Schocken, 2009. Equipping Godly Women is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. God blessed Leah again: Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. And she called his name Simeon (meaning Heard, Genesis 29:33). However, comments that are rude,hateful, malicious, or spammy will be immediately deleted without warning. Corrections? In her free time Heather homeschools, shops clearance racks, and competes on Netflix baking shows. A biblical or rabbinic commandment; also, a good deed. We are studying great women of the Bible including, I help busy Christian moms find simple, practical ways to live out their faith, What Leah in the Bible Can Teach Us About Comparison. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. Leah was the oldest daughter of Laban, Rebekahs brother. OR start reading my latest book, Follow God's Will, for FREE! On the night of the nuptial feast, however, Laban deceived him by sending in the tender-eyed Leah (tender-eyed is an uncertain phrase, possibly denoting poor vision); thus, Laban compelled Jacob to work another seven years for Rachel. The Beginning of Desire: Reflections on Genesis. Or she died 2216. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The older daughter was Leah and the younger daughter Rachel. "Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites; my numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.' [13] Kirsch argues that the narrative combines a Yahwist narrator describing a rape, and an Elohist speaker describing a seduction. Right? The midrash states that, as reward for Leahs deed, for taking Zilpah and bringing her to Jacobs bed, God took Israel out from Egypt (SederEliyahu Rabbah[ed. 1:15): So I took your tribal leaders, wise and experienced men, but discerning is not stated, for the Issacharites exceeded them in this respect(BTEruvin100b). TheLit. When Reuben saw this, he overturned the bed; Jacob rebuked him, as theTorahtells: For when you mounted your fathers bed, you brought disgracemy couch you mounted!(Gen. Rabbah97:4[ed. Chapter 2. In Diamant's version, Dinah falls in love with Shalem, the Canaanite prince, and goes to bed with him in preparation for marriage. Many midrashic interpretations of Leah compare her to her sister, Rachel, as they are both extremely influential scriptural figures. Why then have you deceived me? (Genesis 29:25). He exclaimed: As long as Rachel was alive, her bed was next to that of Jacob. cit.). In this guest post by Heather Creekmore of comparedtowho.me, youll learn more about who Leah in the Bible is and what she can teach you about comparison. Since Esau was wicked, she cried and begged Gd to change her fate. The third wheel. Laban, also, saw that Esau had married Mahalath, and he worried about Leahs marriage. Neither does he reject us because we don't meet the world's standards for being attractive. Even though her husband Jacob favored Rachel, Leah remained committed, enduring this unfairness through faith in God. At the end of Jacobs life, notice the blessing he pronounced upon Judah: You are he whom your brothers shall praise. Leah had faith that God heard her plight of being unloved and had given her this son as well. Jacob asked them: Why are you extinguishing the lamps? They answered: What do you think, that we are disgraceful like you (that we are licentious like you, to engage in relations by the light of a lamp)? All that night he called her Rachel, and she answered him. Maimonides argued that the killing was understandable because the townsmen had failed to uphold the seventh Noachide law (denim) to establish a criminal justice system. Attractive design ideal for your home, office, church . He doesn't want Laban's money; he wants his daughter - not Leah the older daughter but Rachel the younger. "Persistent Myths about the Afro-American Family" in, "Divrei Iyov transforms the spouse as a main character regarding the plot that is entire | UNIFAMAZ", "What Happened to Dinah After Her Abduction? Although Jacob prefers Rachel, he ultimately marries Leah first due to the scheming of the sisters father. [32] He suggests that after the brothers killed all the men in the city, including Shechem and his father, Dinah refused to leave the palace unless Simeon agreed to marry her[32] and remove her shame (according to Nachmanides, she only lived in his house and did not have sex with him). Amazing Bible Timeline with World History, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leah#mediaviewer/File:Dante%27s_Vision_of_Rachel_and_Leah.jpg. . In The Female Ruse: Women's Deception and Divine Sanction in the Hebrew Bible, 38-67. Now therefore, my husband will love me (Genesis 29:32). In verse 34, Leah conceived again and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi (meaning Attached). Sometimes women suffer from feeling unloved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I never thought of Leah's story like that before!! She was now the wife of Jacob, a man who had not desired her nor expected her to be his wife. But, as the story of Leah in the Bible shows us, the game of comparison has no winners, only wrestling sisters who keep score and stay miserable. In this post, Ill share two of my favorite lessons. