how old was rachel when she married jacob

Yet a third tradition explains that Rachel merited pregnancy because she brought her rival wife [Bilhah] into her house. Now the birthright has returned to its owner(Gen. Rabbah98:4, [ed. 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. Her first meeting with Jacob occurred at a well near Haran, whither she had taken the flocks for water. 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). Altogether, the four women bore 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. (NLT) Jeremiah 31:15 speaks of Rachel "weeping for her children" who have been taken into exile. 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. After working for Laban another seven years, Jacob marries Rachel Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. All this means that Jacob was married to Rachel for some time between about 15 years and 22 years. Jacob kissed Rachel and fell in love with her instantly. Rachel's words at the birth of Joseph, "The Lord shall add to me another son" (Gen. xxx. According to another tradition, Rachel died before Leah because she spoke before her sister. In this manner, the barren women became one of the Matriarchs of the nation. Rachel had taken the idols and placed them in the cushion on her camels back. Jacob was 77 years old, and he loved Rachel immediately. Buber],Vayeze12). Dates and ages are not given for very many women in the Scriptures. Family relations of Rachel in the Bible. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". "order." Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. Zilpah, Leah's maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. 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). Updates? Today a site exists along the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem that most people say is the tomb of Rachel. How old was Rachel when she died. 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. 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. What age Rachel when she married Jacob Bible? - Answers Gen. 30:25relates that after Josephs birth Jacob asked Laban for permission to return to his land. She spoke in precise language when she said: May the Lord add another son for meshe did not say other sons, rather, there will be one more son from me. If I had sent a message to him, saying: Take note that they are deceiving you, would he not have refrained? Jewish Women's Archive. 31 December 1999. But as she approached, a stranger (Jacob) rolled the stone away for her and watered the sheep. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 15). 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). Most of the Rabbis consider the idea of Rachel being an envious woman as incompatible with what has been previously said of her. Tadshe, in Epstein, "Mi-admoniyyot ha-Yehudim," Supplement, p. Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. The Rabbis present Labans act of deceit as something in which Rachel was involved, from which they learn of her special qualities. In another tradition, Rachel envied Leahs good deeds. Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. Joseph thereby is awarded a double portion, which is the right of the firstborn. 33:12): Of Benjamin he said: Beloved of the Lord, he rests securely beside Him [] as he rests between His shoulders (Tanhuma[ed. 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! Agadah to Gen. xxx. This exposition aims to applaud Jacobs strength, which increased due to his love for Rachel. 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. According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. Buber],Vayeze20). Agadat Bereshit li. cit.). 1921) that occurred within the tribe of Benjamin; after the ban against this tribe had been lifted, that disgrace was expunged. 1; Tan., Wayee, 19; Gen. R. lxxi. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin. So you wouldn't expect two old people, would you? Some consider that she did so in order to conceal Jacob's flight; others, that her object was to turn her father from idolatry (Pire R. El. genesis - How old was Jacob when he first saw Rachel? - Biblical Buber],Vayeshev19). 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. Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). Buber],Vayeze19). Jacob protested, and Laban answered that local custom did not permit a younger sister to marry before the older sister. 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. (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. The midrash includes Rachel among the seven barren women who were eventually blessed with offspring:Sarah, Rebekah,Rachel, Leah,Manoahs Wife,Hannah andZion [in a metaphorical sense], of whomPs. 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). Yet another tradition asserts that this was not stated to Rachels credit, and confirms the fact of her barrenness. TheA type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash portrays Rachel as a prophetess, and her statements and the names she gave her sons contain allusions to the future. Captivated by her, "Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncles flock." When Laban caught up with them, he searched for the idols, but Rachel had hidden the statues under her camel's saddle. The Rabbis seek to discover the reason why Rachels womb was opened. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel stole her father's household gods or teraphim. Rabbah[ed. Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. Gen. 29:17attests: Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Themidrashadds that there was no maiden fairer than Rachel (Tanhuma,Vayeze6). Jacob said: If all my children will be killed, Rachels son will remain, for he will punish this wicked seed, as it is said(Jud. 19:11) drippings of the comb [nofet zufim], which are in the portion of Naphtali, who will engage in Torah study (Gen. Rabbahloc. Rachel and Leah in the Bible - Biblical Archaeology Society 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). Another midrash adds that by merit of Rachels silence, two tribesEphraim and Manassehissued forth from her, in addition to the other ten tribes(Gen. Rabbah71:5;Tanhuma,Vayeze6). 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. Bethlehem is now an Arab-controlled town. 16). 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. Well, according to the math in the Bible, Jacob was 8. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. According to one opinion, her death was a punishment for Jacob, for having made a vow and then not honoring it. Gen. 30:14relates that Reuben found mandrakes, which are prophylactic, in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. How old was Rachel when she married Jacob? - Answers The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. 15 (see Biblical Data, above) is the source of the midrashic legend that when the Israelites were driven into captivity by Nebuzar-adan, and the supplications of the Patriarchs and of Moses proved of no avail, Rachel arose from her grave and implored God's clemency, basing her plea upon her own self-abnegation with regard to her sister. xxxv. 10:12): Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! was by merit of Rachels kindness (Tanhuma[ed. This means Jacob was Laban's nephew. Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob. 123a; Midr. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. This well had a heavy stone to cap it by night, and Rachel was accustomed to waiting for someone to roll the stone away when all the flocks were gathered. Rijksmuseum The story of how Jacob ends up marrying his two cousins, Leah and Rachel, begins in Canaan, with the marriage of his older twin, Esau, to two Hittite women of whom Isaac and Rebekah do not approve. Did he not go to Laban only because of me? (Gen. Rabbahloc. Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. Rachel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament beyond her story in Genesis. Her name means "ewe" in Hebrew. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. The midrash views this confrontation between Jacob and Esau as symbolizing the future rivalries between the descendants of the two. Leah's life as Jacob's wife was distressful. l.c.) "order." 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). 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. "Staging Rachel: Rabbinic Midrash, Theatrical Mime, and Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity." Then she waived this status when she consented to Leahs marriage to Jacob. When Jacob introduced himself to Rachel, he told her (v. 12) that he was her fathers kinsman, that he was Rebekahs son. In the midrashic expansion, Jacob told Rachel: if to deceivehe was her fathers kinsman; and if for righteousnesshe was Rebekahs son. When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. Another tradition explains the Torahs statement(Gen. 29:16): Now Laban had two daughters as meaning that both were equal in beauty and in their erect stature (Tanhuma[ed. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). Rachel and Jacob were cousins. 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). When Rachel saw that her sister was pregnant, she prayed and caused the fetuss sex to change(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[a]). Leah bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. Who was Rachel in the Bible? When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. The "Sefer ha-Yashar" (section "Wayishla," p. 56b), however, gives her age at the time of her death as forty-five. Rachel then offered to allow Leah to lie with Jacob that evening. Thismidrashindicates the physical trait shared by Rachel and Joseph, which the Bible expresses in identical language. Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. Various Jewish sources say Rachel died at age 36 and other sources say age 45. 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. A third interpretation takes the wordnaftalifrom pitulim[vicissitudes], and describes what Jacob underwent. This midrash bore a message of consolation to the Rabbis and the Jews of their time, since, for the Rabbis, Esau symbolized the Roman empire. A miracle was performed for her, the idols were transformed into cups, and therefore Laban did not find them(Gen. Rabbah74:9). Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193. 3 (2020): 299-333. Answer Rachel is a major character in the early Old Testament; she was a daughter of Laban, sister of Leah, favored wife of Jacob, and mother of two of Jacob's children. Rachel was one of the four Jewish matriarchs, all of whom were prophetesses (Ber. What age were Leah and Rachel when they got married Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. No, he did not. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, 99:20, p. 1270]). This midrash uses a common date to connect various historical events. In Brief. Even when he came to bless her son, he made him [Joseph] secondary to her. Our part is simply to accept and be thankful. Agadah to Gen. xxx. Jacob told Reuben: The birthright, the priesthood, and kingship were yours. (NIV), Genesis 30:22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. When Jacob spoke with Leah, Rachel would answer him, so that he would not identify Leahs voice (Lam. Themidrashstates that Leah carried a male fetus in her womb during her seventh pregnancy. At last Rachel prayed to God, and God caused her to conceive. 31:1416attests: A cry is heard in Ramahwailing, bitter weepingRachel weeping for her children, she refuses to be comforted for her children, who are gone. Rabbah3:2). l.c. The restrictions on her date of birth are: The maximum likely age for Rachel at the time of the birth of Benjamin is thirty-nine years. 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. Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. But had she been obviously pregnant, she would not have been able to lie convincingly. Later, in giving birth to Benjamin, Rachel died and was buried by Jacob near Bethlehem. Her first son was Joseph, the future viceroy of Egypt. 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. 28:20) his tribe received the jasper [yashfe, with the meaning ofyesh pehthere is a mouth] stone in the High Priests breastpiece. 1-min read. 1) is only once (Gen. R. xlv. Buber],Vayeze12). Rachelis depicted in theTorah she-bi-khetav: Lit. After the week had passed, Jacob prepared for his wedding night. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. cit.). Jacob was on his way back to his native country when Rachel died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Jennifer Grey Talks Her 'Friends' Role, Explains Why She Couldn't Bilhah: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Rachel, who was not so occupied, therefore became the mainstay of the household. The Rabbis ask why Jacob buried Rachel on the road to Ephrath, and not in the Cave of Machpelah. Some midrashim view the name given by Rachel to her son Joseph as a prophecy for what would befall his descendants. Rachel had been given Bilhah as a handmaiden by her father Laban upon her marriage to Jacob. The purpose of the comparison between Benjamin and his mother was to say that just as Benjamin was unjustly accused, so, too, Rachel should not have been called a thief, since her motive was positive. The reason for this was Josephs fear that Esau would see Rachel and desire her. But the Bible makes no specific statement to this effect. In the four years following their marriage, Leah had four sons; Rachel had none. In another midrashic understanding, Rachel alluded to the disgrace during the time of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was a descendant of the tribe of Ephraim, and who engaged in idolatry and denigrated the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh(I Kings 1214); this disgrace was taken away when Jeroboam was put to death(II Chron. As compensation for this negative depiction, Scripture calls Israel after her, after her son, and after her sons son. The custom in those days was for a man to wait at least a week after arranging to marry a woman. 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. Rachel - Wikipedia R. Judan's opinion, however, was that Rachel died before Leah because, although she was the younger sister, she spoke before Leah when they were addressed by their husband (ib. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the shofar).Rosh Ha-Shanah, like Sarah andHannah. 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. Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children. Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob. This was exceedingly difficult for me, when I learned of this counsel. The midrash further states that, as reward for Rachels modesty, Saul was descended from her; and as reward for Sauls modesty, Esther was descended from him. Gen. 29:18attests: Jacob loved Rachel. The midrashic exegesis of this verse characterizes this love of Jacobs with a reference toCant. These two reasons reveal the fact that, already at the instant of his first meeting with Rachel, Jacob realized that she was the woman meant for him. When Laban came to search her tent, Rachel asked him to excuse her for not rising, because she was menstruating. 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. Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. Rachel's envy at her sister's fertility (comp. [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.] The account of Jacob and Rachel is presented to the reader as a love story, and quite a romantic one at that. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. Rabbah, according to which Rachel entered under Jacob and Leahs bed on their wedding night. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. [6] (Genesis 31:19-20 ) Jones[7] records that the phrase "born to him in Padan-aram" that appears after the listing of Jacob's sons (Genesis 35:26 ) can also mean "engendered by him in Padan-aram." According to one, Reuben, Leahs son and the firstborn of Jacob, does receive the birthright. Zavada, Jack. 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). Of the two women that Jacob married, Rachel was loved, and Leah unloved. Gen. 30:1relates that when Rachel saw that she was not bearing children, she told Jacob: Give me children, or I shall die, leading the Rabbis to conclude that whoever is childless is regarded as dead (Lam. "Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah." 