In other respects the two sisters were alike, both being ancestresses of kings, heroes, prophets, judges, and conquerors (ib. Through the fraud of Laban, Jacob's marriage with Rachel took place after he had married her elder sister, Leah, who, though less loved than Rachel, became the mother of four sons, while the latter was childless. ; comp. Rachels barrenness intensified the jealousy between them, but Leah, out of demonstrated compassion for her sister, prayed that she give birth. The Rabbis speak of the passionate love for Rachel exhibited by Jacob, who already understood from their first encounter that she was his intended bride. When Jacob met Rachel near the well, and proposed to marry her, she informed him that she had an elder sister, and that as her father was of a deceitful nature, he (Jacob) would be imposed upon. 10:16) but he did not tell him [his uncle] anything [] about [his being anointed for] the kingship. Esther, who was descended from Rachel, was similarly reticent(Esth. It speaks of a tradition possessed by Jacob that Esau would fall only by the hand of Rachels sons. 3; Pire R. El. In any case, Rachel cannot have conceived Benjamin earlier than the springtime. Jacobs other wife is Rachels sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. All the furrows that I plowed in your mother [i.e., acts of intercourse] should I not have done with Rachel? 60a), and who are often referred to in the liturgy, Rachel being mentioned before Leah. All this means that Jacob was married to Rachel for some time between about 15 years and 22 years. God remembered Rachel on Rosh ha-Shanah (Ber. Rijksmuseum The story of how Jacob ends up marrying his two cousins, Leah and Rachel, begins in Canaan, with the marriage of his older twin, Esau, to two Hittite women of whom Isaac and Rebekah do not approve. R., Petita, 25). Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. Rosh Hashanah is perceived as the time of liberation from pain and sorrow: this is the day that signals a positive change, both in the time of the Matriarchs and in the time of their offspring. She bore him in 2259 AM. We don't need to perform good works to earn it. ; Midr. Midr. She raised Joseph and Benjamin as if she were their mother(Gen. Rabbah84:11). He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Our part is simply to accept and be thankful. 15). 16), are explained by the Rabbis as referring to the divine gifts bestowed upon their descendants; for while royalty and the priesthood remained permanently with Leah's descendants, they were held only temporarily by Rachel'sroyalty with Joseph and Saul, and the priesthood with the tabernacle of Shiloh (Gen. R. lxx. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Therefore, Jacob was 71 years old at the time he met Rachel. This well had a heavy stone to cap it by night, and Rachel was accustomed to waiting for someone to roll the stone away when all the flocks were gathered. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. xxiii. Jacob Proposes Marriage with Rachel to Laban, Antoine Trouvain, after Nicolas Poussin, 1666-1708. 2, 7). Forced to serve Rachel's father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. 5:14): From Ephraim came they whose roots are in Amalek [literally: From Ephraim came those who will destroy Amalek from its roots]and Israel will be rescued only by the son of Rachel. A compilation of the commentary and discussions of the amora'im on the Mishnah. At Naphtalis birth, Rachel said(Gen. 30:8): A contest of God, a fateful contest I waged [naftuleiniftalti] with my sister; yes, and I have prevailed. Themidrashgives four different interpretations of this name. If you forgot, she was best friends with Rachel Green ( Jennifer Aniston ) before she wound up . The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. Rachel is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29 when Jacob happens upon her as she is about to water her father's flock. Yet another tradition asserts that this was not stated to Rachels credit, and confirms the fact of her barrenness. Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. You are your mothers son! (NIV), Genesis 30:22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. And this was not allI went under the bed where he lay with my sister: he would speak with her, and I responded every time, while she remained silent, so that he would not recognize her voice. However, since he was delayed in fulfilling his vow [as is related inGen. 35:17], he was punished by having to bury Rachel. