The Rabbis end the midrash with a textual hook: This creative reading has become part Jewish interpretation for more than a millennium, quoted by no less an authority than Rashi as the meaning of the verse. They would rather change the offensive precious words of God than insult Leah! WebTHE DECEPTION WAS BEGUN BY LABAN WHO SUBSTITUTED LEAH FOR RACHEL AS JACOB'S BRIDE. He was smitten with Rachels beauty and wanted to marry her, but this does not mean that the two of them took long walks and chatted or anything akin to the behavior of a modern couple during courtship.[20]. Feeding the 4,000 and feeding the 5,000same or different? Thats how Leah felt and thats how Jesus felt. [16] I discuss this contrast in, Choosing a Wife: Did Yaakov Get It Right, Kol Chovevei Torah 1.10 (2006). He had seen Rachel and had been impressed that she was the one. Thus, we are still left will all the original questions: why do Leah and Rachel participate in this ruse and how does Jacob not catch on much more quickly than he does? And when Leah turned everything over to God, God blessed her beyond her wildest imagination. As a general rule of thumb, friend, whenever we struggle with a particular Bible word or phrase, we should scan the surrounding words and/or verses. Perhaps someone in your workplace got a promotion ahead of you and you were disregarded. So far weve been able to trace Gods plan of redemption here in Genesis and to see how he involved several key women. And he took away her pain as only he could: "He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren" (Genesis 29:31). Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. Leah knew she would never have her sister's beauty or her husband's full affection. She knows this and names four out of her six sons based on the hope that her providing Jacob with sons will make him love her. 14 Leah and Rachel: And God Listened. Genesis 29:23 says that, when evening came, Laban brought Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Look at Leahs first four sons and what it tells us about Leah and about the deep longing of so many wives for a healthy marital relationship. Whatever the case was, Leah was unattractive, so Jacob preferred to marry her (beautiful) sister Rachel. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Labans trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Labans trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. Just as Esau, the older brother, stood between Jacob and the blessing, so here Leah, the older sister, stands between Jacob and his bride. But he was also Israel, one to whom God made promises to which He remained faithful. Leah thought that bearing children was the answer - the answer to her unattractiveness, nothingness, and rejection. Sign up for our Weekly newsletter: In this case, it is probably best to translate Jacob was smitten by Rachel or Jacob was attracted to Rachel. The point being, that Jacobs love or infatuation for Rachel is because of her beauty, and this is why he chose to marry her and not Leah. in his Midrash Lekach Tov (ad loc.) Now, he reveals the trick that he had had 7 years to devise. Leah (the woman nobody wants) is disregarded by her cousin, Jacob. She isnt wanted by her husband he disregards her. When morning came, there was Leah! (Genesis 29:25). He was her source of strength. grandmother of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, the Deliverer, the promised Messiah! Contact Us (Mailing Address for Donations). James Diamond, a professor of Jewish Studies in the University of Waterloo, supports this connection by noting that the way Rachel and Leah are described in Genesis 29 has intertextual resonance with the description of Lots daughters in Genesis 19: The story of Jacob and Leah may also be connected to the story of Noah and his youngest son (Gen 9:20-27). Leahs story starts in Genesis 29. Leah gave birth to three sons in a row, her hopes pinned on winning Jacob's love: "Now at last my husband will become attached to me" (Genesis 29:34). On those days when your mirror disappoints you, the men in your life don't affirm you, the children you haveor don't haveleave you feeling less than adequate as a woman, know that the Lord sees your brokenness, hears your cry for help, and can fill all the empty places with a boundless love that never ends. When Laban brought her to Jacobs tent, in her mind, it was her wedding night and Jacob had just worked seven years just to marry her. So, he fulfills his obligation to Leah for the week and then marries Rachel as his second wife in return for agreeing to serve Laban for another seven years (29:28). Another approach, first suggested by Josephus, is that Jacob was drunk,[7] ostensibly based on the fact that Jacob was coming from Labans feast; the Hebrew word for feast, (mishteh), literally means drinking party (Ant. Leah is unwanted by three people. 