This verse from Genesis 29:24 means that Laban, Leah's father, gave Zilpah, one of his female servants, to Leah to be her personal maid or attendant.
Here's a breakdown:
Laban gave Zilpah his servant: Laban, being the head of the household, had the right to dispose of his property, including his servants.
to his daughter Leah: This was a gift to his daughter Leah, presumably as part of her wedding dowry or to provide her with assistance in her new household.
for a servant: Zilpah's role was to serve Leah, assisting her with household tasks, personal care, and potentially other duties as needed.
Significance and Context:
Status Symbol: Providing a servant to a daughter was a sign of wealth and status in ancient Near Eastern society. It showed that Laban was able to provide well for his daughter.
Help and Support: Zilpah would have been a source of practical help and companionship for Leah in her new and likely unfamiliar surroundings after her marriage to Jacob.
Later Developments: This detail becomes significant later in the narrative, as Leah, facing difficulty in conceiving, gives Zilpah to Jacob as a concubine, and Zilpah bears Jacob two sons, Gad and Asher.
In short, the verse describes a common practice in that era: a father giving a female servant to his daughter as part of her wedding arrangements to provide her with assistance and to signify the family's wealth. This action sets the stage for important events later in the Genesis narrative.
This verse from Genesis 29:24 means that Laban, Leah's father, gave Zilpah, one of his female servants, to Leah to be her personal maid or attendant.
Here's a breakdown:
Laban gave Zilpah his servant: Laban, being the head of the household, had the right to dispose of his property, including his servants.
to his daughter Leah: This was a gift to his daughter Leah, presumably as part of her wedding dowry or to provide her with assistance in her new household.
for a servant: Zilpah's role was to serve Leah, assisting her with household tasks, personal care, and potentially other duties as needed.
Significance and Context:
Status Symbol: Providing a servant to a daughter was a sign of wealth and status in ancient Near Eastern society. It showed that Laban was able to provide well for his daughter.
Help and Support: Zilpah would have been a source of practical help and companionship for Leah in her new and likely unfamiliar surroundings after her marriage to Jacob.
Later Developments: This detail becomes significant later in the narrative, as Leah, facing difficulty in conceiving, gives Zilpah to Jacob as a concubine, and Zilpah bears Jacob two sons, Gad and Asher.
In short, the verse describes a common practice in that era: a father giving a female servant to his daughter as part of her wedding arrangements to provide her with assistance and to signify the family's wealth. This action sets the stage for important events later in the Genesis narrative.