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. She stole the household idols (teraphim) that belonged to Laban, in the belief that those idols would confer some protective power. The purpose of the comparison between Benjamin and his mother was to say that just as Benjamin was unjustly accused, so, too, Rachel should not have been called a thief, since her motive was positive. How old was Rachel when she died. Captivated by her, "Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncles flock." So Jacob served Laban fourteen years for his two daughters and six years for the cattle a total of twenty years. 113:9states: He sets the childless woman among her household as a happy mother of children (Pesikta de-Rav Kahana[ed. The most extreme description of Rachels act of self-sacrifice appears inLam. Thismidrashattributes a dual meaning to Gods statement: for there is a reward for your labor. Rachel acted in an extraordinary manner when she helped her sister to be married to Jacob and also when she prayed for her children. In thismidrash, Rachel has the insight that the birth of children is a reward from God. At the end of twenty years of service (seven each for Leah and Rachel, and six more for a portion of Laban's flocks), Jacob and Laban fell out. 31:1416attests: A cry is heard in Ramahwailing, bitter weepingRachel weeping for her children, she refuses to be comforted for her children, who are gone. Joseph thereby is awarded a double portion, which is the right of the firstborn. Buber],Vayeze6). 21:1517prescribes that If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both [] have borne him sons [] he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older. As related inGen. 32:7, before the meeting with Esau, Jacob was apprehensive that his brother was preparing to fight him, and he therefore divided his family into two camps. She told her father she was having her period, making her ceremonially unclean, so he did not search near her. Then she waived this status when she consented to Leahs marriage to Jacob. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Did he not gird his loins for her [since Isaac strove and prayed so that Rebekah would become pregnant]? Jacob replied: He did not have children, I have children [I already have four sons from Leah]. Rachel retorted: And did not your grandfather [Abraham] have children [Abraham had Ishmael], yet he girded his loins for Sarah[nonetheless, he made the effort of praying so that Sarah would become pregnant]? He told her: You can do as my grandmother [Sarah] did. She asked him: And what did she do? He replied: She brought a rival wife [Hagar] into her house. She responded: If this is the obstacle, [then](Gen. 30:3): Here is my maid Bilhah. In the midrashic account, many years later, when Josephs goblet was found in the sack of Benjamin(Gen. 44), the tribes stood about, beat Benjamins shoulders, and cried out: Oh thief, the son of a thief, you have shamed us! Buber],Vayeze12). The uncertainty arises from the unknown time between Jacob leaving Paddan-aram and arriving in Ephrath which was presumably at least 2 years (with Bethel in between) and when Joseph was 17 years old. How old was Rachel when Jacob married her? Rachel's words at the birth of Joseph, "The Lord shall add to me another son" (Gen. xxx. 21). Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." When, toward the end of his life, Jacob told Joseph about Rachels death, he said(Gen. 48:7): I [do this because], when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow. The wording died, to my sorrow teach the Rabbis that Rachels death was the harshest of all the troubles that befell Jacob(Gen. Rabbah97:7, [ed. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, p. 1243]). 10:12): Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! was by merit of Rachels kindness (Tanhuma[ed. When Rachel realized that she was barren, she emulated Sarah and gave Bilhah to Jacob, saying: "Just as this one was built by her rival wife, so, too, shall I be built by my rival wife" (Gen. Rabbah 71:30). Buber],Vayeze19). Themidrashasserts that the salvation that occurred in his time in the war at Gilgal(Josh. pseudo-Jonathan ad loc.). Jewish Women's Archive. Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). DAY 34: Jacob Was 84 Years Old When He Married Rachel And Leah By richoka Leave a Comment We've now arrived at the third Biblical patriarch: Jacob. When Rachel saw that she did not bear children, she followed in the footsteps of Sarah: just as she [Sarah] had been built (i.e., had children) through her rival wife [Hagar], so too, this one [Rachel] would be built by her rival wife [Bilhah] (Gen. Rabbahloc. l.c.) The marriage of Rachel in the Bible was one of the most captivating episodes recorded in the book of Genesis, a story of love triumphing over lies. