Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 29:24
Genesis 29:24. Laban gave—Zilpah, &c.— It appears to have been a very ancient custom, not only among the Hebrews, but with many other nations, and particularly the Greeks and Romans, in the marriages both of their sons and their daughters, especially the latter, for the parents to give with the bride or bridegroom a servant to abide in their power and property only, exempt from the husband or wife. Such was this Zilpah; such was Bilhah given to Rachel. The dramatic poets, both Greek and... read more
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 29:21-30
"And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this that thou hast done unto me? did I not... read more