by Tikva Frymer-Kensky "Marriage of Jacob and Leah," biblical bas-relief by Sylvia Lefkovitz. He falls in love with Dinah and offers to marry her. Leah is called the older [ha-gedolah, literally, great] sister(Gen. 29:16), because her gifts were great: she received the priesthood and the throne, which are eternal gifts, in contrast with Rachel, whose gifts were for a limited time. Do you think we can ever get away from the comparison epidemic? Margaliot, p. 524]). cit.). To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. In one midrashic expansion, Jacob tells Laban: I know that the people in your place are deceitful. Did the rift between the sisters ever become healed? Dovid Rosenfeld states that "That is it. Why would I choose to be Rachel over Leah in the Bible? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. She was also the sister of Rachel and the wife of Jacob. Leah in the Bibles life reminds us that God has given each of us everything we need, physically, to accomplish his purpose for our lives. In Genesis 34, Dinah went out to visit the women of Shechem, where her people had made camp and where her father Jacob had purchased the land where he had pitched his tent. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. If she were righteous, would she have defrauded her sister?(Gen. Rabbah71:2). The Rabbis compare Leah and Rachel: both were equivalent in beauty and in their erect stature. 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.Seder Olam Rabbah2). In 19th-century America, "Dinah" became a generic name for an enslaved African woman. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she gave her handmaidenZilpahto Jacob as a wife. Leah was the mother of six of Jacobs sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, and Judah; Judah was the ancestor of King David and, according to the New Testament, of Jesus. Ramman lead in Assyria and the Hittites took over the area now covered by Turkey. "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Did not your father call you Esau, and you answered him? Another tradition has Leah saying: See my son among the children. With her third son, Levi, Leah hopes that now, with a third son, Jacob will be attached to her. This midrash shows the parallelism in the Biblical narrative between Labans deception of Jacob and Jacobs tricking of his father; with the exchange of the women, Jacob was punished measure for measure for the act of deceit that he committed. Although Jacob prefers Rachel, he ultimately marries Leah first due to the scheming of the sisters father. "[36], The name Dinah was subsequently used for dolls and other images of black women.[37]. Ive come to embrace Leah in the Bibles story. Schocken, 2009. In the same way that I neglected to consider Leahs feelings, Ive noticed that many in modern Christianity neglect Leah in the Bible, too. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. In the family tomb are Leahs husbands father and mother, Isaac and Rebekah; and her husbands grandfather and grandmother, Abraham and Sarah. In this light, it is interesting that even though it is known that Bilhah and Zilpah were full sisters, Rashi (Bereishis 30:10) implies that Zilpah was visibly younger than the others. The conquerors of lands were descended from one (Moses and David) and the conquerors of lands were descended from the other (Joshua and Saul); from one, the dividers of lands (Moses) and from the other, the dividers of lands (Joshua); the sacrifice by the son of one overrides the Sabbath (Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple) and the sacrifice by the son of the other overrides the Sabbath (Ephraim, at the dedication of the Tabernacle). Leah hoped that her husband would now love her, for she had borne him his firstborn son. She wasnt as pretty as Rachel so her dad, Laban, had to trick someone into marrying her. In verse 34, Leah conceived again and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi (meaning Attached). Consequently, he decided to immediately give Jacob his elder daughter (Tanhumaed. Please see our. According to another exposition, this was not merely what people said, rather, Rebekah and Laban sent letters to each other, settling among themselves that Esau would marry Leah, while Jacob would take Rachel as a wife (Tanhuma, ed. BuberVayeze19). Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. This post is part of a series on the Great Women of the Bible. Is the fact that Rachel was the more beautiful sister really important to the story? (Viewed on June 28, 2023) . Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the Bible Judah inherited the abilityle-hodot(also meaning to recognize the other, to admit) from his mother Leah when he admits, in the episode ofTamarthat(Gen. 38: 26) She is more in the right than I. David praised the Lord(Ps. Thanks I dont know how you did it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Easily See 6017 Years of Biblical and World History Together! The story of Reuben in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-50. At the crossroads she would hear people say: Rebekah has two sons, and Laban has two daughters. Leah lived there until she died and was buried in the cave in the field of Machpelah as mentioned in Genesis 49:29 31. God is the giver of all good gifts, and Leah always gave credit to God and Gods providence. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Leah was born in the town of Paddan-Aram, the oldest daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel, and niece of Rebekah. Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. But back then babiesespecially sonswere the way a woman chased worth. Therefore, Shaul is counted among Simeon's progeny, and he received a portion of land in Israel in the time of Joshua. 107:1): Praise the Lord, for He is good; as did Daniel(Dan. I knew right away which character Id rather be: Rachel of course! "order." Leah bore Jacob his first four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. As the mother of Judah, Leah was part of the ancestry that led to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. However, Leahs eyes were weak from crying, for she feared that she would have to be married to the wicked Esau. In the meeting between Jacob and Esau inGen. 