xxxi. The Rabbis commented on the sale of the mandrakes: This one lost and the other one lost, this one was rewarded and the other one was rewarded. Leah lost the mandrakes and was rewarded with tribes; Rachel lost burial, and was rewarded with the birthright(Gen. Rabbah72:3). 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. https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193 (accessed May 1, 2023). Learn Religions. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, p. 1243]). l.c. The Rabbis did not view this exchange between the sisters favorably. A miracle was performed for her, the idols were transformed into cups, and therefore Laban did not find them(Gen. Rabbah74:9). 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. According to another tradition, the word naftali is to be derived fromninfei(bride). 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. 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). 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). Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive 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. cit.). [2] Thus Leah would be the older sister only in the sense of having been born first. 33:12): Of Benjamin he said: Beloved of the Lord, he rests securely beside Him [] as he rests between His shoulders (Tanhuma[ed. Well, according to the math in the Bible, Jacob was 8. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. When Joseph was born, Rachel stated(Gen. 30:24): May the Lord add [yosef] another son for me. TheLit. Rachel and Leah in the Bible - Biblical Archaeology Society His preference for her continued even after her death, and also influenced Jacobs attitude to her children. According to another exegetical approach, it is Rachels son who wins the birthright. Another tradition explains that most of those around [the table] were from Leah, and therefore Rachel was the main person [ikar] of the household(Gen. Rabbah71:2). 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). Whatever the case, she died young. After Rachels death, Bilhah took her place. The Story of Jacob and his Wives Leah and Rachel The role of women in the Old Testament. Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. The Rabbis understand the wording (Gen. Did Isaac and Rebekah have a wedding? 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). 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. Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. it is known before You that Your servant Jacobs love for me knew no bounds, and he worked for my father for seven years for me. pseudo-Jonathan ad loc.). 2, 7). The most extreme description of Rachels act of self-sacrifice appears inLam. They declare that Rachel was not envious of her sister's fertility, but of her righteousness; she thought that if Leah had not been a better woman than she, she would not have had children. 60a, and Targ. That was a lie. [1] Jacob decided to leave quietly at night. 1-min read. This filled Rachel with envy, and, having expressed her feelings to Jacob, she bade him take her handmaid Bilhah to wife in order that she might obtain a family through her (xxix. Jacob objecting on the ground that his father had one wife only, while he himself had two, and that though one of them was childless, he had children by the other, she urged him to follow Abraham's example, and to take her handmaid for a wife (Midr. According to the "Sefer ha-Yashar" (section "Wayee," p. 46a, Leghorn, 1870), Rachel herself prayed God to give her children, and God finally answered her prayer. ; Gen. R. lxxiv. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, 99:20, p. 1270]). "Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah." 13). It was for my sake that he came here and served our father for so many years. 3, 6). Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. Through the fraud of Laban, Jacob's marriage with Rachel took place after he had married her elder sister, Leah, who, though less loved than Rachel, became the mother of four sons, while the latter was childless. Higger], chap. Rachel Stevens has shut down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards's claim that she cheated on him. Rachel said: I prepared myself [nupeti, i.e., I prepared myself for Jacobs bed], I allowed myself to be persuaded [pititito withdraw in favor of my sister and to aid her to be Jacobs wife], I exalted my sister over myself [taliti ahoti alai], and I have prevailed(Gen. Rabbah71:8). The Rabbis observe that a woman usually goes to her mothers household, but since Rachels mother was dead, she had none to tell about Jacob besides her father(Gen. Rabbah70:13). The Rabbis were concerned with the nature of this kiss, which they regarded as an improper act. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Her first son was Joseph, the future viceroy of Egypt. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. 29a; R. H. 11a), and it was particularly her self-abnegation at the time of her sister's marriage which gained for her the divine clemency (Gen. R. lxxiii. Answer (1 of 5): How old was Jacob when he married his wife in the Bible? This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Rachel. 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. Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. This was the year in which Jacob fled in secret from Laban. Bilhah bore children to Jacob, causing Leah to give her servant Zilpah to Jacob, who had children with her. Today the site is surrounded by an armed fortress and under heavy guard. Who is Rachel in The Bible? Laban substituted Leah, his older daughter, and in the darkness, Jacob thought Leah was Rachel. Later, in giving birth to Benjamin, Rachel died and was buried by Jacob near Bethlehem. The Rabbis are lavish in their praise of Rachel, whom they describe as merciful, and who waived her personal benefit and desires on behalf of her sister. (NIV), Genesis 30:22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. Vilna] petihtah 24). Now the birthright has returned to its owner(Gen. Rabbah98:4, [ed. 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). Gen. 29:17attests: Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Themidrashadds that there was no maiden fairer than Rachel (Tanhuma,Vayeze6). Some argued that he was from the tribe of Gad, while others maintained that he was a Benjaminite. 19; Gen. R. lxxxii. 