18 Then Leah said, God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband. 1:11). This was already suggested by the 12th century peshat commentator, R. Joseph Bechor Shor: According to this approach, once Jacob spoke with Laban and arranged the marriage, there would be no need for him to speak with Rachel until the wedding.[21]. [20] It is worth noting that the only conversation recorded in the Torah between Jacob and Rachel after they are married is when she cries about not having children, in response to which Jacob speaks to her harshly (Gen 30:1-3). New King James Version So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. But Jacobs problems had only just begun. How could Jacob possibly not have noticed that he was marrying Leah instead of Rachel? he was already married to Leah - albeit through being deceived - so if it is practically the unanimous agreement among all the churches that polygamy is sinful, was it evil for Jacob to marry Rachel, whom he loved? When she felt alone and unloved, she prayed and trusted in God, and God was there to help. Leah was still the only mother of Jacobs children. Webseems Leah has finally realized that fulfilling Gods purpose is more satisfying than the attention of any man. Contrast this with Isaacs praying for his barren wife Rebekah without being asked (Gen 25:21). The timing was significant. Could Jacob not tell the difference between Rachel, his beloved of seven years, and her sister Leahfor a whole night? God does look upon the affliction and suffering of women who have faith in Him. This is how far I got on my own. She will give me back a sense of self-worth, achievement, honour. But behold, it was Leah!. He worked for his uncle seven years in return for Rachel's hand in marriage, yet when the wedding night came, Jacob was so blinded by love he didn't notice the bride sharing his bed wasn't Rachel. For assurance that you're loved by God, read 1 John 4:9-16. The Bible says in Genesis 29:17: Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. What does Scripture mean that Leah was tender eyed? It is a difficult verse at first glance. She was still living in hope that though she could not attract Jacob with her beauty, she could attract him through her fertility. Was Leah heartbroken as she made that choice? This makes more sense when we realize that Leah believed that Jacob had wanted to marry her originally. Are Hamor and Shechem to blame? When did she find out? Leah bestowed this wonderful name of Praise on her son Judah, and it became a name of prophetic blessing to him. The gift my father unknowingly gave helps me see past my children's mistakes to their hearts, Bible Study & Devotions Spiritual Formation. Perhaps he could kill two birds with one proverbial stone get rich and get rid of Leah all at the same time. God is the giver of all good gifts, and Leah always gave credit to God and Gods providence. Picking up on the measure-for-measure punishment theme described above, the Rabbis suggest that Leah used this point to justify tricking Jacob (Genesis Rabbah 70): In short, Jacob has no choice but to accept what happened to him based on the what goes around comes around principle. Because of these two schemers, her life becomes a soap opera of favoritism, jealousy, competition, and distrust, which led to unhappiness, tension, stress, anxiety, and anger. Why does the King James Bible say, pisseth against the wall?. This will blow you away - Ill give you Rachel as well as Leah. How long did it take for Israel to cross the Red Sea? Would she become jealous of any children Jacob and Zilpah conceived? This interpretation is certainly possible, but is absent in the text. Laban certainly knew when to hold them and when to fold them as they say. 5:5). In the stories of Noah and Lot, the text is very clear that the protagonist is drunk; no such statement is made about Jacob. The Bible says in Genesis 29:17: Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. What does Scripture mean that Leah was tender eyed? It is a difficult verse at first glance. He loves you with an everlasting love. So, he puts on a wedding feast (29:22), making it look as though he is fulfilling his end of the bargain. Leah had faith that God heard her plight of being unloved and had given her this son as well. Oh, the foolishness of youth! The Bible does not say when she died, but Leah is buried in the cave of Machpelah, along with her husband Jacob (Genesis 49:29-31). [9] See discussion in, David Frankel, Noah, Ham and the Curse of Canaan: Who Did What to Whom in the Tent? TheTorah.com (2017). But after the birth of each son, not a word was heard from Jacob. He will satisfy your every longing in the person of Jesus Christ and youll say: This time I will praise the Lord (29:35b). Join in the conversation on Facebook