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On this date Joseph left the Egyptian prison; and on this date, Israel went forth from their servitude in Egypt(BTRosh Hashanah10b11a). Rachel - Conservapedia Zavada, Jack. This was exceedingly difficult for me, when I learned of this counsel. This midrash uses a common date to connect various historical events. But Laban substituted Leah, Rachel's older sister, in her place. 22-24). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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). Rachel then offered to allow Leah to lie with Jacob that evening. According to another tradition, Rachel and Leah were twins, and they were married to Jacob at the age of twenty-two (Lit. [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." After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. Later, when Leah was given in marriage instead of Rachel, the latter revealed the signs to her sister in order to spare her from being disgraced by Jacob. Rachel said: Were not the vicissitudes that Jacob underwent for me? Deut. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. What age were Leah and Rachel when they got married 123a; Midr. The most extreme description of Rachels act of self-sacrifice appears inLam. 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. Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. Gen. 29:18attests: Jacob loved Rachel. The midrashic exegesis of this verse characterizes this love of Jacobs with a reference toCant. Bilhah: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive Rachel lost being buried next to Jacob because of her dealing with Leah, but she thereby merited having her son Joseph receive the birthright. Bilhah bore children to Jacob, causing Leah to give her servant Zilpah to Jacob, who had children with her. Rachel | Bible, Jacob, Leah, & Facts | Britannica 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.). 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). But on the night of the marriage, Laban deceived Jacob. Even when he came to bless her son, he made him [Joseph] secondary to her. (Genesis 29:10, NLT). l.c.) Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. At the same time, they also illustrate the intricate and complex relationship betweenLeahand Rachel, the two sisters and the two wives of Jacob whose fate was intertwined. Rachel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament beyond her story in Genesis. 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. 28:20) his tribe received the jasper [yashfe, with the meaning ofyesh pehthere is a mouth] stone in the High Priests breastpiece. Rachelis depicted in theTorah she-bi-khetav: Lit. 13b; B. Rachel, who was not so occupied, therefore became the mainstay of the household. xxxvi. Jacob now explained his actions. 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. Rabbah37:1). 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. Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. B. A miracle was performed for her, the idols were transformed into cups, and therefore Laban did not find them(Gen. Rabbah74:9). She did not want to adhere to the paganism of her fathers house, but rather sought to prevent Laban from engaging in idolatry. Leah's life as Jacob's wife was distressful. 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. Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. Another tradition suggests that when Rachel saw that she did not bear children, she feared lest Esau take her from Jacob and marry her [because of the prior agreement between the parents of Jacob and Esau that each would marry one of the sisters, while Jacob had married both]. The Rabbis were concerned with the nature of this kiss, which they regarded as an improper act. Why did Rachel die? According to the Rabbis, Laban would not have succeeded in deceiving Jacob without Rachels involvement. I acted kindly with her, I was not jealous of her, and I did not cause her to be shamed and disgraced. 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. 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. The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel. Jacob was quite old compared to other generations when he finally married. 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. 4:19), andMichal (daughter of Saul)(II Sam. Gen. I buried her there, alongside the road to Ephrath, near Bethlehem." 2 Jacob was a short distance, about two-thirds of a mile, from Ephrath. Rachel bore Joseph, then the entire clan left Laban's country to return to Isaac. Leah bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. 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. Read Genesis 29:15-30 Rachel has a son, Joseph Rachel may have been the more loved of the two women, but she was not the most fertile. (NIV). Vilna] petihtah 24). Rachel was one of Jacob's wives through . 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). 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). The 63-year-old Dirty Dancing icon appeared in the very first season of the show, playing Mindy. Zavada, Jack. 32), he not knowing that Rachel had taken the images. Instead of showing understanding, he amplifies her pain by telling her that he already has four sons from Leah. Higger], chap. Agadah toGen. [9][10][11], Last modified on August 11, 2016, at 17:07. Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. In the episode of the mandrakes, when Leah reproached her sister for having robbed her of her husband (Gen. xxx. pseudo-Jonathan ad loc.). "Staging Rachel: Rabbinic Midrash, Theatrical Mime, and Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity." 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). In thismidrash, Rachel has the insight that the birth of children is a reward from God. I am from the descendants of Rachel(Gen. Rabbah71:9). Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician. 60a, and Targ. Another tradition has Leah herself being responsible for the change. l.c. In the fourth interpretive possibility, the name given by Rachel portrays the childs character, thus predicting the future. 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. Jacob offered to serve Laban for seven years, in exchange for the right to marry Rachel. 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). Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. (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. Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children. When Jacob first met Laban (his mother's brother), he immediately fell in love with his younger daughter Rachel. These midrashic expositions cast Rachels act in a positive light. 3). ; Gen. R. lxxiv. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 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. Some argued that he was from the tribe of Gad, while others maintained that he was a Benjaminite. This midrash indicates a certain correction of the injustice done to Rachel. She bore him in 2259 AM. xxxi. The Story of Jacob and his Wives Leah and Rachel The role of women in the Old Testament. 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. 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. When Laban came to search her tent, Rachel asked him to excuse her for not rising, because she was menstruating. So after the ceremonial week of the wedding to Leah was over, Rachel married Jacob, becoming his second but most-loved wife. Jacob should have understood her pain, instead of rebuking her for the manner in which she spoke. When those seven years were completed and the time came for my marriage to my husband, my father advised exchanging me with my sister. Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the shofar).Rosh Ha-Shanah, like Sarah andHannah. Rachel Stevens shuts down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards' claim she cheated Laban substituted Leah, his older daughter, and in the darkness, Jacob thought Leah was Rachel. God thereupon promised her the restoration of Israel (Lam. Rachel in the Bible - Jacob's Wife and Mother of Joseph - Learn Religions "order." 13). Jacob kissed Rachel and fell in love with her instantly. 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. Altogether, the four women bore 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. Thismidrashindicates the physical trait shared by Rachel and Joseph, which the Bible expresses in identical language. It was through the merit of her discretion that Rachel became the ancestress of King Saul, who also was discreet (Meg. And, indeed, she bore Jacob only a single additional son, Benjamin(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[ab]). Rachel and Leah persuaded their husband to flee from Laban's house, and at the moment of Jacob's flight Rachel stole her father's teraphim. Did I not go to Laban only for Rachel? 31 December 1999. The Rabbis ask why Jacob buried Rachel on the road to Ephrath, and not in the Cave of Machpelah. Rachel asks Jacob: Is this how your father [Isaac] acted toward your mother [Rebekah]? 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. 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. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". ; comp. Gen. 30:1relates that when Rachel saw that she was not bearing children, she told Jacob: Give me children, or I shall die, leading the Rabbis to conclude that whoever is childless is regarded as dead (Lam. Family relations of Rachel in the Bible. 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. 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. How old was Rachel when Jacob married her? And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country(Gen. Rabbah82:10). Jacob's other wife is Rachel's sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. cit.). Those sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. But had she been obviously pregnant, she would not have been able to lie convincingly. So you wouldn't expect two old people, would you? If she breaks a vessel within the house, whom shall she blame for this? 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). Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. Bethlehem is now an Arab-controlled town. After spending a month with his relatives he asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban the Aramean.