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). 1; Gen. R. lxxi. cit.). TheTorahattests of Rachel(Gen. 29:17): Rachel was shapely and beautiful; and of her son Joseph (39:6): Now Joseph was well built and handsome [the two verses uses the same Hebrew phrases:yefat/yefeh toar,vi-yfat/yefeh mareh], to which the Rabbis apply the saying: Throw a stick into the air, and it will [always] fall on its end(Gen. Rabbah86:6). Rachel feared that her deeds were not favorable in the eyes of God, which resulted in her barrenness. 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]. 32), he not knowing that Rachel had taken the images. 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. These midrashic expositions cast Rachels act in a positive light. After spending a month with his relatives he asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban the Aramean. R. xxx. This exegesis hints that in the rivalry between Israel and Esau [= Rome] Rachels children would emerge victorious. (Genesis 29:10, NLT). [2] Jacob had traveled a great distance to find Laban. She married Jacob (2245 AM) when she was old enough to carry an adult responsibility, because Jacob met her when she was leading a flock of sheep to water. In yet another exegetical understanding, Rachel said: May the Lord add another son for me for exile, because the ten tribes were exiled beyond the Sambatyon river, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were dispersed throughout all the lands. 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. Rachel asked Leah for a portion of them, and Leah protested that Rachel already had the favor of Jacob, and now was asking for a supply of the one thing that each woman supposed would make her fertile. Zavada, Jack. 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 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). Hadjittofi, Fotini, and Hagith Sivan. According to another tradition, the word naftali is to be derived fromninfei(bride). Some rabbinical writings suggest that Rachel and Leah were twins, and were fourteen years old at the time of Jacob's first meeting with Rachel. [3] This traditional site lies four miles south of Jerusalem and one mile north of Bethlehem. 3). Bilhah bore children to Jacob, causing Leah to give her servant Zilpah to Jacob, who had children with her. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. cit.). His love and our salvation come through grace. 13). Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. Agadah to Gen. xxx. If she breaks a vessel within the house, whom shall she blame for this? She raised Joseph and Benjamin as if she were their mother(Gen. Rabbah84:11). By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Other Rabbis found fault with Rachel and maintained that because Rachel made light of her right to lie with the righteous Jacob, which she sold for the mandrakes, she was punished by not being buried together with him. Jacob allowed Laban to search for the idols. Instead of showing understanding, he amplifies her pain by telling her that he already has four sons from Leah. 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]). Rachels good deeds also positively influenced her children. 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. When those seven years were completed and the time came for my marriage to my husband, my father advised exchanging me with my sister. It seems to just throw out there that Rachel was 36 when she died; since Yaakov married her after 7 years working for Lavan, and he left Charan after another 7 years after they got married, plus 6 years after all but Binyamin were born, and Rachel died at the end of the two-year journey back to Yitzchak, they were married for 15 . So Rachel offered her handmaid, Bilhah, as her surrogate. He said to them: My masters, why do you disagree about me? 10). 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. The Rabbis learned from this that whoever makes a vow and delays fulfilling it will bury his wife (Lev. 13). Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. Thismidrashattributes a dual meaning to Gods statement: for there is a reward for your labor. Rachel acted in an extraordinary manner when she helped her sister to be married to Jacob and also when she prayed for her children. 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. Kadari, Tamar. The most extreme description of Rachels act of self-sacrifice appears inLam. 11). 2, 7). She was responsible for taking the sheep to the well for water every day. Rachel Stevens shuts down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards' claim she cheated The Bible says that this took place at sheep-shearing time,[5] which is always in the springtime. How old was Jacob's age when he married his wife in the Bible? 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. Let us know. Rachel had to choose between her love for Jacob and her compassion for her sister, and she decided in favor of the latter. 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. 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. 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. Later, Rachel became the mother of Joseph (xxx. 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). 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, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob.

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