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. Besides, Rachel was afraid that her father, seeing that she had no children by Jacob, might marry her to Esau (Midr. He buried her on the road to Ephrath because he foresaw that the Israelites, when driven into captivity along that road, would need her intercession with God in their behalf (Midr. Continuing this exegetical orientation, in another midrashic depiction Jacob tells Reuben, while blessing his sons before his death: The birthright was not yours. Another midrash adds that by merit of Rachels silence, two tribesEphraim and Manassehissued forth from her, in addition to the other ten tribes(Gen. Rabbah71:5;Tanhuma,Vayeze6). Did I not go to Laban only for Rachel? Leah agreed, and when Jacob returned from the field, Leah told him directly that she had "hired" him for the evening, at the price of a few mandrakes. When Jacob wanted to leave Haran, he summoned his wives to the field and told them of his plans. 22). xxxi. We can't believe God's love is free for us to receive. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the . cit.). After spending a month with his relatives he asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban the Aramean. TheTorahstates that Rachel named Bilhahs sons. He asked for Rachels hand because he thought that Leah was intended for Esau (Tanhuma[ed. The midrash adds that Laban entered Rachels tent twice, because he knew that she was inclined to steal. When she realized that she was pregnant and that Jacob already had ten sons (six from Leah, two from Bilhah, and two from Zilpah), she said: Will my sister Rachel not be even as one of the handmaidens? Leah prayed to God on behalf of her sister. There is also an intermediate approach, which argues that Reuben should have received the birthright, but it was permanently taken from him because of his sin. Jacob said to Joseph that he had buried Rachel near Ephrath, where Bethlehem now stands. it is known before You that Your servant Jacobs love for me knew no bounds, and he worked for my father for seven years for me. 15 (see Biblical Data, above) is the source of the midrashic legend that when the Israelites were driven into captivity by Nebuzar-adan, and the supplications of the Patriarchs and of Moses proved of no avail, Rachel arose from her grave and implored God's clemency, basing her plea upon her own self-abnegation with regard to her sister. Of the two women that Jacob married, Rachel was loved, and Leah unloved. Rabbah[ed. Jacob allowed Laban to search for the idols. Rachel and her sister Leah are mentioned as the two women who founded the house of Israel, Rachel, though younger, being mentioned first (Ruth iv. Today the site is surrounded by an armed fortress and under heavy guard. Agadah to Gen. xxx. Now the birthright has returned to its owner(Gen. Rabbah98:4, [ed. Vilna] petihtah 24). But the Bible makes no specific statement to this effect. Rachel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament beyond her story in Genesis. The first was his anguish at his poverty. She died after bearing her second son, in 2266 AM. cit.). The Bible says that this took place at sheep-shearing time,[5] which is always in the springtime. Gen. Buber],Vayeze12). Jacob said to Rachel: who has deniedyoufruit of the wombHe denied you, but me He did not deny [since I have sons from Leah]. Rachel had to choose between her love for Jacob and her compassion for her sister, and she decided in favor of the latter. [1] Jacob decided to leave quietly at night. She told Jacob that if he didn't "give" her children, she would die. He said to them: My masters, why do you disagree about me? So did your mother shame our father when she stole the household idols from Laban! By merit of the blows that he received on his shoulders, theShekhinah(Divine Presence) would rest between Benjamins shoulders, as it is said in the blessing by Moses(Deut. Rachel lived in Harran, or Paddan Aram, and that's where she met her cousin Jacob. "Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah." cit.). Her first son was Joseph, the future viceroy of Egypt. Themidrashfurther relates that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and he even loved Bilhah, Rachels handmaiden, more than he loved Zilpah, the handmaiden of Leah (Gen. Rabbati,Vayeze, p. 120). She possessed the art of silence [when she knew that her sister was given to Jacob deceitfully, but remained silent and did not tell him]; all of her