32:8, when Jacob fears that his brother has warfare in mind, he divides his family into two camps: he divided the people with him [] into two camps.Gen. 33:2elaborates: putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last, to which themidrashcomments: The more behind, the more beloved(Gen. Rabbah78:8). Before dying, she named the boy Benoni. Please cite a source as to exactly when Leah died. Leah, along with Jacob, Rachel, their maidservants and their livestock, left her native land of Haran and went to settle in Canaan. What Was Happening in the Rest of the World? They argue that since Leah knew that twelve tribes would come forth from Jacob, she assumed that each of his wives would give birth to three children. Required fields are marked *. In the Hebrew Bible, the tribe of Levi received a few Cities of Refuge spread out over Israel, and relied for their sustenance on the priestly gifts that the Children of Israel gave them. While Leahs was Jacobs first wife, she was not loved by her husband as her sister Rachel was. Heather and her fighter-pilot-turned-pastor husband, Eric, live in Texas with their four children. "teaching," "study," or "learning." But, then there was Leah. We misplace our worship, chasing things like beauty or babies, hoping well find peace. Leah would ask: What does the older one do? They told her: He is an evil person, a highway robber. She continued to ask: What does the younger one do? She was told that he was(Gen. 25:27) a mild man, who stayed in camp. Leah would cry until her eyelashes dropped (BTBava Batraloc. According to one interpretation, this description was given in praise of Leah, since theTorahdoes not speak disparagingly of the righteous. But, as the story of Leah in the Bible shows us, the game of comparison has no winners, only wrestling sisters who keep score and stay miserable. When she said that I was unloved (senuah), she prophesied that Simeon would produce a hated one (sanu, i.e., sinner): Zimri, son of Salu (the chieftain of the tribe of Simeon who whored with the Midianite woman; seeNum. And, though we can certainly blame social media and cable networks for constantly allowing us to observe better lives, its important to remember that comparison was a problem even in Bible times. Or she died 2216. When her nurse saw this, she said, "Don't be afraid, Rachel. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). FAQ: How Many People in the Bible Don't Die? Reuben (son of Jacob) Reuben or Reuven ( Hebrew: , Standard Rven, Tiberian Rn) [4] was the first of the six sons of Jacob and Leah (Jacob's oldest son), according to the Book of Genesis. 7:18). God will hear our prayers and will intervene for us. Your email address will not be published. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister Rachel. Heres How to Stop. What is the best way to loan money to a family member until CD matures? Chapter 2. Levi son of Jacob - Amazing Bible Timeline with World History Later she bore Jacob two more sons Issachar and Zebulun. BuberVayeze20). When (day, month, year) did Avshalom son of king David die? It was after God had finished filling up Leahs life with children that God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb (Genesis 30:22). Leah - BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. Once evening fell (while they were still singing before him), Jacob asked them: What is this? They replied: You acted charitably with us. They would shout out: Heilih, hei lih, hei Leah [thus hinting to him of the deception, but Jacob did not understand]. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Laban agreed. Mother Abiona or Amtelai the daughter of Karnebo. Jacob did not love Leah, but God consoled her with children before allowing Rachel to become pregnant. 125455; BTSabbathShabbat 55b). Jacob did not divorce her because she bore him children: six sons and a daughter. She is also someone many people can identify with. Leah - Wikipedia Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. 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. It is said of the tribe of Issachar(I Chron. [citation needed], Source-critical scholars speculate that Genesis combines separate literary strands, with different values and concerns, and does not pre-date the 1st millennium BC as a unified account. No. Leah tried to make Jacob love her through her deeds. In the long run, Leah was recognized by the Jewish people as an important person in their history, as this verse from the book of Ruth shows: At the end of Jacob's life, he requested to be buried beside Leah (Genesis 49:29-31), suggesting that he'd come to recognize the virtue in Leah and had grown to love her as deeply as he loved Rachel. Undefined cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. We can also learn a lesson from Leahs faith in God and from her trials. He doesnt need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look put together before he can use us. Love in the Bible: From God's Love to the Most Romantic Scriptures, A Profile of Abraham of the Jewish Nation, Meet Eve: The First Woman, Wife, and Mother of All the Living, 20 Bible Verses for Your Christian Wedding Ceremony, 13 Thank You Bible Verses to Express Your Appreciation, Meet Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. In Brief. Why don't they use a coffin for Israeli burials, but do elsewhere? 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 embarrassment with the episode of Dinah (Gen. Rabbati,Vayishlah, p. 168). Leah fell short of the conventional standard of beauty in the ancient world. In The Female Ruse: Women's Deception and Divine Sanction in the Hebrew Bible, 38-67. Buber,Vayeze10). Reuben saw that Jacob had done so; infuriated by this act, Reuben sought to restore his mothers honor. Rachel dies You can read in Genesis, chapter 31, that after Joseph's birth, Jacob took his family and left the area of Haran for his homeland of Canaan without announcing his departure to Laban expecting trouble from Laban. The King James Version renders it as "tender eyed," while the New Living Translation says "There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes," and the Amplified Bible says "Leah's eyes were weak and dull looking.". Themidrashasserts that Leah carried a male fetus in her womb during her seventh pregnancy. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 25). Leah was the oldest daughter of Laban, Rebekahs brother. According to another exegetical approach, however, God did not give Leah children because of her unhappiness, but because of her merits. He loves Rachel exceedingly, and he will remain with you an additional seven years. They replied: Do what is good for you. He said to them: Give me pledges that none of you will make this known. They gave him pledges. Leah was buried with her children Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. Genesis 35:18 - Bible Hub Never once did I consider Leah in the Bibles hurt. Via Wikimedia Commons. Comparison has become an epidemic in our world. Through the descendants of Leah, the Lord Jesus Christ was born into this world many generations later.
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