(NIV), Genesis 30:22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. God accepted her prayer and the sex of the fetus in her womb changed to female(BTBerakhot60a;Tanhuma[ed. Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. 3 (2020): 299-333. 3; Pire R. El. 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. 24), show that she was a prophetess. Family relations of Rachel in the Bible. Rachel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament beyond her story in Genesis. 26-28). His prophecy was fulfilled, asJer. Leah was busy with raising her children and therefore could not care for the needs of the household. According to these first two traditions, Naphtalis name portrays an experience undergone by Rachel. Is this the reward of your sister Rachel, who gave you her signs with her husband on your wedding night, to spare you embarrassment? As punishment for this behavior, Leah was caused even greater mortification with the episode ofDinah(Gen. Rabbati,Vayishlah, p. 168). She said: We are leavingshall we leave this old man in his corruption [i.e., idolatry]? Consequently, Scripture proclaims her praise and tells of the act of theft(Gen. Rabbah74:5). In another midrashic tradition, however, Jacob did not initially favor Rachel over Leah. This was the year in which Jacob fled in secret from Laban. So we would only be guessing if we came up with an age for Leah and Rachel. You are your mothers son! She raised Joseph and Benjamin as if she were their mother(Gen. Rabbah84:11). In return, Leah requested that Rachel forgo her right to be with Jacob that night. 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. In Brief. "order." [2] Thus Leah would be the older sister only in the sense of having been born first. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. Thus, we see that the rivalry between the two sisters did not come to an end but even pertains to the identity of the herald of the future Redemption. 3). midrash relates that Rachel was twenty-two years old when she was married to Jacob ( "order.". Because of the curse which Jacob uttered to Laban(Gen. 31:32): But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive! (Gen. Rabbahloc. Buber],Vayeshev19). 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). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The restrictions on her date of birth are: The maximum likely age for Rachel at the time of the birth of Benjamin is thirty-nine years. Leah conceived a son that very evening, and bore him the next year. The Rabbis claim that Rachel did so for the sake of Heaven. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). If you forgot, she was best friends with Rachel Green ( Jennifer Aniston ) before she wound up . l.c.) Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Today the site is surrounded by an armed fortress and under heavy guard. In the morning, Jacob discovered he had been tricked. That was a lie. 13b; B. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Jacob kissed Rachel and fell in love with her instantly. 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. Who was Rachel in the Bible? Lit. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". At last Rachel prayed to God, and God caused her to conceive. 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]. Thus, for example, the Bejaminite Saul would wage war against and triumph against Amalek, the descendant of Esau; and Mordecai, from the tribe of Benjamin, would use his wisdom to best the Amalekite Haman. 10). Jacob loved Rachel passionately even before they were married, but Rachel thought, as her culture had taught her, that she needed to bear children to earn Jacob's love. However, since he was delayed in fulfilling his vow [as is related inGen. 35:17], he was punished by having to bury Rachel. Notwithstanding this, Rachels exemplary deeds caused the seniority to return to her. 4:19), andMichal (daughter of Saul)(II Sam. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2022, learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193. 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 . Thus Rachel knew that Jacob loved her more than he did Leah.[1][2][3][4]. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. After the week had passed, Jacob prepared for his wedding night. 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. The Rabbis seek to discover the reason why Rachels womb was opened. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. This exegetical direction is supported by the divine aid she received in the miraculous concealment of the idols from Laban. Jer. Her first son was Joseph, the future viceroy of Egypt. 10:5], and therefore Rachel died during childbirth(Gen. 35:19). Today a site exists along the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem that most people say is the tomb of Rachel. 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. 16). 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. Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children. But on the night of the marriage, Laban deceived Jacob. 123a; Midr. Those sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacobs response is described in v. 2: Jacob was incensed at Rachel, and said, Can I take the place of God, who has denied you fruit of the womb? The midrashic exegesis further intensifies Jacobs strong statement. Jacob should have understood her pain, instead of rebuking her for the manner in which she spoke. He knew that he would marry her, just as Rebekah had been married to Isaac, and he also understood that he would bury her. 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). Isaac, the father of Jacob, wanted his son to marry from among their own people, so he sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to find a wife among the daughters of Laban, Jacob's uncle. Jacob agreed to this. Buber],Vayeze13). Jacob labored 14 years to win Rachel in marriage. After Rachels death, Bilhah took her place. [3] This traditional site lies four miles south of Jerusalem and one mile north of Bethlehem. that she was not buried in the cave of Machpelah by the side of her husband (Gen. R. lxxii. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This midrash indicates a certain correction of the injustice done to Rachel. This is whyGen. 29:25relates: When morning came, there was Leah!because Rachel had given her the signs, Jacob did not know until the morning that they had switched(BTBava Batra123a). She was responsible for taking the sheep to the well for water every day. Gen. 30:23records that when Rachel gave birth to Joseph she explained: God has taken away [asaf] my disgrace. The Rabbis observe that until a woman gives birth, whatever blame [there is, within the house] is placed upon her. I am from the descendants of Rachel(Gen. Rabbah71:9). His love and our salvation come through grace. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Gen. Jacob said to Joseph that he had buried Rachel near Ephrath, where Bethlehem now stands. When Jacob spoke with Leah, Rachel would answer him, so that he would not identify Leahs voice (Lam. The Rabbis understand the wording (Gen. Did Isaac and Rebekah have a wedding? The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. 