Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 29:5/רמב"ן על בראשית כ״ט:ה׳
אהַיְדַעְתֶּם אֶת לָבָן בֶּן נָחוֹר הָיָה נִכָּר וְיָדוּעַ בְּשֵׁם אֲבִי אָבִיו, כִּי הוּא נִכְבָּד מֵאָבִיו וְרֹאשׁ בֵּית אֲבוֹתָם, כְּדִכְתִיב (בראשית ל"א:נ"ג) "אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר". וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁהָיָה בְּתוּאֵל אָדָם פְּחוּת מַעֲלָה, וְלֹא יִרְצֶה לָבָן שֶׁיְּיַחֲסוּ אוֹתוֹ הָאֲנָשִׁים רַק לַאֲבִי אָבִיו, כִּי כֵן מָצָאנוּ (בראשית כ"ד:נ') "וַיַּעַן לָבָן וּבְתוּאֵל". אוּלַי הָיָה כָּל זֶה לְמַעֲלַת אַבְרָהָם, כִּי הָיוּ כָּל הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה מִתְיַחֲסִים לְנָחוֹר אֲחִי אַבְרָהָם:
1KNOW YE LABAN THE SON OF NAHOR? Laban was recognized and known by the name of his father’s father Nahor since Nahor was more important than Laban’s father [Bethuel], and he was the head of their family, as it is written, the G-d of Abraham and the G-d of Nahor.66 [Thus, Laban being the son of Bethuel,67 was nevertheless known by his father’s father’s name, Nahor.]68, 22:22. It is possible that Bethuel was a dishonorable person, and Laban wanted people to ascribe his lineage only to his father’s father, for so we find, And Laban and Bethuel answered.69 [Laban is thus mentioned before his father, which indicates that Bethuel was not regarded as the head of the family.] Perhaps all this is in honor of Abraham for [by virtue of Laban’s being known by Nahor’s name], the whole family traced its lineage to Nahor the brother of Abraham,70, 22:23. [and thus demonstrated its connection with its illustrious relative Abraham].