descendants continued in this path, and could keep a secret. Did he not go to Laban only because of me? (Gen. Rabbahloc. Buber],Vayeze19). This exegesis hints that in the rivalry between Israel and Esau [= Rome] Rachels children would emerge victorious. In Brief. The midrash views this confrontation between Jacob and Esau as symbolizing the future rivalries between the descendants of the two. According to this view, from the outset the birthright belonged to Rachels son, which was the intent of both God and Jacob. Love in the Bible: From God's Love to the Most Romantic Scriptures, Meet Isaac in the Bible: Abraham's Miracle Son, Meet Eve: The First Woman, Wife, and Mother of All the Living, Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, A Profile of Abraham of the Jewish Nation, 8 Mothers in the Bible Who Served God Well, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Jer. Rachel knows that she is Jacobs true intended bride. Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. [2] Jacob had traveled a great distance to find Laban. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. Gen. 29tells of the first meeting between Jacob and Rachel at the well. Bilhah bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali, the first by her own merit, and the second by the merit of Rachel (Gen. Rabbati,Vayeze, p. 121). Lit. (Genesis 32:24-30 ) The story of the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel follows this narrative directly and is continuous with it. The Rabbis seek to discover the reason why Rachels womb was opened. It was for my sake that he came here and served our father for so many years. [1] Higger], chap. Jacob is ultimately allowed to marry Rachel, which he does immediately after the festivities related to his wedding to Leah end, in exchange for another seven years' labor. Today a site exists along the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem that most people say is the tomb of Rachel. Before her death, Rachel names the newborn. In the four years following their marriage, Leah had four sons; Rachel had none. that she was not buried in the cave of Machpelah by the side of her husband (Gen. R. lxxii. According to another exegetical approach, it is Rachels son who wins the birthright. Bethlehem is now an Arab-controlled town. The regimen of rituals, songs and textual readings performed in a specific order on the first two nights (in Israel, on the first night) of Passover. A compilation of the commentary and discussions of the, Matriarchs: A Liturgical and Theological Category, Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Updates? She spoke in precise language when she said: May the Lord add another son for meshe did not say other sons, rather, there will be one more son from me. Agadah to Gen. xxx. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel stole her father's household gods or teraphim. Jacob insisted on giving the child the name of Benjamin, or "son of my right hand."[1]. In Sivan of 2251 AM (MayJune 1754 BC, or literally, "in the days of the wheat harvest"), Reuben went into the field and gathered mandrakes (Mandragora officinarum) for his mother Leah. Rachel said: Naftalihe is mynofet[honeycomb].Nofetare the words ofTorah, that are called(Ps. R. xxx. Although Rachel died young, the Rabbis indicate her positive influence on her descendants, even long after her passing. B. Her death occurred not far from Ephrath, and she was buried on the road leading thither, Jacob setting up a pillar on her grave to perpetuate her memory (xxxv. According to another tradition, Rachel died before Leah because she spoke before her sister. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. cit.). 14-16, 19, 34-35). Rachels son Benjamin knew about the sale of Joseph but did not reveal it to his father; therefore(Ex. By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Rabbah37:1). When his time came to take leave of the world, he summoned his sons, but he did not choose Joseph instead of Reuben. So Rachel offered her handmaid, Bilhah, as her surrogate. As Rachel's death occurred fifteen years after her marriage, she must have died at the age of thirty-six (Seder 'Olam Rabbah l.c. 4:19), andMichal (daughter of Saul)(II Sam. No, he did not. The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. (This mistaken belief was similar to the belief that both sisters had in the power of the common mandrake to confer fertility.) Rachel first met Jacob in 2245 AM (1759 BC), at the community well in Haran. 10). When Rachel saw that her sister was pregnant, she prayed and caused the fetuss sex to change(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[a]). Whatever the case, she died young. (NIV). Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. When Jacob first met Laban (his mother's brother), he immediately fell in love with his younger daughter Rachel. By merit of the birth of Dan [the son of Bilhah], Rachel became pregnant; and by merit of the birth of Dan, Joseph and Benjamin were born(Gen. Rabbah73:4). Before his death, Jacob praises Joseph for acting in this manner, when he says of his son(Gen. 49:22): Joseph is a wild ass, a wild ass by a spring [ayin, also meaning eye]I must reward you for that eye [for having concealed Rachel from Esaus eye](Gen. Rabbah78:10). According to a third tradition, Jacob wept for grief, for he realized that after he kissed Rachel people were whispering to one another: Why has this one come, to teach us this indecent behavior? The midrash comments that after the world had been struck by the Flood, the nations of the world hedged themselves against illicit sexual behavior [i.e., they accepted all manner of sexual prohibitions] (Gen. Rabbahloc. Kadari, Tamar. cit.). In another tradition, God remembered Rachels silence when Leah was given to Jacob instead of her. Themidrashrecords a disagreement among the Rabbis concerning the origins of Elijah. (Genesis 29:10, NLT). 1777 BC-1759 BC-1738 BC) was the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Agadah toGen. So, Jacob married and started having children 7 years into his 20 years of service to Laban. By her merit, Joseph was given the birthright, and her descendants rose to royalty, leadership, and greatness. He suggests that the Apostles were also numbered twelve, though Judas Iscariot was dead by that time, (John 20:24 ) and cites Saint Augustine to support him. If she had, then she would not have been able to employ a ruse to stop her father from searching her belongings too closely (see below). Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. 1) is only once (Gen. R. xlv. Corrections? Buber],Vayeshev19). 13b; B. It seems to just throw out there that Rachel was 36 when she died; since Yaakov married her after 7 years working for Lavan, and he left Charan after another 7 years after they got married, plus 6 years after all but Binyamin were born, and Rachel died at the end of the two-year journey back to Yitzchak, they were married for 15 . 15). At the well at Haran, Jacob found Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, tending sheep. Agadah to Gen. xxx. It was through the merit of her discretion that Rachel became the ancestress of King Saul, who also was discreet (Meg. The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Gen. 35:18attests: But as she breathed her lastfor she was dyingshe named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. The Rabbis explain that Rachel called the child the son of my suffering [in Aramaic], while his father gave him the Hebrew name Benjamin. The midrashic sources specify that Rachel died at the age of thirty-six (SederOlam Rabbah2) and list three women who had difficult childbirths and died: Rachel, the wife of Phinehas(I Sam. Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. Rabbah, according to which Rachel entered under Jacob and Leahs bed on their wedding night. I am from the descendants of Rachel(Gen. Rabbah71:9). Gen 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. 19:11) drippings of the comb [nofet zufim], which are in the portion of Naphtali, who will engage in Torah study (Gen. Rabbahloc. After working for Laban another seven years, Jacob marries Rachel Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician. 16-20). Jacob was 147 years old when he died, Gen 47:28. Harvard Theological Review113, no. Yet he did not bring his beloved Rachel there, nor did he carry her to the more distant Hebron, but laid her to rest alongside the road. l.c. 33:6): May Reuben live and not die. This blessing expresses Reubens standing as firstborn, who took a double portion [as is the law of the firstborn]: May Reuben live and not dieMay Reuben live, in this world; and not die, in the World to Come (Tanhuma[ed. 6), this prayer of Rachel caused Leah's seventh child, which at the time of conception was a son, to be transformed into a daughter; otherwise Rachel would have been the mother of only one son (comp., however, Ber. Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. Most of the Rabbis consider the idea of Rachel being an envious woman as incompatible with what has been previously said of her. When Jacob left the land of Canaan, he had vowed that he would return to Bethel and sacrifice to the Lord(Gen. 28:2022). Leah suddenly found herself sterile after the birth of Judah, and offered Jacob her own handmaid as well. TheA type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash portrays Rachel as a prophetess, and her statements and the names she gave her sons contain allusions to the future. She was the younger daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah. This exposition emphasizes that Jacob acted in accordance with the commandment of the Torah and did not prefer the son of the loved wife to the son of the unloved one. And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country(Gen. Rabbah82:10). When Joseph was born, Rachel stated(Gen. 30:24): May the Lord add [yosef] another son for me. TheLit. She therefore insisted that Jacob pray to God for children, arguing that his father, Isaac, had done so(comp. The Rabbis understand the wording(Gen. 29:31): but Rachel was barren [akarah] as teaching of Rachels merit: despite her not having children, she nonetheless was the chief person [ikar] of the household. The restrictions on her date of birth are: She married Jacob (2245 AM) when she was old enough to carry an adult responsibility, because Jacob met her when she was leading a flock of sheep to water. This means Jacob was Laban's nephew. The Rabbis learned from this that whoever makes a vow and delays fulfilling it will bury his wife (Lev. 33:12): Of Benjamin he said: Beloved of the Lord, he rests securely beside Him [] as he rests between His shoulders (Tanhuma[ed. 1; Gen. R. lxxi. Mandelbaum],Roni Akarah20:1). Benjamin, who had just been born, needed a wet nurse; a miracle was performed for Bilhah and her breasts filled with milk, thus enabling her to nurse the newborn(Tanhuma,Vayeshev7; see also the entry: Bilhah). The midrash further states that, as reward for Rachels modesty, Saul was descended from her; and as reward for Sauls modesty, Esther was descended from him. According to another tradition, Rachel and Leah were twins, and they were married to Jacob at the age of twenty-two (Lit. As punishment for Jacobs behavior, Leahs sons will stand before Joseph, the ruler of all Egypt, hear the same words coming out of his mouth and fear him, not knowing how he will act toward them [after Jacobs death]. In the fourth interpretive possibility, the name given by Rachel portrays the childs character, thus predicting the future. The Rabbis commented on the sale of the mandrakes: This one lost and the other one lost, this one was rewarded and the other one was rewarded. Leah lost the mandrakes and was rewarded with tribes; Rachel lost burial, and was rewarded with the birthright(Gen. Rabbah72:3). According to one opinion, her death was a punishment for Jacob, for having made a vow and then not honoring it. Rachel probably conceived Benjamin, her second son, in the spring of 2265 AM (1739 BC). While Rachel was barren for the first fourteen years of her marriage, she is still described as Jacob's preferred wife and a powerful woman. Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. According to these first two traditions, Naphtalis name portrays an experience undergone by Rachel. In yet another exegetical understanding, Rachel said: May the Lord add another son for me for exile, because the ten tribes were exiled beyond the Sambatyon river, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were dispersed throughout all the lands. Rachel was one of the four Jewish matriarchs, all of whom were prophetesses (Ber. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, over the next two years.[1][2][3]. 2). The younger daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob, Rachel is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who become two of the twelve tribes of Israel ( Gen 35:24; 46:15-18). Rachel's death was so deeply felt by Jacob that he considered it the greatest of all his sorrows (Ruth R. i. She hid these teraphim in her saddle bag, and sat on them. Gen. 30:25relates that after Josephs birth Jacob asked Laban for permission to return to his land. Jacob agreed to this. Omissions? 10:5], and therefore Rachel died during childbirth(Gen. 35:19). 1; Tan., Wayee, 19; Gen. R. lxxi. Had I not revealed to thee our signs, he would never have become thy husband" (Midr. When Rachel heard this, she ran to tell her father. When Jacob blesses Joseph before his death, he tells his son(Gen. 49:25): The God of your father who helps you, and Shaddai who blesses you [] blessings of the breast and the womb. The Rabbis comment on this: Come and see how greatly Jacob loved Rachel.
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