or Twitter. [8] See James A. Diamond, The Deception of Jacob: A New Perspective on an Ancient Solution to the Problem, Vetus Testamentum 34.2 (1984): 211-213. Jacob already knows what he wants Laban to pay him. WebHe finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Radak suggests that Jacob was extremely modest, so much so that he did not speak with his new bride during sex or at any other time that night: Radaks idea that Jacob and Leah were entirely silent for considerations of modesty seems out of keeping with Jacobs kissing Rachel upon their first meeting (Gen 29:11) and his very blunt reference to sex when reminding Laban it had been seven years (Gen 29:21). He had loved Rachel from the moment he saw her, and when Laban, Rachel and Leahs father, asked him what wages he desired, without hesitation Jacob asked for Rachel as his wife. Comparing her to her older sister only confirmed his decision theres no contest. That includes you, sis! Can God really use even me? And Leahs darkness reaches pitch black. But the Torah envisions a very different reality. Jacobs blessing on his son Judah continued in Genesis 49:10: The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.. This tells us a lot about the mental state of Leah at this time. "When morning came, there was Leah!" Because God turns darkness into dawn. Jacob who loves Rachel responds that he will work for Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachels hand in marriage (29:28). 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. And just to show you goodwill, I wont make you wait 7 more years for Rachel. Its a bit like the Prince Charles and Princess Diana story. You see, when the Lord steps into the picture, Leah the woman nobody wants becomes. For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. Rijksmuseum / color: hotpot.ai. How such a turnaround? Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful. This verse sets up a contrast, and as in all language, so in the Bible: you interpret the unclear in light of the clear. Nevertheless, nothing in the biblical text itself implies that Jacob ever considered he was being fooled or that he ever discussed it with Rachel certainly nothing in the text implies that they set up a system of secret communication.[13]. Dr. Jacob is told by his parents that he must marry one of Labans daughters, but he can choose which one. From the moment she appears in Scripture, Leah is described as having "weak eyes" (Genesis 29:17). First, the Lords eye of compassion sees her, and second, the Lords hand of mercy blesses her (29:31b-35). WebGenesis 29:3135 describes Leah's joy and heartbreak. Nothing was too much for him to have her as his wife - he was so in love that he didnt even notice the time. So Rachel remains single for these (first) seven years until Laban has pulled his trick, making it too late for Jacob to back out of the arrangement. In the former case, Jacob takes advantage of the fact that his father is blind in order to trick him into believing that he, Isaacs younger son, was really Isaacs older son Esau. That night, Jacob lies with his new wife, but they do not speak much; they barely know each other anyway. But I hurt for Leah. Jacobs growing family, with Leahs numerous children, had brought joy to Leah and humbled Rachel. Do you see how the parental favoritism showed by Jacobs parents to their children now becomes marital favoritism shown by their son? Leah, the wife of Jacob, understood that, and we need to have faith similar to that of Leah. He cared for Leah. When has your boss ever said to you: Name your salary? https://thetorah.com/article/how-is-it-possible-that-jacob-mistakes-leah-for-rachel. 8/25/13. So he leaves himself some wiggle room in the deal. Nor does he refer to Rachel by name (only her, which could refer to either Leah or Rachel). Leah the woman nobody wants became Leah the woman every woman envies, the mother of the Redeemers line! Both Jacob and Noah are described as only realizing or comprehending what happened to them in the morning,[10] perhaps implying that it was not only the morning light but the mornings sobriety that allowed each to realize his mistake. Thus, his answer is ambiguous and vague: It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me (29:19). We can also learn a lesson from Leahs faith in God and from her trials. Anyway, Jacob culminates the marriage without knowing that it was Leah, not Rachel. After Rachels death, Leah carried on as the wife of Jacob, and the mother of his many children, living in Canaan. If youre searching for meaning and happiness, God recognizes your condition. After all, Jacob wanted to marry Rachel and that was the deal he struck with their father. And if Jacob is disillusioned, how do you think Leah felt about all of this? 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