Laban (Bible)
Laban Modern: , Aramean, is the figure in a Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible. He was the brother of Rebekah, who married Isaac as well as bore Jacob. Laban welcomed his nephew, & set him the stipulation of seven years' labour before he permitted him to marry his daughter Rachel. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his elder daughter Leah instead. Jacob then took Rachel as hiswife, on condition of serving an extra seven years' labour.
Laban & his style were refers as dwelling in Paddan Aram, in Mesopotamia. Though the biblical text itself does non attest to this, rabbinic sources also identify him as the father of Bilhah and Zilpah, the two concubines with whom Jacob also has children Midrash Rabba, Gen. 24.
Narrative
Laban first appears in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 24:29–60 as the grown spokesman for his father Bethuel's house; he was impressed by the gold jewelry given to his sister on behalf of Isaac, and played a key part in arranging their marriage. Twenty years later, Laban's nephew Jacob was born to Isaac and Rebekah.
When grown, Jacob comes to work for Laban. The biblical narrative ensures a good example for dating these events: Jacob begat Joseph 14 years after his flight to Laban; Joseph entered Pharaoh's good at age 30; and from that point, after seven years of plenty and two years of famine, Jacob met Pharaoh and stated his age as 130. Subtracting yields an age of 77 Jacob at his flight to Laban. Laban was more than 30 years older than Jacob, and employed him for 20 years.
Laban promised his younger daughter Genesis 29. Laban's flocks and fortunes increased under Jacob's skilled care, but there was much further trickery between them. Six years after his promised service has ended, Jacob, having prospered largely by proving more cunning than his father-in-law, finally left. Laban pursued him, but they eventually parted on good terms Genesis 31. Laban's wife and the mother of Leah and Rachel was Adinah.
Laban can be seen as symbolizing those whose concern for the welfare of their immediate family, nominally a virtue, is taken to the member where it has lasting negative ramifications. Laban's urge to ensure his older daughter not be left unmarried can be interpreted as leading to the Exile in Egypt; his anxiety over seeing his son-in-law make away his family's comfortable position in Aram in search of a risky new beginning back in Canaan leads him to oppose the return of the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. His name can also be seen as symbolic in this matter: it means "white", the visual representation of purity, without visible stain, symbolizing those without obvious evil motives whose actions nevertheless statement in undesirable outcomes.