Rachel lost being buried next to Jacob because of her dealing with Leah, but she thereby merited having her son Joseph receive the birthright. Continuing this exegetical orientation, in another midrashic depiction Jacob tells Reuben, while blessing his sons before his death: The birthright was not yours. 3, 6). 5:14): From Ephraim came they whose roots are in Amalek [literally: From Ephraim came those who will destroy Amalek from its roots]and Israel will be rescued only by the son of Rachel. cit.). These two exegetical positions derive the word akarah from ikar. The first view maintains that even though Leah had children, Rachel continued to be the beloved and preferred wife, which was expressed in the running of the household. Zavada, Jack. At that time God was revealed to Jacob and He told him: Rachels children are with you, and you are afraid? Had I not revealed to thee our signs, he would never have become thy husband" (Midr. Jacob labored 14 years to win Rachel in marriage. Zilpah, Leah's maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. Therefore, Benjamin must have been conceived shortly before the flight from Laban and born nine months later. InJer. At his meeting with Esau, Jacob showed his particular affection for Rachel by placing her last, with her son Joseph (xxxiii. By your life, your sons will stand before her son, and he will tell them(Gen. 50:19) Am I a substitute for God?(Gen. Rabbah71:7). Gen. 29:17attests: Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Themidrashadds that there was no maiden fairer than Rachel (Tanhuma,Vayeze6). Rachel's early decease was due, according to the general opinion of the Rabbis, to Jacob's involuntary curse uttered when Laban was searching for the teraphim, "With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live" (Gen. xxxi. Dates and ages are not given for very many women in the Scriptures. She therefore insisted that Jacob pray to God for children, arguing that his father, Isaac, had done so(comp. Buber],Vayeze18). Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. 13). 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. 1) is only once (Gen. R. xlv. The Rabbis learned from this that whoever makes a vow and delays fulfilling it will bury his wife (Lev. Did I not go to Laban only for Rachel? But as she approached, a stranger (Jacob) rolled the stone away for her and watered the sheep. Zavada, Jack. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, over the next two years.[1][2][3]. Besides, Rachel was afraid that her father, seeing that she had no children by Jacob, might marry her to Esau (Midr. Consort with her [] that through her I too may have children (Gen. Rabbahloc. Her first meeting with Jacob occurred at a well near Haran, whither she had taken the flocks for water. (NIV), Genesis 35:24The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. Another exegetical tradition relates that when Rachel saw the events of the Destruction and the Israelites being sent into exile from their land, she jumped in before God and said: Master of the Universe! 31:20Israel is called after her sons son: Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me(Ruth Rabbah7:11:13). They answer that Jacob saw with the spirit of divine inspiration that when the Israelites would set out to exile, they would pass through Bethlehem on the road to Ephrath, and so he buried Rachel there, so that she would pray for them. So after the ceremonial week of the wedding to Leah was over, Rachel married Jacob, becoming his second but most-loved wife. l.c. In another tradition, Rachel envied Leahs good deeds. Another tradition has Leah herself being responsible for the change. 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. [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.] Therefore, Jacob was 71 years old at the time he met Rachel. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Rachel had taken the idols and placed them in the cushion on her camels back. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. 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. Before she died, she said that the child should be named Ben-oni, or "son of my pain." l.c.) R., Petita, 25). Did he not go to Laban only because of me? (Gen. Rabbahloc. xxxv. Vilna] petihtah 24). 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. She was the younger daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah. This exposition aims to applaud Jacobs strength, which increased due to his love for Rachel. xxiii. The Rabbis claim that Rachel did so for the sake of Heaven. 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. 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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Thus said the Lord: Restrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from shedding tears; for there is a reward for your labordeclares the Lord: They shall return from the enemys land. 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. (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. Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. 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. pseudo-Jonathan to Gen. xxx. It was for my sake that he came here and served our father for so many years. cit.). 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. 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. An opposing exegetical view, however, notes that when Jacob sent for his wives to come to the field(Gen. 31:5), theTorahstates: Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the fieldhe called to Rachel first, and therefore she acted properly when she was the first to respond to him. The birthright should have come forth from Rachel, but Leah preceded her in [receiving divine] mercy; because of the formers modesty, God restored the birthright to Rachel(BTBava Batra123a). Well, according to the math in the Bible, Jacob was 8. But Rachel was not content with this. They consented, as is said inGen. 31:14: Then Rachel and Leah answered, saying []. Since Rachel spoke before her sister, she was punished by dying before her(Gen. Rabbah74:4). Jacob agreed to this. Rather, he told the latter(Gen. 49:3): Reuben, you are my first-born; notwithstanding this, Jacob also spoke disparagingly of him (v. 4): Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer. Many years later, Moses would bless Reuben and release him from this disgrace(Deut. ; Midr. Buber],Vayeshev19). 