LABAN

After the father of Abraham migrated to the region of Paddan-aram in northern Mesopotamia, some of the family settled there. Others, such as Abraham and Lot, moved south into Canaan (Gen 11:31-12:5). Laban became a prominent member of one of the families that remained in Paddan-aram. He shared with his father in giving permission for his sister, Rebekah, to marry Abraham’s son, Isaac (Gen 24:15,29,50- 51). Later he gave his own daughters, Leah and Rachel, to be wives of Isaac’s son, Jacob (Gen 28:2; 29:15-30). Laban’s deceit of Jacob in the marriage arrangements began a long contest of trickery between the two, as each tried to outdo the other. (For details see JACOB.)