In this manner, the barren women became one of the Matriarchs of the nation. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. Rather, he told the latter(Gen. 49:3): Reuben, you are my first-born; notwithstanding this, Jacob also spoke disparagingly of him (v. 4): Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer. Many years later, Moses would bless Reuben and release him from this disgrace(Deut. After Josephs birth, she exclaimed: God has taken away my disgrace (Tanhuma[ed. Who was Rachel in the Bible? Buber],Vayeze19). According to another tradition, the word naftali is to be derived fromninfei(bride). Rachel asks Jacob: Is this how your father [Isaac] acted toward your mother [Rebekah]? 13). 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. It was for my sake that he came here and served our father for so many years. cit.). Notwithstanding this, Rachels exemplary deeds caused the seniority to return to her. xxxi. Consequently, Rachel found herself in an inferior position, since Leah bore children to Jacob, while she herself had not. Jacob was quite old compared to other generations when he finally married. cit.). Rachel and Leah were twin sisters, fourteen years old when Jacob came to their father's house; consequently they were twenty-one years old at the time of their marriage to Jacob (Seder 'Olam Rabbah ii.). Rachel initially relies on her handmaiden Bilhah to bear children in her place, but Rachel eventually becomes pregnant and goes on to have one other child. According to one, Reuben, Leahs son and the firstborn of Jacob, does receive the birthright. Laban would take these gifts and give them to Leah, and Rachel would remain silent (Tanhuma[ed. 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. Rabbah3:2). Instead of giving Laban the traditional bride-price, Jacob agreed to work for Laban seven years to earn Rachel's hand in marriage. 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. 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. 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. Then she waived this status when she consented to Leahs marriage to Jacob. 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. B. 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). Jacob allowed Laban to search for the idols. Answer (1 of 5): How old was Jacob when he married his wife in the Bible? Jacob was quite old compared to other generat. The Rabbis ask why Jacob buried Rachel on the road to Ephrath, and not in the Cave of Machpelah. After Rachels death, Bilhah took her place. Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. Rachel - Wikipedia cit.). 13). The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. "order." When Laban came to search her tent, Rachel asked him to excuse her for not rising, because she was menstruating. 19; Gen. R. lxxxii. Zilpah, Leah's maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. Rachel knows that she is Jacobs true intended bride. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. He knew that he would marry her, just as Rebekah had been married to Isaac, and he also understood that he would bury her. Jacobs other wife is Rachels sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. Buber],Vayeze6). 28:20) his tribe received the jasper [yashfe, with the meaning ofyesh pehthere is a mouth] stone in the High Priests breastpiece. 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. Jacob's other wife is Rachel's sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. Bilhah bore children to Jacob, causing Leah to give her servant Zilpah to Jacob, who had children with her. Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. Both bore him children. Rachel (Hebrew: , Rl; "a ewe"[1]) (ca. Leah - Wikipedia When his time came to take leave of the world, he summoned his sons, but he did not choose Joseph instead of Reuben. 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. l.c.) 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. Rachel had to choose between her love for Jacob and her compassion for her sister, and she decided in favor of the latter. Jacob replied that he was her father's equal in trickery; and he agreed with Rachel upon certain signs which would enable him to recognize her. Leah suddenly found herself sterile after the birth of Judah, and offered Jacob her own handmaid as well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. Due to the shame that Benjamin suffered through no fault of his own, he merited having the Divine Presence rest in his portion [the Temple was erected in the portion of the tribe of Benjamin], which thereby publicly proclaimed his innocence. At his meeting with Esau, Jacob showed his particular affection for Rachel by placing her last, with her son Joseph (xxxiii. [1] 16-20). https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193 (accessed May 1, 2023). A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Your life, they will exact punishment from him whenever he threatens your children (Pesikta Rabbati[ed. In the tableau inGen. 35:17, Rachel experiences difficulty in childbirth and the midwife tells her: Have no fear, for it is another boy for you. The Rabbis observe that this is how a womans spirit is restored during childbirth, by telling her not to fear, because she is giving birth to a son [which was regarded as an honor which would raise the womans spirits](Gen. Rabbah82:8). In an additional commentary, another son referred to the apportioning ofThe Land of IsraelErez Israel, since Benjamin did not have a portion with Joseph, but with the tribe of Judah(Gen. Rabbah73:56). In theTorahReuben is deposed from his status as firstborn for having violated his fathers bed(Gen. 49:34) and this distinction is conferred on Joseph when Jacob declares that Ephraim and Manasseh are his sons(Gen. 48:56). 