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Home > Catholic Encyclopedia > L > Laban


LABAN

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Son of Bathuel, the Syrian (Gen. xxviii, 5; cf. xxv, 20); grandson of Nachor,
Abraham's brother (xxii, 20, 23); cf. xxiv, 5, where he is called "son of
Nachor"; brother of Rebecca (xxiv, 29, 55; xxv, 20; xxvii, 43; xxviii, 5); uncle
of Jacob (xxviii, 2; xxix, 10) and also his father-in-law (xxix, 25; xxx, 25;
xxxi, 20; cf. xxix, 12, 15; xiii, 8, where he is called his "brother"); the
father of Lia and Rachel (xxix, 16) and of several sons (xxx, 35; xxxi, 1).
Laban's home was in Haran (xxvii, 43; xxix, 4), the city of Nachor (xxiv, 10),
in Mesopotamia of Syria (xxviii, 2, 5) where Nachor, his grandfather, remained
when Abraham and Lot migrated to Chanaan (xi, 31; xii, 4). Hence Laban is also
called "the Syrian" or "Aramæan" (xxv, 20; xxvi, 20, 24; Heb.). It was here in
Mesopotamia that Laban met Abraham's servant and consented to Rebecca's
departure to become the wife of Isaac (xxiv, 29, sqq.) (see ABRAHAM). The
subsequent history of Laban is intimately connected with that of Jacob, his
sister's son (Genesis 29:10-31:55) (see JACOB). The latter having arrived in
Haran was met by Rachel who notified her father Laban of his brother's (sic)
arrival. Laban goes forth to meet Jacob and offers him the hospitality of his
home (xxix, 10-14). After a month's time Laban invites his nephew to remain
permanently with him, even allowing him to fix his own wages. Jacob agrees to
work seven years for his uncle, and his wages were to be the hand of Rachel,
Laban's younger daughter (xxix, 14-18). These terms appeared satisfactory to
Laban, who, at the end of seven years, prepared the marriage feast, but, instead
of giving his younger daughter Rachel to Jacob, he gave him his elder daughter
Lia whom Jacob, however, failed to recognize until after the marriage (xxix,
18-24). When Jacob remonstrated with his uncle, Laban agreed to give him his
younger daughter on the sole condition that Jacob serve him seven more years.
Jacob agreed to this, and at the end of seven years Laban gives his younger
daughter Rachel to Jacob (xxix, 24-29).



Having received the wife whom he sought, Jacob resolved to return to his own
home, but Laban, wishing to retain the profitable services of his nephew, once
more prevailed upon Jacob to remain with him (xxx, 25-28). The terms stipulated
by Jacob this time appeared most advantageous to Laban, but he and his sons soon
discovered that Jacob had outwitted them in this last agreement, which procured
for Jacob a large increase of flocks (xxx, 29-43). Laban and his sons then began
to despise Jacob, who, noticing their change of attitude towards him, and
dissatisfied with the treatment accorded him by his uncle, who had changed his
wages ten times, secretly departed together with his wives and possessions
(xxxi, 1-20). Three days later, Laban, apprised of Jacob's flight, and having
remarked the loss of his idols, which Rachel had taken with her, goes in pursuit
of the fugitives. After seven days Laban overtakes Jacob near the mount of
Galaad, but during the night he is warned in a dream not to inflict any harm on
Jacob (xxxi, 21-25). The next day Laban meets Jacob and remonstrates with him on
his ungrateful and foolish action, accusing him at the same time of taking his
idols (xxxi, 25-31). Laban is then invited by Jacob to search for his idols, and
when he fails to find them, thanks to Rachel's shrewdness, he is vigorously
upbraided by Jacob (xxxi, 31-42). Laban and Jacob then enter into an agreement
whereby Jacob is not to harm Laban's daughters, and neither party is to pass
with hostile intent the limits set by a heap of stones called "the witness
heap". Laban then takes leave of his sons and daughters and returns home, never
to be heard of again in history (xxxi, 42-55).




ABOUT THIS PAGE

APA citation. Albert, F.X.E. (1910). Laban. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New
York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08717b.htm

MLA citation. Albert, Francis X.E. "Laban." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8.
New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910.
<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08717b.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by WGKofron. With
thanks to St. Mary's Church, Akron, Ohio.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D.,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

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