10:5], and therefore Rachel died during childbirth(Gen. 35:19). Buber],Mikez13). She had started from a position of superiority over her sister, since she was the desired wife. From the Jewish Museum, New York, via Wikimedia Commons. 1; Tan., Wayee, 19; Gen. R. lxxi. Elijah came and stood before them. In Brief. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. Besides, Rachel was afraid that her father, seeing that she had no children by Jacob, might marry her to Esau (Midr. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 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. 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. In Sivan of 2251 AM (MayJune 1754 BC, or literally, "in the days of the wheat harvest"), Reuben went into the field and gathered mandrakes (Mandragora officinarum) for his mother Leah. Rachels barrenness intensified the jealousy between them, but Leah, out of demonstrated compassion for her sister, prayed that she give birth. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel stole her father's household gods or teraphim. According to another tradition, all three mothers (Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah) gathered and said: We have enough males; let her [Rachel] be remembered(Gen. Rabbah72:6). The uncertainty arises from the unknown time between Jacob leaving Paddan-aram and arriving in Ephrath which was presumably at least 2 years (with Bethel in between) and when Joseph was 17 years old. Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. The Hebrew name of Rachel means ewe or beautiful. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Jacob agreed to this. Gen. xxv. Laban agreed to the arrangement. (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. [9][10][11], Last modified on August 11, 2016, at 17:07. Though she and Jacob were deeply in love, she did not conceive for many years. Her name means "ewe" in Hebrew. Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. 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. The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. "order." Leah conceived a son that very evening, and bore him the next year. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. His love and our salvation come through grace. This midrash compares the barrenness of the three Matriarchs and the conduct of the three Patriarchs, which intensifies the criticism of Jacob, who should have acted as his forefathers did, and pray on behalf of Rachel in accordance with her wishes. Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org 3). When she realized that she was pregnant and that Jacob already had ten sons (six from Leah, two from Bilhah, and two from Zilpah), she said: Will my sister Rachel not be even as one of the handmaidens? Leah prayed to God on behalf of her sister. 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. The Rabbis understand the wording(Gen. 29:31): but Rachel was barren [akarah] as teaching of Rachels merit: despite her not having children, she nonetheless was the chief person [ikar] of the household. You are your mothers son! cit.). When Jacob saw Rachel coming with the flock, he rolled the heavy stone from the mouth of the well by himself, a task that normally required more than three men; in the midrashic exposition, he rolled the stone as someone who removes a stopper from a flask(Gen. Rabbah70:12). 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. They assert that Jacobs kiss was not a wanton one, but one that expressed familial feeling, since Rachel was related to him (Gen. Rabbahloc. "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." 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). 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. 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. ; Midr. Love in the Bible: From God's Love to the Most Romantic Scriptures, Meet Isaac in the Bible: Abraham's Miracle Son, Meet Eve: The First Woman, Wife, and Mother of All the Living, Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, A Profile of Abraham of the Jewish Nation, 8 Mothers in the Bible Who Served God Well, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Rachel is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29 when Jacob happens upon her as she is about to water her father's flock. 1777 BC-1759 BC-1738 BC) was the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Buber],Vayeze20). 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. 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. 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. l.c.) 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]. that she was not buried in the cave of Machpelah by the side of her husband (Gen. R. lxxii. (2022, December 6). In the New Testament, this same verse in Jeremiah is cited in Matthew 2:18 as a prophecy fulfilled through Herods order to kill all male children under two in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. Rachel was one of Jacob's wives through . (NIV). How long were Jacob and Rachel married? - Christianity Stack Exchange In another tradition, Rachel envied Leahs good deeds. The Rabbis present Labans act of deceit as something in which Rachel was involved, from which they learn of her special qualities. Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. (Genesis 29:10, NLT). [1] So, Jacob married and started having children 7 years into his 20 years of service to Laban. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the, Lit. Various Jewish sources say Rachel died at age 36 and other sources say age 45. 6:23)(Gen. Rabbah82:7). God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. Gen. 30:14relates that Reuben found mandrakes, which are prophylactic, in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". The Bible does not say when Rachel was born, nor how old she was when she married Jacob, nor how long she lived. She put them in the "furniture" of the camel on which she sat, and when her father came to search for them she pleaded sickness (xxxi. The midrash relates that three keys remain with God and were not entrusted to an agent [=angel]: the key of rain, the key of the woman giving birth and the key of the resurrection of the dead. Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob. In the narrative inGen. 31:19, when Jacob fled from Labans house, Rachel stole her fathers household idols. But as she approached, a stranger (Jacob) rolled the stone away for her and watered the sheep. According to the Rabbis, Laban would not have succeeded in deceiving Jacob without Rachels involvement. If I had sent a message to him, saying: Take note that they are deceiving you, would he not have refrained? Rachel lost being buried next to Jacob because of her dealing with Leah, but she thereby merited having her son Joseph receive the birthright. 