9-12, 17-18, 31; xxx. And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country (Lam. Instead of showing understanding, he amplifies her pain by telling her that he already has four sons from Leah. Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. 10). Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. "Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah." Although Rachel died young, the Rabbis indicate her positive influence on her descendants, even long after her passing. The first was his anguish at his poverty. After he married Leah, Jacob held a banquet for seven days, and he added another seven days of feasting and rejoicing, and then married Rachel. Agadah to Gen. xxix. Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. Jacob was 77 years old, and he loved Rachel immediately. Jacob said to Rachel: who has deniedyoufruit of the wombHe denied you, but me He did not deny [since I have sons from Leah]. Rachels barrenness intensified the jealousy between them, but Leah, out of demonstrated compassion for her sister, prayed that she give birth. Due to Rachels good deeds or to Reubens sin, the initial order was restored. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. Rachel had been given Bilhah as a handmaiden by her father Laban upon her marriage to Jacob. We only know the age of Jacob during this period of time. 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. cit.). Updates? Due to the shame that Benjamin suffered through no fault of his own, he merited having the Divine Presence rest in his portion [the Temple was erected in the portion of the tribe of Benjamin], which thereby publicly proclaimed his innocence. Leah knew that twelve tribes would issue from Jacob. Laban agreed. But had she been obviously pregnant, she would not have been able to lie convincingly. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." 40) are considered by the Rabbis to symbolize the four matriarchs, Rachel, who died the youngest, they consider symbolized by the willows of the brook, which fade sooner than any other plant (Lev. Buber],Vayeze19). Jacob told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah. Those were the last children she would have. Jacob is ultimately allowed to marry Rachel, which he does immediately after the festivities related to his wedding to Leah end, in exchange for another seven years' labor. The Rabbis present Labans act of deceit as something in which Rachel was involved, from which they learn of her special qualities. 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. As Rachel's death occurred fifteen years after her marriage, she must have died at the age of thirty-six (Seder 'Olam Rabbah l.c. 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). 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). When Dan was born, Rachel said(Gen. 30:6): God has vindicated me [dananni]; indeed, He has heeded my plea and given me a son. In the midrashic explication of this verse, Rachel said: God has judged me and found me guilty [and therefore I was childless]; [and afterwards] He has judged me and vindicated me [and given my handmaiden a son] (Gen. Rabbahloc. However, the text of Genesis 35:9-15 is a narrative that begins with a recapitulation of an earlier incident: the second appearance of God to Jacob and the renaming of Jacob to Israel. that she was not buried in the cave of Machpelah by the side of her husband (Gen. R. lxxii. Agadat Bereshit li. 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 Rabbis understand the wording (Gen. Did Isaac and Rebekah have a wedding? 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. In the fourth interpretive possibility, the name given by Rachel portrays the childs character, thus predicting the future. And, indeed, she bore Jacob only a single additional son, Benjamin(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[ab]). She bore another son and a daughter over the next two years. On this date Joseph left the Egyptian prison; and on this date, Israel went forth from their servitude in Egypt(BTRosh Hashanah10b11a). "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." The midrash relates that Rachel was twenty-two years old when she was married to Jacob (Seder Olam Rabbah 2), and her barrenness lasted for fourteen years (Seder Eliyahu Rabbah 18, p. 99). Rachel married Andrew Jackson (twice) and at age 61, prior to her husband's inauguration Rachel Jackson died of a heart attack at age 61. 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. 33:12): Of Benjamin he said: Beloved of the Lord, he rests securely beside Him [] as he rests between His shoulders (Tanhuma[ed. Agadah to Gen. xxx. At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. Rachel and Jacob were cousins. Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob. A third interpretation takes the wordnaftalifrom pitulim[vicissitudes], and describes what Jacob underwent. His preference for her continued even after her death, and also influenced Jacobs attitude to her children. She performed the exchange fully aware of what she was doing, even though she knew that Leah would bear most of Jacobs sons. 1-min read. Whatever the case, she died young. Gen. 29tells of the first meeting between Jacob and Rachel at the well. Rebekah had sent him there to be safe from his angry twin brother, Esau . At the well at Haran, Jacob found Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, tending sheep. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. But Laban substituted Leah, Rachel's older sister, in her place. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. 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. She knew that Jacob was to have only twelve sons, and, Joseph being the eleventh son, she prayed for only one son more (Tan., Wayee, 20). