And Laban gathered the residents of the place and made a feast (Genesis 29:22). When the night came he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he had relations with her (Genesis 29:23). And Laban gave his maidservant Zilpa to his daughter Leah as a maidservant (Genesis 29:24). “It was in the morning and, behold, she was Leah; he said to Laban: What is this that you did to me?
Did I not work with you for Rachel, and why did you deceive me?” (Genesis 29:25). “Laban gathered all the people of the place, and made a feast” (Genesis 29:22). He gathered all the people of his place. He said to them: ‘You know that we were hard-pressed for water, but once this righteous man came here, the water was blessed.’ [They said to him:] ‘What can we do for you?’
He said to them: ‘If you wish, I will deceive him, and give him Leah, as he loves this Rachel greatly, and he will spend another seven years with you.’ They said to him: ‘Do as you please.’ He said to them: ‘Give me collateral that no one of you will disclose it.’ They gave him collateral and he obtained with it wine, oil, and meat.
That is why he is called Laban the Aramean; because he deceived [sherima] the people of his place. All day they were praising him.48Jacob. When night fell, he said to them: ‘What is this?’ They told him ‘You performed an act of kindness with your merit.’
They were lauding before him, and saying: ‘It is fitting, it is fitting [ha laya ha laya] – she is Leah, she is Leah.’49They were hinting to the fact that the bride was Leah. At night, they brought the bride and covered the lamps. He said to them: ‘What is this?’ They said to him: ‘What, do you think that we are rams like you?’50We are modest, not like you, who kissed Rachel in public like an animal.
All that night he called her Rachel and she answered him. “In the morning, and behold, she was Leah.” He said to her: ‘What, you are a deceiver, daughter of a deceiver, did I not call you Rachel at night and you answered me?’ She said to him: 'Is there a barber without disciples?51Who can cut his hair.
In this context she means: I am your disciple since you answered to your brother's name. Did your father not call you Esau and you answered him?' “Laban said: So will not be done in our place, to give the younger before the elder” (Genesis 29:26). “Complete the week for this one, and we will give you that one too, for the work that you will work with me another seven additional years” (Genesis 29:27).
“He told Laban: What is this that you did to me…?" (Genesis 29:25). “Laban said: So will not be done…complete the week for this one…” – Rabbi Yaakov bar Aḥa said: From here we learn that one does not mix joy with joy, but rather, “complete the week for this one…”