Genesis 29:26
Hebrew Bible
25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me? Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?” 26 “It is not our custom here,” Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
LXX Genesis 29:26
Septuagint
25 Then morning came, and there was Leia! And Iakob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was I not sub- ject to you for Rachel? And why have you deceived me?” 26 And Laban said, “It is not possible thus in our locality to give the younger before the elder. 27 Therefore finish the heptada of this one, and I will give you this one also in return for work that you shall do at my place for yet another seven years.”
Date: 3rd Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Genesis 29:26 ... Not “the younger one before the older,” but “the younger one before the firstborn.” The man who has taken away the firstborn privilege of his brother now suffers because of the firstborn privilege of his beloved’s sister! Here, by the way, is a case in which translation makes a difference. The Targum, the Septuagint, and some recent translations all make it “the older,” not “the firstborn,” thus unfortunately missing this point and unwittingly hiding it from their readers. Several scholars have discussed this irony in various terms. Now, is this reference to Leah as the firstborn a chance detail based on a coincidence of language, or is it an essential development in the structure of the story? The evidence that I observed in the rest of the narrative indicates that it is indeed an essential, designed development ..."
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