JACOB PROSPERS AND DECIDES TO RETURN HOME (GENESIS 30:25 TO GENESIS 32:2). This passage is centred around two theophanies and two covenants. In the first theophany Yahweh appears to Jacob and tells him to return home (Genesis 31:3). Then Jacob, describing the theophany to his wives, amplifies what G... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and she said to Jacob, “Give me children or I die.” Rachel's great distress at the way things have turned out is apparent. She feels she has failed Jacob and is conscious of the congratulations being heaped on Leah. Her... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God's place? Who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” Rachel's accusations stir up Jacob's anger. He too no doubt feels frustrated. So he reacts with an outburst. He points out that it is God who is withholding a child no... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she said, “See my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees and I also may obtain children by her.” And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid as a wife and Jacob went in to her.' “GO IN TO HER.” A euphemism for sexual intercourse. “BEAR ON MY KNEES”. This confirms what we earlier saw... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son, and Rachel said, “God has judged (dan) me and has also heard my voice and has given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.' The depth of Rachel's feelings comes out in her expression of vindication. She has shown that she is not morally to blame af... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son, and Rachel said, “With powerful wrestlings (literally ‘wrestlings of God') have I wrestled (niphtal) with my sister and have prevailed.” And she called his name Naphtali.' The rivalry between the two sisters comes out vivi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing she took Zilpah her handmaid and gave her to Jacob for a wife. And Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “It is fortunate (gad).' And she called his name Gad. And Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son, and Leah said, “... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said, “Give me, I beg you, of your son's mandrakes.” “THE DAYS OF WHEAT HARVEST.” As with Abraham and Isaac these shepherd rulers also harvest the land. Reuben is by this... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? And would you take away my son's mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “He will therefore lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes.” Leah feels cast aside. Perhaps Jacob has decided she is beyond bearing. Certainly he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob came from the open country in the evening and Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me for I have surely hired you (‘sachar' - to hire for wages) with my son's mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night. And God listened to Leah and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now will my husband dwell (zabal) with me because I have borne him six sons.” And she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.' Now that Jacob... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph (yoseph), saying, “Yahweh add (yoseph) to me another son.” ' The bearing of children through her handmaid has its own... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB PROSPERS AND DECIDES TO RETURN HOME (GENESIS 30:25 TO GENESIS 32:2). This passage is centred around two theophanies and two covenants. In the first theophany Yahweh appears to Jacob and tells him to return home (Genesis 31:3). Then Jacob, describing the theophany to his wives, amplifies what G... [ Continue Reading ]