Laban Frisks Empty-Handed Jacob and the Destinies of Two Sisters

"And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman and that he was Rebecca's son" (Genesis 29:12). If it be for trickery — "he was her father's kinsman" [like Laban]; and if it be for righteousness — "he was Rebecca's son." "And she ran and told her father." A woman is accustomed to go only to her mother's house. But it is written, "and told her father"? He said: her mother had died, and to whom did she have to tell it, if not to her father. "And when Laban heard the report of Jacob his sister's son" (Genesis 29:13). He said: When Eliezer, who was merely the household's [servant], came, it is written of him, "And the servant took ten camels"; how much more so this one, who is the beloved of the house! And when he saw nothing on his back, "and he embraced him" — he said, Perhaps they are gold coins, and he is carrying them in his belt. And when he found nothing, "and he kissed him" — he said, Perhaps they are jewels, and he is holding them in his mouth. And when he found nothing, he said: What did you think — that I came laden with money? I did not come laden with anything but words. "And he recounted to Laban all these things." "And Laban said to him: Surely you are my bone and my flesh" (Genesis 29:14). He said: I had supposed I would make you king over me; but since you have nothing with you, you are my bone and my flesh — like this bone, I will crush you. "And he stayed with him a month of days" — this teaches you proper conduct: how long is a man obligated to take in his relatives? Up to a month. "And Laban said to Jacob: Because you are my kinsman [shall you serve me for nothing]?" (Genesis 29:15). And if not, would you serve me for free? Is such a thing possible? Rather, if a worker was worth ten coins, he would give him five; and if he hired him for six coins, he would give him three. He said to him: What do you suppose, that I came seeking money from you? I came only for the sake of your two daughters. "And Laban had two daughters" (Genesis 29:16) — like two beams running through from one end of the world to the other. This one raised up chieftains and this one raised up chieftains; this one raised up kings and this one raised up kings; from this one arose slayers of lions and from this one arose slayers of lions; from this one arose conquerors of lands and from this one arose conquerors of lands; from this one arose dividers of lands and from this one arose dividers of lands. The offering of this one's son overrides the Sabbath, and the war of this one's son overrides the Sabbath. To this one were given two nights and to this one were given two nights: to Leah, the night of Pharaoh and the night of Sennacherib; and to Rachel, the night of Gideon and the night of Mordecai — "On that night the king's sleep fled" (Esther 6). "The name of the elder was Leah" — great (gedolah) in her gifts: priesthood forever and kingship forever. "And the name of the younger was Rachel" — small (ketannah) in her gifts: Joseph for a time, Saul for a time.