When not specified, "Talmud" refers to the Babylonian Talmud.Talmud asserts that the Matriarch Rachel was one of the first women prophets. After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. Those sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. 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. Jacob said to Joseph that he had buried Rachel near Ephrath, where Bethlehem now stands. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. She had started from a position of superiority over her sister, since she was the desired wife. 22-24). The terms "elder" and "younger," applied respectively to Leah and Rachel (Gen. xxix. According to these first two traditions, Naphtalis name portrays an experience undergone by Rachel. 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. 4:19), andMichal (daughter of Saul)(II Sam. 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. [9][10][11], Last modified on August 11, 2016, at 17:07. Her first son was Joseph, the future viceroy of Egypt. 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. Her first meeting with Jacob occurred at a well near Haran, whither she had taken the flocks for water. l.c. The Rabbis claim that Rachel did so for the sake of Heaven. [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.] 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! 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. xxxv. According to the second opinion, however, the fact that she was the chief person of the household was a result of her barrenness and did not necessarily reflect Jacobs preference for her. Recall Jacob had to flee from his family's house because of his treachery toward his brother Esau. lxx. Later, in giving birth to Benjamin, Rachel died and was buried by Jacob near Bethlehem. Before his death, Jacob praises Joseph for acting in this manner, when he says of his son(Gen. 49:22): Joseph is a wild ass, a wild ass by a spring [ayin, also meaning eye]I must reward you for that eye [for having concealed Rachel from Esaus eye](Gen. Rabbah78:10). 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. that she was not buried in the cave of Machpelah by the side of her husband (Gen. R. lxxii. Another tradition has Leah herself being responsible for the change. Jacob was quite old compared to other generat. 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. 9). Gen. 29tells of the first meeting between Jacob and Rachel at the well. Rachel unquestionably had Jacob's favor, but Rachel was sterile, while Leah was fertile. She hid these teraphim in her saddle bag, and sat on them. 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. Themidrashrelates that Rachel was twenty-two years old when she was married to Jacob (SederOlam Rabbah2), and her barrenness lasted for fourteen years (Seder Eliyahu Rabbah18, p. 99). 2:20): But Esther still did not reveal her kindred or her people and did not mention her Jewish origins in the palace of Ahasuerus(Gen. Rabbah71:5;Tanhuma,Vayeze6). At the well at Haran, Jacob found Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, tending sheep. On this date Joseph left the Egyptian prison; and on this date, Israel went forth from their servitude in Egypt(BTRosh Hashanah10b11a). Her compassion also succeeded in arousing Gods mercy when He answered her prayer. 13b; B. Those were the last children she would have. Whatever the case, she died young. 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. Jacob kissed Rachel and fell in love with her instantly. 24), show that she was a prophetess. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. Scripture says Rachel was beautiful. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the . 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). Bilhah, Rachel's servant and Jacob's concubine, bears two more sons, Dan and Naphtali. These midrashic expositions cast Rachels act in a positive light. 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. [1] When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. 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. In the morning, Jacob discovered he had been tricked. At Naphtalis birth, Rachel said(Gen. 30:8): A contest of God, a fateful contest I waged [naftuleiniftalti] with my sister; yes, and I have prevailed. Themidrashgives four different interpretations of this name. l.c.) In other respects the two sisters were alike, both being ancestresses of kings, heroes, prophets, judges, and conquerors (ib. 3, 6). Although Rachel died young, the Rabbis indicate her positive influence on her descendants, even long after her passing. Rachel's death was so deeply felt by Jacob that he considered it the greatest of all his sorrows (Ruth R. i. Benjamin was born on the road to Bethlehem, and therefore Rachel must have conceived him in Padan-aram, though she bore him in Canaan. cit.). Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. R., Petita, 25). 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. 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. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Agadat Bereshit li. No, he did not. Jacob's wife, Leah, had four sons in quick succession, and then stopped bearing. This midrash uses a common date to connect various historical events. Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. 31:20Israel is called after her sons son: Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me(Ruth Rabbah7:11:13). The proverb teaches that we should not be surprised by this similarity, since Rachel was exceedingly beautiful, so was her son. Deut. 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). 3 (2020): 299-333. They assert that Jacobs kiss was not a wanton one, but one that expressed familial feeling, since Rachel was related to him (Gen. Rabbahloc. Jacob was 147 years old when he died, Gen 47:28. The midrash connects these actions, both of which express Rachels compassionate nature. cit.). According to a third tradition, Jacob wept for grief, for he realized that after he kissed Rachel people were whispering to one another: Why has this one come, to teach us this indecent behavior? The midrash comments that after the world had been struck by the Flood, the nations of the world hedged themselves against illicit sexual behavior [i.e., they accepted all manner of sexual prohibitions] (Gen. Rabbahloc. The account of Jacob and Rachel is presented to the reader as a love story, and quite a romantic one at that. Rachel's father Laban was the brother of Rebekah, Jacob mother. He asked for Rachels hand because he thought that Leah was intended for Esau (Tanhuma[ed. Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. She bore him in 2259 AM. Themidrashlists three reasons for Jacobs crying on this occasion. 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. The Bible says that this took place at sheep-shearing time,[5] which is always in the springtime. Rachel lived in Harran, or Paddan Aram, and that's where she met her cousin Jacob. When Laban came to search her tent, Rachel asked him to excuse her for not rising, because she was menstruating. 15). Jacob told Reuben: The birthright, the priesthood, and kingship were yours. 13). Gen. 30:23records that when Rachel gave birth to Joseph she explained: God has taken away [asaf] my disgrace. The Rabbis observe that until a woman gives birth, whatever blame [there is, within the house] is placed upon her. When Jacob left the land of Canaan, he had vowed that he would return to Bethel and sacrifice to the Lord(Gen. 28:2022). This exegetical direction is supported by the divine aid she received in the miraculous concealment of the idols from Laban. According to one opinion, her death was a punishment for Jacob, for having made a vow and then not honoring it. When he gives him blessings of the breast and the womb he is saying to Joseph: may the breasts that nursed such a son, and the womb that brought him forth, be blessed(Gen. Rabbah98:20, [ed. She stole the household idols (teraphim) that belonged to Laban, in the belief that those idols would confer some protective power. 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. 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. 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. In any case, Rachel cannot have conceived Benjamin earlier than the springtime. 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! 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. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. According to one, Reuben, Leahs son and the firstborn of Jacob, does receive the birthright. 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. 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). A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). He knew that he would marry her, just as Rebekah had been married to Isaac, and he also understood that he would bury her. 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. God thereupon promised her the restoration of Israel (Lam. Buber],Vayeze19). Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. Though she and Jacob were deeply in love, she did not conceive for many years.

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