SEV Biblia, Chapter 29:26
Y Labán respondió: No se hace así en nuestro lugar, que se dé la menor antes de la mayor.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:26
Verse 26. It must not be so done in our country] It was an early custom to give daughters in marriage according to their seniority; and it is worthy of remark that the oldest people now existing, next to the Jews, I mean the Hindoos, have this not merely as a custom, but as a positive law; and they deem it criminal to give a younger daughter in marriage while an elder daughter remains unmarried. Among them it is a high offense, equal to adultery, ""for a man to marry while his elder brother remains unmarried, or for a man to give his daughter to such a person, or to give his youngest daughter in marriage while the eldest sister remains unmarried.""-Code of Gentoo Laws, chap. xv., sec. 1, p. 204. This was a custom at Mesopotamia; but Laban took care to conceal it from Jacob till after he had given him Leah. The words of Laban are literally what a Hindoo would say on such a subject.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-30 - During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Whereve we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laba was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relation must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob mad known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And havin no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we rea of the labour of love, Heb 6:10. If we know how to value the happines of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a lik deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord wa righteous: see Jud 1:7. Even the righteous, if they take a false step are sometimes thus recompensed in the earth. And many who are not, lik Jacob, in their marriage, disappointed in person, soon find themselves as much to their grief, disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation ought to be made with good advice and thought on bot sides. There is reason to believe that Laban's excuse was not true. Hi way of settling the matter made bad worse. Jacob was drawn into the disquiet of multiplying wives. He could not refuse Rachel, for he ha espoused her; still less could he refuse Leah. As yet there was n express command against marrying more than one wife. It was in the patriarchs a sin of ignorance; but it will not justify the lik practice now, when God's will is plainly made known by the Divine law Le 18:18, and more fully since, by our Saviour, that one man and woma only must be joined together, 1Co 7:2.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 לבן 3837 לא 3808 יעשׂה 6213 כן 3651 במקומנו 4725 לתת 5414 הצעירה 6810 לפני 6440 הבכירה׃ 1067