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. God thereupon promised her the restoration of Israel (Lam. By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. Jacobs other wife is Rachels sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. Jacob's wife, Leah, had four sons in quick succession, and then stopped bearing. She told her father she was having her period, making her ceremonially unclean, so he did not search near her. 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. By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. 1; Tan., Wayee, 19; Gen. R. lxxi. 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). He therefore went before her, stood up to his full height and hid her from Esau. In theTorahReuben is deposed from his status as firstborn for having violated his fathers bed(Gen. 49:34) and this distinction is conferred on Joseph when Jacob declares that Ephraim and Manasseh are his sons(Gen. 48:56). Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. After that I consoled myself, I suffered [to overcome] my desire and had compassion for my sister that she not suffer disgrace, and I gave her all the signs that I had given to my husband, so that he would think that she was Rachel. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). One tradition maintains that she became pregnant by merit of abundant prayers: by merit of her own prayer, by merit of her sisters prayer, by merit of Jacobs prayer, and by merit of the prayer of the handmaidens [Zilpah and Bilhah](Gen. Rabbah73:3). 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). 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). The affair of the mandrakes is generally represented by the Rabbis as unfavorable to Rachel; and it was due to her mode of obtaining them (comp. Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. 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). It speaks of a tradition possessed by Jacob that Esau would fall only by the hand of Rachels sons. Bilhah bore children to Jacob, causing Leah to give her servant Zilpah to Jacob, who had children with her. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. 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. 30:14relates that Reuben found mandrakes, which are prophylactic, in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. The Rabbis did not view this exchange between the sisters favorably. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. Her name means "ewe" in Hebrew. The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel. The proverb teaches that we should not be surprised by this similarity, since Rachel was exceedingly beautiful, so was her son. There is also an intermediate approach, which argues that Reuben should have received the birthright, but it was permanently taken from him because of his sin. 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. pseudo-Jonathan ad loc.). Buber],Vayeze12). So did your mother shame our father when she stole the household idols from Laban! By merit of the blows that he received on his shoulders, theShekhinah(Divine Presence) would rest between Benjamins shoulders, as it is said in the blessing by Moses(Deut. Rachel said: I should have been Jacobs bride before my sister. Jacob asked Rachel: Will you marry me? She answered: Yes, but my father is a deceiver, and you will not be able to best him. He asked her: What is his deceit [in what will he be able to deceive me]? She told him: I have an older sister, and he will not marry me off before her. He said: I am his brother in deceit. Jacob gave Rachel signs [so that he would be able to recognize her on their wedding night]. Harvard Theological Review113, no. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the, Lit. lxx. 21). 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. She hid these teraphim in her saddle bag, and sat on them. 15). Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob. xxxi. xxxi. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. 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). In any case, Rachel cannot have conceived Benjamin earlier than the springtime. When Potiphars wife attempted to seduce Joseph, he raised his eyes and saw the image of his mother Rachel and was thereby saved from the sin of adultery(JTHorayot2:5, 46[d]). According to the Rabbis, Laban would not have succeeded in deceiving Jacob without Rachels involvement. 3). (2022, December 6). "the written Torah." cit.). "order." In Ruth 4:11, she is named as one "from whom all the nation of Israel descended." ; Gen. R. lxxiv. Jacob was on his way back to his native country when Rachel died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. In this manner, the barren women became one of the Matriarchs of the nation. "Jacob and Rachel at the Well, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot, c. 1896-1902. 12; Targ. 15). Though she and Jacob were deeply in love, she did not conceive for many years. 1921) that occurred within the tribe of Benjamin; after the ban against this tribe had been lifted, that disgrace was expunged. She told Jacob that if he didn't "give" her children, she would die. Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician. In Brief. This midrash uses a common date to connect various historical events. Thus, for example, the Bejaminite Saul would wage war against and triumph against Amalek, the descendant of Esau; and Mordecai, from the tribe of Benjamin, would use his wisdom to best the Amalekite Haman. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Rachel. Thismidrashindicates the physical trait shared by Rachel and Joseph, which the Bible expresses in identical language. xxxi. She had started from a position of superiority over her sister, since she was the desired wife. However, the Rabbis debate the reason behind God granting her the ability to bear children. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. Rachel lived in Harran, or Paddan Aram, and that's where she met her cousin Jacob. Buber],Vayeze6). According to the first, Naphtalis name is an acrostic of all that happened between Rachel and her sister. 16). Rachel bore Joseph, then the entire clan left Laban's country to return to Isaac. Those sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. While Rachel was barren for the first fourteen years of her marriage, she is still described as Jacobs preferred wife and a powerful woman.