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. 113:9states: He sets the childless woman among her household as a happy mother of children (Pesikta de-Rav Kahana[ed. At last Rachel prayed to God, and God caused her to conceive. ; Gen. R. lxxiv. Agadah to Gen. xxx. Midr. After Josephs birth, she exclaimed: God has taken away my disgrace (Tanhuma[ed. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Rebekah had sent him there to be safe from his angry twin brother, Esau . As she was beautiful and well favored, Jacob fell in love with her and agreed to serve Laban for seven years on the condition that at the end of that time Rachel should become his wife. Today, we live in a performance-based society. Rachel's death was so deeply felt by Jacob that he considered it the greatest of all his sorrows (Ruth R. i. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, over the next two years.[1][2][3]. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. 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. Bride-Price: The Story of Jacob's Marriage to Rachel and Leah In another midrashic tradition, however, Jacob did not initially favor Rachel over Leah. 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. Our part is simply to accept and be thankful. Consequently, Rachel found herself in an inferior position, since Leah bore children to Jacob, while she herself had not. So we would only be guessing if we came up with an age for Leah and Rachel. Gen. 35:18attests: But as she breathed her lastfor she was dyingshe named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. The Rabbis explain that Rachel called the child the son of my suffering [in Aramaic], while his father gave him the Hebrew name Benjamin. The midrashic sources specify that Rachel died at the age of thirty-six (SederOlam Rabbah2) and list three women who had difficult childbirths and died: Rachel, the wife of Phinehas(I Sam. Agadat Bereshit li. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Buber],Vayeze12). Themidrashlinks the birth of Joseph and the departure from the house of Laban with the encounter with Esau. Rabbah, according to which Rachel entered under Jacob and Leahs bed on their wedding night. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. Yet a third tradition explains that Rachel merited pregnancy because she brought her rival wife [Bilhah] into her house. However, since he was delayed in fulfilling his vow [as is related inGen. 35:17], he was punished by having to bury Rachel. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). This midrash indicates a certain correction of the injustice done to Rachel. When Jacob wanted to leave Haran, he summoned his wives to the field and told them of his plans. 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. Consort with her [] that through her I too may have children (Gen. Rabbahloc. Rabbah3:2). This exegetical direction is supported by the divine aid she received in the miraculous concealment of the idols from Laban. At the end of twenty years of service (seven each for Leah and Rachel, and six more for a portion of Laban's flocks), Jacob and Laban fell out. The first was his anguish at his poverty. Buber],Vayeze13). Gen. 29:18attests: Jacob loved Rachel. The midrashic exegesis of this verse characterizes this love of Jacobs with a reference toCant. 13). In this manner, the barren women became one of the Matriarchs of the nation. Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Bilhah bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali, the first by her own merit, and the second by the merit of Rachel (Gen. Rabbati,Vayeze, p. 121). cit.). Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. Rachel and her sister Leah are mentioned as the two women who founded the house of Israel, Rachel, though younger, being mentioned first (Ruth iv. The midrash views this confrontation between Jacob and Esau as symbolizing the future rivalries between the descendants of the two. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Gen. xxx. 14; Tan., Wayee, 13). 22). Mandelbaum],Roni Akarah20:1). In any case, Rachel cannot have conceived Benjamin earlier than the springtime. 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.). Gen. 33:67describes the meeting with Esau: Then the maids, with their children, came forward and bowed low; next Leah, with her children, came forward and bowed low; and lastly, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed low. The Rabbis noted that the other wives came first and their children after them, while Joseph stepped forward before his mother Rachel. 31:20Israel is called after her sons son: Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me(Ruth Rabbah7:11:13). Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. According to this conception, Rachels son should from the outset have been the firstborn, but because God had compassion on the unloved Leah, He gave her the fruit of the womb and she bore Jacobs firstborn son. Buber],Vayeshev19). Gen. 33:2relates: putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last, to which the midrash comments: The more behind, the more beloved(Gen. Rabbah78:8). 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. And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country (Lam. The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel. The midrash connects these actions, both of which express Rachels compassionate nature. God accepted her prayer and the sex of the fetus in her womb changed to female(BTBerakhot60a;Tanhuma[ed. Jacob was on his way back to his native country when Rachel died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. [Note Jacob was less than half this age when he met Rachel - this means that even compared to a modern man, he was in the prime of his life at that point.] cit.) "teaching," "study," or "learning." This midrash is connected to the fundamental Rabbinic disagreement as to whether the harbinger of the Redemption will be from the offspring of Rachel or from those of Leah. The Rabbis differ as to the reason why Rachel stole her father's teraphim. Why, then, did she die? Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children.
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how old was rachel when she married jacob