Thank you for the question on the lineage of Laban to the Patriarch Abraham, “If the ancient Israelites could trace their roots back to father Abraham, what place would Jacob’s father-in-law Laban have had the lineage?”
Here are two thoughts for one’s consideration in regards to the lineage of Laban to Abraham’s descendants:
I. Considerations on the physical lineage of Laban:
The family tree of Terah, the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
A. Laban would be recognized as the father of Leah and Rachel. He would be honored as the father of Leah and Rachel.
B. Laban would not be recognized as being part of the Abraham’s lineage. The lineage passes through the son or sons of Abraham, not through daughters.
C. Laban and his own sons would have their own lineage through Nahor. Rebekah and Laban were sister. Isaac married Rebekah (Gen. 25:20).
If one wishes to trace the genealogy of Terah and his three sons, read Genesis 11:24–30, 24:15, 25:20, 27:43, 31:53).
II. Considering the spiritual heritage of Laban:
A. Laban is known as the Aramean (31:24).
B. Laban was polytheistic in his beliefs. He had household idols (Gen. 31:24).
C. Laban knew about the God of Abraham. He called upon the God of Abram and Nahor as witnesses between himself and Jacob (Gen 31:48–53).
Laban didn’t worship YHWH exclusively. He probably heard about the Creator God from his father and grandfather. Whether Laban became a worshiper of God is unknown but God spoke to him in a dream. He had a revelation from God. This may have caused him to make an oath in the name of his grandfather: Abraham and Nahor.
Jesus said this in John 8, “39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father” (NIV).
The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 9, “6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (NIV).
Being a descendant of Abraham is more than a lineage from him but having the faith of Abraham.
SUMMARY: Laban has no physical or spiritual connection to the lineage of Abraham except that his grandparents were brothers and his nephew married his daughters.