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. Kadari, Tamar. 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. In another midrashic understanding, Rachel alluded to the disgrace during the time of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was a descendant of the tribe of Ephraim, and who engaged in idolatry and denigrated the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh(I Kings 1214); this disgrace was taken away when Jeroboam was put to death(II Chron. 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. By her merit, Joseph was given the birthright, and her descendants rose to royalty, leadership, and greatness. 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. 10:12): Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! was by merit of Rachels kindness (Tanhuma[ed. 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). Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). Joseph thereby is awarded a double portion, which is the right of the firstborn. How long were Jacob and Rachel married? - Christianity Stack Exchange The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Rachel. 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. When Rachel saw them, she asked Leah to give them to her [because of her barrenness]. Who is Rachel in The Bible? Rachel in the Bible - Jacob's Wife and Mother of Joseph - Learn Religions Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, p. 1243]). In another tradition, Rachel envied Leahs good deeds. 40) are considered by the Rabbis to symbolize the four matriarchs, Rachel, who died the youngest, they consider symbolized by the willows of the brook, which fade sooner than any other plant (Lev. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Rachel lost being buried next to Jacob because of her dealing with Leah, but she thereby merited having her son Joseph receive the birthright. Deut. Gen. 30:22reveals: Now God remembered Rachel; God heeded her and opened her womb. In the midrashic expansion, Rachel was remembered (i.e., became pregnant) on The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Jacob gave Reuben the birthright, but it was postponed because of the sin of the latter, who was vindicated and regained his birthright in the time of Moses. 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. Rachel asked Leah for a portion of them, and Leah protested that Rachel already had the favor of Jacob, and now was asking for a supply of the one thing that each woman supposed would make her fertile. Have an update or correction? Did he not go to Laban only because of me? (Gen. Rabbahloc. She spends much of her married life attempting to bear children for Jacob and eventually uses her maid Bilhah as a surrogate, but Rachel still craves biological children. 31:15Israel is called after Rachel: Rachel weeping for her children; inAmos 5:15Israel is named after her son: Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph; and inJer. cit.). Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. Jacob said: If all my children will be killed, Rachels son will remain, for he will punish this wicked seed, as it is said(Jud. Possibly in the early fall of 2248 AM (1757 BC), Rachel protested to Jacob concerning her lack of children. His prophecy was fulfilled, asJer. Friedmann (Ish-Shalom)], chap. When Jacob wanted to leave Haran, he summoned his wives to the field and told them of his plans. (NLT) Jeremiah 31:15 speaks of Rachel "weeping for her children" who have been taken into exile. RACHEL, JACOB in the BIBLE. Famous love story with passion, tragedy. 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. Thismidrashincorporates several aggadic traditions according to which Leah gave birth to Issachar and Zebulun by merit of the mandrakes that she gave her sister. So we would only be guessing if we came up with an age for Leah and Rachel. 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). According to the Rabbis, Laban would not have succeeded in deceiving Jacob without Rachels involvement. How Old Was Jacob When He Married? - Bible Study Some argued that he was from the tribe of Gad, while others maintained that he was a Benjaminite. 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. "the written Torah." At the well at Haran, Jacob found Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, tending sheep. The Rabbis learned from this that when God decrees greatness for a person, He decrees greatness for all his posterity to the end of time (BTMegillah13b). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Lit. 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. She performed the exchange fully aware of what she was doing, even though she knew that Leah would bear most of Jacobs sons. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. lxx. xxiii. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. The S Club 7 singer was engaged to former Holby . 19:11) drippings of the comb [nofet zufim], which are in the portion of Naphtali, who will engage in Torah study (Gen. Rabbahloc.
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