The brother of Rebekka was Laban, an Aramean from Paddan Aram, also known as Aram-Naharaim. He was the son of Bethuel and Milcah, and the grandson of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Laban was a wealthy and influential man who played a significant role in the lives of his sister, Rebekka, and her husband, Isaac.
Laban first appears in the biblical narrative in the story of Isaac’s wife selection. Abraham, Isaac’s father, sent his servant Eliezer to Paddan Aram to find a wife for Isaac from among his own kindred. Eliezer arrived at a well outside the city and prayed for God’s guidance in choosing the right woman. Rebekka, Laban’s sister, happened to come to the well to draw water for her father’s sheep. Eliezer recognized Rebekka’s kindness and hospitality as signs that she was the woman God had chosen for Isaac. He approached her and her family and asked for her hand in marriage.
Laban and his father Bethuel agreed to the marriage, and Rebekka returned to Canaan with Eliezer to marry Isaac. Laban later played a significant role in the life of his nephew Jacob, who married his two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Laban and Jacob had a complex and often contentious relationship, but they eventually reconciled.
Laban is a complex and intriguing figure in the biblical narrative. He is portrayed as a wealthy and powerful man, but also as a shrewd and sometimes deceitful negotiator. He is also a loving brother and father, and he plays an important role in the lives of his sister, Rebekka, and her husband, Isaac.