Genesis 29:26

29:26 “It is not our custom here,” ¹  Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage ²  before the firstborn.

Genesis 19:38

19:38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. ³  He is the ancestor of the Ammonites of today.

Genesis 27:15

27:15 Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.

Genesis 29:18

29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with ⁴  Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Genesis 29:27

29:27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. ⁵  Then we will give you the younger one ⁶  too, in exchange for seven more years of work.” ⁷ 

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¹ tn Heb “and Laban said, ‘It is not done so in our place.’” The order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

² tn Heb “to give the younger.” The words “daughter” and “in marriage” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

³ sn The name Ben-Ammi means “son of my people.” Like the account of Moab’s birth, this story is probably included in the narrative to portray the Ammonites, another perennial enemy of Israel, in a negative light.

⁴ tn Heb “Jacob loved.”

⁵ tn Heb “fulfill the period of seven of this one.” The referent of “this one” has been specified in the translation as “my older daughter” for clarity.

sn Bridal week. An ancient Hebrew marriage ceremony included an entire week of festivities (cf. Judg 14:12).

⁶ tn Heb “this other one.”

⁷ tn Heb “and we will give to you also this one in exchange for labor which you will work with me, still seven other years.”

sn In exchange for seven more years of work. See C. H. Gordon, “The Story of Jacob and Laban in the Light of the Nuzi Tablets,” BASOR 66 (1937): 25-27; and J. Van Seters, “Jacob’s Marriages and Ancient Near Eastern Customs: A Reassessment,” HTR 62 (1969): 377-95.