When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved,1 he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren2. Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "Because the LORD has looked on my affliction;3 surely now my husband will love4 me." She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated5, he has given me this son also"; and she named him Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me,6 because I have borne him three sons"; therefore he was named Levi. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD";7 therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.[1] God is looking out for the lonely.
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied8 her sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"
Jacob became very angry9 with Rachel and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her,10 that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her." So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, "God has judged11 me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son"; therefore she named him Dan. Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister,12 and have prevailed"; so she named him Naphtali.
When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her13 to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, "Good fortune!" so she named him Gad. Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, "Happy am I! For the women will call me happy";14 so she named him Asher.
In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband?15 Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?"
Rachel said, "Then he may16 lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."
When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said, "You must come in to me; for I have hired17 you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night. And God heeded Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, "God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my husband";18 so she named him Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honor19 me, because I have borne him six sons"; so she named him Zebulun. Afterwards she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.20
Then God remembered21 Rachel, and God heeded her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach22"; and she named him Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add23 to me another son!"
[2] The theme of initial barrenness in the matriarchs continues - striking in a family whose blessing included fertility.
[3] She attributes the gift to God.
[4] What she wants is not just a son, but even more the love of her husband.
[5] Even stronger words regarding Jacob's feelings for her.
[6] Leah still holds the hope that the sons will make a difference in her husband's feelings.
[7] Sudden switch from husband's feelings to focus on God.
[8] Pain from lack of children leads to envy of Leah leads to anger at Jacob.
[9] And now leads to anger from Jacob towards her.
[10] Because of the wifely envy, yet another wife is brought in to the marriage.
[11] Rachel attributes Bilhah's fertility to God's addressing of her cause.
[12] Rather than healing the sibling/wifely rivalry, the births of sons on both sides only intensifies the feelings.
[13] Yet another wife because of envy! And the last two appear in some sense to be pawns of the first two.
[14] Now the praise is phrased in terms of general happiness.
[15] Wifely rivalry colors everything in their interactions.
[16] Sex (leading to fertility) is used as a bartering tool between them.
[17] Straight-up honest!
[18] What a strange justification to apply to God.
[19] Once again she seeks the good graces of her husband, though now it is "honor" instead of "love".
[20] The daughter's birth appears less significant.
[21] As with Leah, Rachel's fertility is attributed to God.
[22] Barrenness called "reproach".
[23] Hope for more!
Take-home: Desire for sons and envy of sister/fellow wife drives the lives of Rachel and Leah. They both receive the sons they desire from God, but carry much bitterness for each other and for Jacob in the process. Yet again a family with multiple wives sees much strife. In addition to fleshing out that dynamic, this narrative of the 12 sons set up the 12 tribes of Israel, explaining the roots of all their people.
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