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Mi Yodeya offers tons of great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. He demanded of his father-in-law, What is this you have done to me? The episode of her violation by Shechem, son of a Canaanite or Hivite prince, and the subsequent vengeance of her brothers Simeon and Levi, commonly referred to as the rape of Dinah, is told in Genesis 34. Leahs story starts in Genesis 29. Higger], chap. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. . The Torah suggests that the name Levi refers to Leah's hope for Jacob to join with her, implying a derivation from Hebrew yillaweh, meaning he will join, . Leah: Bible. What can we learn from Leah in the Bible? [14], On the other hand, another critical scholar, Alexander Rof, assumes that the earlier authors would not have considered rape to be defilement in and of itself, and posits that the verb describing Dinah as "defiled" was added later (elsewhere in the Bible, only married or betrothed women are "defiled" by rape). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bible Charts and Maps, PO Box 171053, Austin, TX 78717 Jacob kept to this agreement, but Laban feared that it would not be honored because of Esaus marriage to Mahalath. The timing was significant. Rachel and Leah had imperfections, as all men and women do. With her third son, Levi, Leah hopes that now, with a third son, Jacob will be attached to her. Laban took his two handmaidens and gave them to his two daughters (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezerloc. Thy mother. Only by dropping out of the competition and determining, instead, to praise the Lord, regardless of their circumstances, can we find victory. 8437 BELL OAKS DR. SUITE 503, NEWBURGH, IN 47630, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Hello! [12] Within Genesis 34 itself, they suggest two layers of narrative: an older account ascribing the killing of Shechem to Simeon and Levi alone, and a later addition (verses 27 to 29) involving all the sons of Jacob. Zavada, Jack. Leah was the mother of six of Jacobs sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, and Judah; Judah was the ancestor of King David and, according to the New Testament, of Jesus. Zavada, Jack. God was faithful in giving her an endowment of childrenan inheritance. But when Jacob wanted to leave Laban, both Rachel and Leah answered Jacob together in unison, indicating that they thought alike about their father Laban and about Jacobs plan to leave: Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our fathers house? Leah, also spelled Lia, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), primarily in Genesis, first wife of Jacob (later Israel) and the traditional ancestor of 5 of the 12 tribes of Israel. In Genesis 30:1 we read that Rachel envied Leah in the Bible. Themidrashasserts that Leah carried a male fetus in her womb during her seventh pregnancy. How many ways are there to solve the Mensa cube puzzle? Is this the reward of your sister Rachel, who gave you her signs with her husband on your wedding night, to spare you embarrassment? As punishment for this behavior, Leah was caused even greater embarrassment with the episode of Dinah (Gen. Rabbati,Vayishlah, p. 168). This is why he is called Laban the Aramean (aramiramai, deceiver), because he deceived even the people of his place (and fed them at the wedding feast from their own money). She was truely an instrament of the God Almighty (El Shaddai). Nevertheless, she had the courage to turn her gaze to God. Mother Abiona or Amtelai the daughter of Karnebo. I knew right away which character Id rather be: Rachel of course! The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. 125455; BTSabbathShabbat 55b). This midrash alludes to the blessing given to the tribe of Asher(Deut. Does Rachel learn from Leah in the Bibles example that babies dont satisfy? Issachar would engage in Torah study, Zebulun would sail the seas and provide for Issachar, and Torah would increase in Israel(Gen. Rabbah72:5). Leah also later gave birth to a daughter named Dinah. They applied to her the verse(I Sam. The Rabbis state that from the day that God created His world, no one praised God until Leah came and did so(BTBerakhot7b). When she further spoke: and has given me this one also, she prophesied that her next son (Levi) would produce Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest, who healed the wound caused by the sinner (Phinehas killed Zimri and thereby turned back Gods wrath)(Gen. Rabbah71:4). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. [1], In the apocryphal book, Testament of Job, Dinah is said to have been Job's second wife after the death of his first wife, who is referred to as "Sitidos". It seemed her perfect romance was spoiled by deceit. A Mosque in the area of Medina, possibly: This page was last edited on 28 June 2023, at 05:16. When Jacob found out he had been tricked, he labored another seven years for Rachel. These cookies do not store any personal information. Leah bestowed this wonderful name of Praise on her son Judah, and it became a name of prophetic blessing to him. I only felt sorry for Rachel. The list of the names of the families of Israel in Egypt is repeated in Exodus 6:1425[33] (including "Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman", verse 15). Encrypt different things with different keys to the same ouput. TheTorahstates that Leah named her children, to which the Rabbis comment that the children of Jacob have fine names and their deeds are seemingly fine(Gen. Rabbah71:3). Leah gave God the credit for her happiness and joy by praising the Lord. "Give me children, or I will die!" she said to Jacob. Yes, it is, for this reason: God wants us to see how he can and will use anyone. One can assume this wasnt the first time Rachel complained about being barren. Zavada, Jack. In the narrative in theTorah, when Rachel saw the mandrakes, she asked Leah to give them to her (because of her barrenness). In this presentation, Jacob is aware of Labans deception and even tries to protect himself from it, but his plan is frustrated by Rachels compassion for her sister. In 19th-century America, "Dinah" became a generic name for an enslaved African woman. Why would I choose to be Rachel over Leah in the Bible? [10] Dinah is specifically listed, in verse 15 ("These are the sons of Leah, that she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, and Dinah his daughter."). There will always be someone to whom we can compare ourselvesfriends, family members, women on the internetbut, we must consciously decide every day to believe Gods truth about comparison. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. But God was aware of this unfortunate situation, and He had compassion on Leah. 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. Jacob already knows what he wants Laban to pay him. She Was Jacob's First Wife, But Not His First Choice . God was intentional in the way He made us and hes just as intentional about the plan He has for our lives. Leah died at the time that Joseph was brought to Egypt and she was not older than forty-four when she died (Seder Olam Rabbah 2). As she names her first son Reuben (the name Reuben means behold, a son, she says, The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. BuberVayeze20). I think it is Rabbinical tradition, using the passuk as an esnachta maybe. Things had changed for the better for Leah! Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. BuberVayeze19). The two names Rachel and Leah routinely appear in theThe legal corpus of Jewish laws and observances as prescribed in the Torah and interpreted by rabbinic authorities, beginning with those of the Mishnah and Talmud.halakhicliterature as typical names in discussions concerning any two women (see, e.g.,JTKetubot10:1, 33[d];BTEruvin13a). (19011906). Another exposition has her weeping and saying: May it be His will that my lot not fall in the portion of the wicked Esau, and her prayer was efficacious in saving her from this fate(Gen. Rabbah70:16). The midrash interprets this deed as extremely selfless, leading to rewards for Leah herself and also all of Israel. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, p. 1241]). Others say she was 44. But, the way these two sisters took a bad situation and made it worsethrough a crazy baby-making competitionteaches us an interesting lesson in worship. Ive never heard anyone name Leah as their favorite woman in the Bible. God will hear our prayers and will intervene for us. In Brief Many midrashic interpretations of Leah compare her to her sister, Rachel, as they are both extremely influential scriptural figures. Meanwhile, Leah kept having babies but had issues of her own to work through. She rarely makes it into books of Bible heroines. It foreshadows later happenings and prophecies further along in Genesis and the Torah dealing with the two violent brothers. Please cite a source as to exactly when Leah died. Sometimes women suffer from feeling unloved. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she gave her handmaidenZilpahto Jacob as a wife. Rebekahs son Jacob was sent to Laban to escape the wrath of his brother Esau whom he had deceived. Jacob agreed. Leah, along with Jacob, Rachel, their maidservants and their livestock, left her native land of Haran and went to settle in Canaan. What would happen if Venus and Earth collided? How did Leah interact with the children Jacob had with another woman? How Long In Prison? He also offers compensation to her family. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Learn more Leah: Midrash and Aggadah by Tamar Kadari "Marriage of Jacob and Leah," biblical bas-relief by Sylvia Lefkovitz. Buber, loc. In the same way that I neglected to consider Leahs feelings, Ive noticed that many in modern Christianity neglect Leah in the Bible, too. God blesses Leah with children, preventing her divorce with Jacob, either because of her unhappiness or her merits. Phone Toll Free: 877-966-7300 or 816-584-3077, [This article continues after a message from the authors], These Articles are Written by the Publishers of, Amazing Bible Timeline with World History 2023. Joseph means He Will Add, for Rachel believed, The LORD shall add to me another son (verse 24). She is therefore referred to as "the Canaanitish woman" (Genesis 46:10). She can be found in the Bible Timeline between 1754-1704 BC. With each child, Leah hoped to win the affections of her husband. Via Wikimedia Commons. Who was Leah in the Bible? Upon Gads birth, Leah said(Gen. 30:11): What luck [ba-gad, literally, luck came]! In the exegetical explanation, Leah said: Luck came to the house, luck came to the world. According to another tradition, she said, with the spirit of divine inspiration: Someone is coming who will destroy the foundations of the nations, thereby alluding to Elijah, who will deliver Israel in the End of Days and who, according to some opinions, is from the tribe of Gad(Gen. Rabbah71:4). 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). Be sure to check out all of the other posts in this series here: 15 Great Women of the Bible Every Christian Woman Should Study. Be virtuous too, oh Dinah! God does not love us because we are beautiful or handsome, brilliant or successful. Reuben saw that Jacob had done so; infuriated by this act, Reuben sought to restore his mothers honor. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Her first book,Compared to Who? Its a strange plot twist because Rachel was the beautiful sister. 107:1): Praise the Lord, for He is good; as did Daniel(Dan. Related Reading: How to Be Content With Your Real Life (Without Quitting Social Media). See esp., 282-296. The Jewish Encyclopedia. In return, Leah requested that Rachel forgo her right to be with Jacob that night. Alphabetical Exposition of Named Bible Women . How to transpile between languages with different scoping rules? More precisely, this is in the 2nd chapter of Seder Olam Raba. Lit. Heres How to Stop. Have an update or correction? cit.). Leah was the mother of six of Jacob's sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, and Judah; Judah was the ancestor of King David and, according to the New Testament, of Jesus. 12:33): of the Issacharites, men who knew how to interpret [yodei binah, literally, who know discernment]. Even in the time of Moses there were none like them, for Moses says(Deut. After he had spent his wedding night with his new bride, he awoke in the morning to discover that his bride was Leah and not Rachel. Judah inherited the abilityle-hodot(also meaning to recognize the other, to admit) from his mother Leah when he admits, in the episode ofTamarthat(Gen. 38: 26) She is more in the right than I. David praised the Lord(Ps. These men were among the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob did not love Leah, but God consoled her with children before allowing Rachel to become pregnant. See esp., Leah: the dynamic imagination, 211-21. Of course, the bummer is the man he tricked just happened to be Jacobthe same guy who was head over heels for her younger sister. The Rabbis further note that he honored his mother and did not taste of the mandrakes before he brought them to her(Gen. Rabbah72:2). Later, the Maharal reframed the issuenot as sin, but rather as a war. God made Rachel and Leah in the Bible look different on purpose. She was also the sister of Rachel and the wife of Jacob. But, by her fourth son, Judah, Leah seems to have had a change of heart. Leah gives her handmaiden Zilpah to be Jacobs new wife after Leah herself becomes unable to bear children. ", "Table D Source Analysis: Revisions and Alternatives", "Defilement of Virgins in Biblical Law and the Case of Dinah (Genesis 34)", Bible | Jewish Women's Archive|website=jwa.org|access-date=2019-09-05, 40|website=www.pseudepigrapha.com|access-date=2019-09-05, Dinah's Abduction from a Jewish perspective, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Current Ummah of Islam (Ummah of Muhammad), ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dinah&oldid=1162289492, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia without a Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. The Rabbis are lavish in their praise of Leah. For further examples of women of faith, please read the other articles in this section on the Women of Faith..
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