Genesis 29:31-30:24
Q.1. What conflict arose in Jacob’s marriage to the sisters? How did God overrule in the marriage? What did the children’s names signify? – (Gen.29:28-35)
It is recorded that Jacob – … went into Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah … (Gen.29:30). This caused serious rivalry, which left Leah feeling unloved. However, – the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren (Gen.29:31). Leah bore to Jacob his first four sons. The names she gave them showed that they were an answer to her prayers – 32 Leah … named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my affliction … 33 Then she conceived again … “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son … he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again …, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore, she named him Judah (Gen.29:32-35). Leah’s pain of rejection deepened her prayer life and heightened her awareness of God.
Q.2. How did Rachel cope with her childlessness? How did she try to keep Jacob’s attention? How did Leah respond? What was the outcome? – (Gen.30:1-13)
Rachel became jealous of her sister’s fruitfulness and family success. She pressured Jacob to give her children (see Gen.30:1). Jacob responded angrily – … Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? (Gen.30:2). Rachel became desperate and offered her servant, Bilhah – … Here is my maid Bilhah, go into her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children (Gen.30:3). Jacob had much to learn about understanding his wife. Instead of comforting her through her time of barrenness, he scolded her (see Gen.30:2 c.f. 1 Pet.3:7). He failed to put a stop to the conflict between Leah and Rachel for his affection (see Gen.30:15-16). This would be reflected in the ungodly children of Jacob later, and their murderous plots against his beloved son Joseph. When Bilhah bore Dan, Rachel responded – … God has vindicated me and has indeed heard my voice and has given me a son (Gen.30:6). Bilhah also bore Naphtali (see Gen.30:7-8). Leah followed suit and offered to Jacob her maid Zilpah, who gave him two more sons – Gad and Asher (Gen.30:9-13). All the while there was ongoing tension in the marriage.
Q.3. What benefit did Rachel give Leah for some mandrakes? What does it reveal about the marriage? How did Rachel finally conceive? – (Gen.30:14-24)
Mandrakes were reputed to improve fertility. This explains why both Leah and Rachel sought to gain the benefit from Reuben’s find (see Gen.30:14-15). Leah used the mandrakes to buy from Rachel the opportunity to sleep with Jacob (see Gen.30:15-16). As a result, Leah bore two more sons – Issachar and Zebulun … this making six children in all for Leah (see Gen.30:17-20). Though there were possibly other daughters, Dinah was mentioned because of the treachery involving her brothers Simeon and Levi (see Gen.30:21 c.f. Gen.34:25-27). Rachel was finally given her own son, Joseph after the pain of infertility (see Gen30:23-24). This was not through fertility enhancing mandrakes, but because – God remembered Rachel and God gave heed to her and opened her womb (Gen.30:22). The Lord reserved the best until the second to last.