1 tn The perfect verbal forms with the vav (ו) consecutive carry on the sequence begun by the initial imperfect form.
2 tn Heb “Laban, the brother of his mother” (twice in this verse).
3 tn Heb “Jacob.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Heb “drew near, approached.”
5 tn Heb “Laban, the brother of his mother.” The text says nothing initially about the beauty of Rachel. But the reader is struck by the repetition of “Laban the brother of his mother.” G. J. Wenham is no doubt correct when he observes that Jacob’s primary motive at this stage is to ingratiate himself with Laban (Genesis [WBC], 2:231).