15-30. Jacob's double marriage.—15. Laban's character
begins to unfold itself as that of a man ostensibly
actuated by the most honourable motives, but at heart a
selfish schemer, always ready with some plausible pretext
for his nefarious conduct (see vv.19. 26). His apparently
generous offer proves a well-laid trap for Jacob, whose love
for Rachel has not escaped the notice of his shrewd kinsman.—16-18a.
An explanatory parenthesis. The manner in
which Rachel is introduced, as if for the first time, is thought
to mark the transition to another source (Di. al.).—On the
names Lē'āh and Raḥēl, v.i.—17. Leah's eyes were weak
((
Hebrew characters), G (Greek characters), Aq. Σ. (Greek characters)): i.e. they lacked the lustrous
brilliancy which is counted a feature of female beauty in the
East.—18b. Jacob, not being in a position to pay the purchase
price (mōhar) for so eligible a bride, offered seven years'
service instead. The custom was recognised by the ancient
Arabs, and is still met with (We. GGN, 1893, 433 f.; Burck.
Syria, i. 297 f.).—19. The first cousin has still a prior
(sometimes an exclusive) right to a girl's hand among the
Bedouin and in Egypt (Burck., Bedouin, i. 113, 272; Lane,
Mod. Eg.5 i. 199).—22. Laban proceeds to the execution of
his long meditated coup. He himself arranges the marriage
feast (ct. Ju. 1410), inviting all the men of the place, with
a view doubtless to his self-exculpation (v.26).—23. The substitution
of Leah for Rachel was rendered possible by the
custom of bringing the bride to the bridegroom veiled (2465).
To have thus got rid of the unprepossessing Leah for a handsome
price, and to retain his nephew's services for other
seven years (v.27), was a master-stroke of policy in the eyes
of a man like Laban.—25. Jacob's surprise and indignation
15. (Hebrew characters)] see on 2736.—(Hebrew characters)] 317. 41) (E), Ru. 212† ; (Hebrew characters) is common to J
(3028. 32f.) and E (318, Ex. 29).—16. (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters) are in such connexions
characteristic of E (v.18 4213. 15. 20. 32. 34); see Ho. Einl. 104.—(Hebrew characters) means
'ewe' (Ar. raḫil = she-lamb); hence by analogy (Hebrew characters) has been explained
by Ar. la'āt, 'bovine antelope' (see Nö. ZDMG, xl. 167; Sta. ZATW, i.
112 ff.), and the names are cited as evidence of a primitive Heb. totemism
(KM2, 254 f.). Others prefer the derivation from Ass. li'at, 'lady' (see
Haupt, GGN, 1883, 100).—18. (Hebrew characters)] (Hebrew characters) pretii (G-K. § 119 p); so 20. 25—20.
(Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] GA om.—21. (Hebrew characters)] Milra' before (Hebrew characters) (G-K. § 69 o).—24. (Hebrew characters)] better
