In the midrashic account, many years later, when Josephs goblet was found in the sack of Benjamin(Gen. 44), the tribes stood about, beat Benjamins shoulders, and cried out: Oh thief, the son of a thief, you have shamed us! 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). Rachel bore Joseph, then the entire clan left Laban's country to return to Isaac. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. cit.). Jacob protested, and Laban answered that local custom did not permit a younger sister to marry before the older sister. Altogether, the four women bore 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. Themidrashrecords a disagreement among the Rabbis concerning the origins of Elijah. https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193 (accessed May 1, 2023). The midrash connects these actions, both of which express Rachels compassionate nature. 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. 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. 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. [9][10][11], Last modified on August 11, 2016, at 17:07. 1) is only once (Gen. R. xlv. 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. 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]. How old was Jacob's age when he married his wife in the Bible? Another tradition has Leah herself being responsible for the change.
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