done in beguiling him, nor the ag...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Ver. 26. _It must not be so done in our country._] A sorry excuse; but better, he thought, than none a...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob commeth to the well of Haran. 9 He taketh acquaintance of Rachel. 13 Laban enterteineth him. 18 Iacob couenanteth for Rachel. 23 He is deceiued with Leah. 28 He marrieth also Rachel, and...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger-afore the first-born. Granted that this was an established custom in the place, or district, where Laban was living, his excu...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SECOND SECTION _Jacob’s wives and children. Jacob and Rachel, Laban’s youngest daughter. First and second treaty with Laban. His involuntary consummation of marriage with Leah. The double marriage. L...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB MEETS RACHEL AND LABAN After many days of travel Jacob came to the land of his relatives. He could not phone to find his directions to their home, nor did he have any street and house number, bu...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    COUNTRY: _ Heb._ place...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. I...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This seems to be a false pretence; but if it had been true, custom is to give place to justice, by which he was obliged to perform his contract with him....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 29:26 Laban H3837 said H559 (H8799) done H6213 (H8735) country H4725 give H5414 (H8800) younger...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Laban said, “It is not so done in our place to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil the week of this one and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob and Laban, two bargain makers, meet. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Laban, Rachael, Leah, Reuben, Levi, Judah. CONCLUSION: The believer who has erred may not be forsaken of God, but he is permit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 29:1. _Jacob went on his journey._ Our version fails here to express the lively sense of the Hebrew, as in most versions. _Levabit pedes;_ he tripped along with light feet, being now assured t...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him_ LABAN’S FRAUD ON JACOB I. THE CHARACTER OF THE FRAUD. 1. Deliberate. 2. Bold. 3. Selfish. II. THE FRAUD CONSIDERED AS A RETRIBUTION. There are...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:26 TO GIVE THE YOUNGER BEFORE THE FIRSTBORN. Laban’s remarks are highly ironic in light of Jacob’s earlier deception of his father....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 29:23. He took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him.] “The fraud was rendered possible by the Eastern custom of the bride being veiled, aided by the darkness of the nig...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 29:15 AND LABAN SAID UNTO JACOB (probably at the month's end), BECAUSE THOU ART—literally, _is it not that_._ thou art _(cf. Genesis 27:36;...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. And he looked, behold there was a well in the field, and, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    country. Heb. place. Genesis 29:26...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    It must be so done in our country — We have reason to think there was no such custom in his country; but if there was, and that he resolved to observe it, he should have told Jacob so, when he underto...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    When was Rachel given to be Jacob’s wife? PROBLEM: In Genesis 29:27 Laban tells Jacob to complete the bridal week of feasting with Leah, and then Rachel would be given to him. However, the verse also...

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