So Laban gathered together all the men of the place: So marks the result of Jacob’s demand in verse 21. Gathered together in the context of giving a feast means “invited,” “brought together.” Men refers here to people generally and not just to the males. Feast is literally “drinking party.” It is based on the verb to drink and refers to a celebration in which wine is drunk as well as food being eaten. For further discussion and translation suggestions, see 21.8. In some languages this feast may be described as “a wedding feast,” “marriage party,” or “the big eating and drinking time when people get married.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .