“Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebecca’s son, and she ran and told her father” (Genesis 29:12). “Jacob told Rachel that he was [her father’s] brother, and that he was Rebecca’s son” – if being deceitful, “that he was her father’s brother”; if being righteous, “that he was Rebecca’s son.” “And she ran and told her father” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: A woman is always accustomed only to her mother’s house.
He27One of the students. raised an objection: ‘But is it not written: “She ran and told her father”?’ He said to him: ‘It is because her mother had died. Who should she have told if not her father?’ “It was when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house.
He related to Laban all these matters” (Genesis 29:13). “It was when Laban heard…” – he [Laban] said: ‘Eliezer was the most defective one of the household, as it is written: “The servant took ten camels” 28The verse states that he was only a servant. (Genesis 24:10); this one, who is the most beloved of the household, all the more so.29He will have riches with him.’ When he did not see even a knapsack, “he embraced him” – he said: ‘They are dinars and they are in his belt.’
When he found nothing, “he kissed him” – he said: ‘Perhaps they are gems and they are in his mouth.’ When he did not see anything, Jacob said to him: ‘What do you think, that I came bearing money? I came only bearing words’ – “He related to Laban.”