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. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 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. 3). xxxvi. When Jacob introduced himself to Rachel, he told her (v. 12) that he was her fathers kinsman, that he was Rebekahs son. In the midrashic expansion, Jacob told Rachel: if to deceivehe was her fathers kinsman; and if for righteousnesshe was Rebekahs son. After he married Leah, Jacob held a banquet for seven days, and he added another seven days of feasting and rejoicing, and then married Rachel. Our part is simply to accept and be thankful. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin. [6] (Genesis 31:19-20 ) Jones[7] records that the phrase "born to him in Padan-aram" that appears after the listing of Jacob's sons (Genesis 35:26 ) can also mean "engendered by him in Padan-aram." Since he did not have the money to pay the bride price (the mohar ) for her, he agreed to work seven years for him and then marry Rachel. The terms "elder" and "younger," applied respectively to Leah and Rachel (Gen. xxix. Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. 1777 BC-1759 BC-1738 BC) was the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. ; Gen. R. lxxiv. Jacob protested, and Laban answered that local custom did not permit a younger sister to marry before the older sister. Rachel said: Were not the vicissitudes that Jacob underwent for me? Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. The Bible says that this took place at sheep-shearing time,[5] which is always in the springtime. Themidrashrecords a disagreement among the Rabbis concerning the origins of Elijah. Jacob was quite old compared to other generations when he finally married. 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. She hid these teraphim in her saddle bag, and sat on them. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. Those were the last children she would have. Friedmann (Ish-Shalom)], chap. 22). The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. Rebekah had sent him there to be safe from his angry twin brother, Esau . Agadat Bereshit l.c. Rachel said: I should have been Jacobs bride before my sister. Before her death, Rachel names the newborn. 1921) that occurred within the tribe of Benjamin; after the ban against this tribe had been lifted, that disgrace was expunged. We can't believe God's love is free for us to receive. cit.). 8:6: Passion [kinah, literally, jealousy] is mighty as Sheolthis was Rachels jealousy of her sister (Tanhuma[ed. This midrash awards the birthright to Joseph, since his two sons became tribes and he therefore received twice as much as any of his brothers. Gen. 30:1states: When Rachel saw that she had borne Jacob no children, she became envious of her sister, leading the Rabbis to apply to Rachel the verseCant. Overall, the midrash portrays Rachel as incredibly generous and compassionate, and her goodness is seen in her descendants. The impregnation of Sarah and Rachel, the Matriarchs of the nation, heralds that God will also deliver their descendants from the troubles they would suffer in the future. Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. 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). TheTorahstates that Rachel named Bilhahs sons. 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. According to one opinion, her death was a punishment for Jacob, for having made a vow and then not honoring it. Various Jewish sources say Rachel died at age 36 and other sources say age 45. In another exegetical tradition, Jacob placed Rachel and Joseph last because he wanted to protect them. Agadat Bereshit li. But the Bible makes no specific statement to this effect. When Laban overtook Jacob in the hill country of Gilead, he reproached him(Gen. 31:30): but why did you steal my idols?, to which Jacob replied (v. 32): But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive! Themidrashexplains that this statement by Jacob was as an error committed by a ruler [which is nevertheless implementedfollowingEccl. These two reasons reveal the fact that, already at the instant of his first meeting with Rachel, Jacob realized that she was the woman meant for him. Rachel feared that her deeds were not favorable in the eyes of God, which resulted in her barrenness. 13). Rachel's words at the birth of Joseph, "The Lord shall add to me another son" (Gen. xxx. When Dan was born, Rachel said(Gen. 30:6): God has vindicated me [dananni]; indeed, He has heeded my plea and given me a son. In the midrashic explication of this verse, Rachel said: God has judged me and found me guilty [and therefore I was childless]; [and afterwards] He has judged me and vindicated me [and given my handmaiden a son] (Gen. Rabbahloc. 10:12): Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! was by merit of Rachels kindness (Tanhuma[ed. Rachel Stevens has shut down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards's claim that she cheated on him. 28:20) his tribe received the jasper [yashfe, with the meaning ofyesh pehthere is a mouth] stone in the High Priests breastpiece. 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. The Rabbis learn of Gods retaining the key of the woman giving birth from Rachel, of whom it is said: Now God remembered Rachel; God heeded her and opened her womb(BTTaanit2ab). In the narrative inGen. 31:19, when Jacob fled from Labans house, Rachel stole her fathers household idols. The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. The custom in those days was for a man to wait at least a week after arranging to marry a woman. Rachel's death was so deeply felt by Jacob that he considered it the greatest of all his sorrows (Ruth R. i. 10). The contention between the two women did not cease even after Rachels death, and arose again as regards the seniority of Jacobs sons: who would be considered the firstbornthe son of Leah, or of Rachel; and similarly, regarding the origin of Elijah, the harbinger of the Redemption. The proverb teaches that we should not be surprised by this similarity, since Rachel was exceedingly beautiful, so was her son. 1-min read. Since she suffered many years of barrenness, she was rewarded by the Israelites being called by her name, or by the name of her descendants. xxxi. Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion of all he possesses. The midrash compares this mandate with the story of Jacob. Bethlehem is now an Arab-controlled town. She performed the exchange fully aware of what she was doing, even though she knew that Leah would bear most of Jacobs sons. 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. 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. According to another tradition, the word naftali is to be derived fromninfei(bride). 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. Zavada, Jack. When Rachel saw that her sister was pregnant, she prayed and caused the fetuss sex to change(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[a]). Jacob was quite old compared to other generat.

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