Laban

Laban was the brother of Rebekah and the father of Leah and Rachel, who became the father-in-law of Jacob in the narrative of Genesis 29–31. He lived in Paddan-Aram (Haran) and received Jacob as a kinsman, but the relationship was marked by mutual deception: Laban substituted Leah for Rachel on the wedding night, requiring Jacob to serve another seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:21–28). He also changed Jacob's wages ten times and attempted to exploit his son-in-law's labor (Genesis 31:41). When Jacob finally fled with his family and flocks, Laban pursued and confronted him, but they made a covenant at Mizpah, setting a boundary between them (Genesis 31:43–55). Laban is a complex figure: culturally a relative and initially hospitable, but ultimately self-serving.