how old was rachel when she married jacob how old was rachel when she married jacob

After Josephs birth, she exclaimed: God has taken away my disgrace (Tanhuma[ed. The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. According to this view, from the outset the birthright belonged to Rachels son, which was the intent of both God and Jacob. 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 mortification with the episode ofDinah(Gen. Rabbati,Vayishlah, p. 168). It was through the merit of her discretion that Rachel became the ancestress of King Saul, who also was discreet (Meg. The restrictions on her date of birth are: 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. Leah agreed, and when Jacob returned from the field, Leah told him directly that she had "hired" him for the evening, at the price of a few mandrakes. Buber],Vayeze20). 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. Laban agreed to the arrangement. So you wouldn't expect two old people, would you? 16). Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob. An additional important trait of Rachels was the art of silence and the ability to keep secrets, a quality that she also passed on to her offspring, who were known for their taciturnity: Benjamin, Saul, andEsther. Rachel and Jacob were cousins. The marriage of Rachel in the Bible was one of the most captivating episodes recorded in the book of Genesis, a story of love triumphing over lies. The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel. But Laban substituted Leah, Rachel's older sister, in her place. Rachels good deeds also positively influenced her children. And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country (Lam. 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. 14; Tan., Wayee, 13). 10). In the morning, Jacob discovered he had been tricked. 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. The Rabbis understand the wording (Gen. Did Isaac and Rebekah have a wedding? There is also an intermediate approach, which argues that Reuben should have received the birthright, but it was permanently taken from him because of his sin. Rachel asks Jacob: Is this how your father [Isaac] acted toward your mother [Rebekah]? Jacob labored 14 years to win Rachel in marriage. Rather, I said: If I am not worthy that the world should be built from me, let it be built from my sister (Gen. Rabbahloc. How old was Rachel when Jacob married her? It was for my sake that he came here and served our father for so many years. Laban agreed. 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. In return, Leah requested that Rachel forgo her right to be with Jacob that night. Gen. 33:2relates: putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last, to which the midrash comments: The more behind, the more beloved(Gen. Rabbah78:8). 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). As related inGen. 32:7, before the meeting with Esau, Jacob was apprehensive that his brother was preparing to fight him, and he therefore divided his family into two camps. 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Rachel. When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. When Leah was brought under the wedding canopy, Rachel thought: Now my sister will be shamed [when Jacob discovers the fraud and does not marry her]. She gave the signs to Leah. The Rabbis understand the wording(Gen. 29:31): but Rachel was barren [akarah] as teaching of Rachels merit: despite her not having children, she nonetheless was the chief person [ikar] of the household. 2227 AM-m. 2245 AM-2266 AM) (ca. InJer. 2, 7). Rachel had to choose between her love for Jacob and her compassion for her sister, and she decided in favor of the latter. After the week had passed, Jacob prepared for his wedding night. Rachel Stevens has shut down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards's claim that she cheated on him. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. According to another tradition, Rachel died before Leah because she spoke before her sister. This was the year in which Jacob fled in secret from Laban. Elijah came and stood before them. 2; Midr. What am I, flesh and blood, dust and ashes, that I was not jealous of my rival wife, and that I did not allow her to be shamed and disgraced, but You, merciful living and eternal King, why were You jealous of idolatry that is of no import, and exiled my children who were slain by the sword, and allowed their enemies to do with them as they pleased? Gods mercy was immediately revealed, and He said: For your sake, Rachel, I shall return Israel to their placefor there is a reward for your labor []. [9][10][11], Last modified on August 11, 2016, at 17:07. The Rabbis did not view this exchange between the sisters favorably. (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. 26-28). As compensation for this negative depiction, Scripture calls Israel after her, after her son, and after her sons son. In other respects the two sisters were alike, both being ancestresses of kings, heroes, prophets, judges, and conquerors (ib. The custom in those days was for a man to wait at least a week after arranging to marry a woman. Themidrashperceives Rachel as an educational figure who delineated the path that her offspring were to follow. These midrashic expositions cast Rachels act in a positive light. The midrash adds that Laban entered Rachels tent twice, because he knew that she was inclined to steal. 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 . Bethlehem is now an Arab-controlled town. "teaching," "study," or "learning." 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. Jacob objecting on the ground that his father had one wife only, while he himself had two, and that though one of them was childless, he had children by the other, she urged him to follow Abraham's example, and to take her handmaid for a wife (Midr. Yet he did not bring his beloved Rachel there, nor did he carry her to the more distant Hebron, but laid her to rest alongside the road. In another midrashic tradition, however, Jacob did not initially favor Rachel over Leah. 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. The Hebrew name of Rachel means ewe or beautiful. 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. 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. Rachelis depicted in theTorah she-bi-khetav: Lit. And this was not allI went under the bed where he lay with my sister: he would speak with her, and I responded every time, while she remained silent, so that he would not recognize her voice. Both bore him children. She possessed the art of silence [when she knew that her sister was given to Jacob deceitfully, but remained silent and did not tell him]; all of her descendants continued in this path, and could keep a secret. According to one opinion, her death was a punishment for Jacob, for having made a vow and then not honoring it. Jacob said to Rachel: who has deniedyoufruit of the wombHe denied you, but me He did not deny [since I have sons from Leah]. A third interpretation takes the wordnaftalifrom pitulim[vicissitudes], and describes what Jacob underwent. All this means that Jacob was married to Rachel for some time between about 15 years and 22 years. Since she suffered many years of barrenness, she was rewarded by the Israelites being called by her name, or by the name of her descendants. Instead of showing understanding, he amplifies her pain by telling her that he already has four sons from Leah. The 63-year-old Dirty Dancing icon appeared in the very first season of the show, playing Mindy. In Ruth 4:11, she is named as one "from whom all the nation of Israel descended." xxxi. ; comp. Jacob Proposes Marriage with Rachel to Laban, Antoine Trouvain, after Nicolas Poussin, 1666-1708. 3; Pire R. El. That was a lie. The Rabbis learned from this that whoever makes a vow and delays fulfilling it will bury his wife (Lev. This filled Rachel with envy, and, having expressed her feelings to Jacob, she bade him take her handmaid Bilhah to wife in order that she might obtain a family through her (xxix. Jacob should have understood her pain, instead of rebuking her for the manner in which she spoke. But had she been obviously pregnant, she would not have been able to lie convincingly. It speaks of a tradition possessed by Jacob that Esau would fall only by the hand of Rachels sons. The Bible says that this took place at sheep-shearing time,[5] which is always in the springtime. His love and our salvation come through grace. 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. The exegetes holding this view find Rachels words(Gen. 30:15) to be somewhat prophetic: I promise, he shall lie with you tonightwith you he will lie [in the grave], but with me he will not lie [in the grave]. 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. Laban substituted Leah, his older daughter, and in the darkness, Jacob thought Leah was Rachel. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. Jacob then married Rachel and worked for Laban another seven years for her. Those sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. 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. 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). Buber],Mikez13). "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." In the tableau inGen. 35:17, Rachel experiences difficulty in childbirth and the midwife tells her: Have no fear, for it is another boy for you. The Rabbis observe that this is how a womans spirit is restored during childbirth, by telling her not to fear, because she is giving birth to a son [which was regarded as an honor which would raise the womans spirits](Gen. Rabbah82:8). He suggests that the Apostles were also numbered twelve, though Judas Iscariot was dead by that time, (John 20:24 ) and cites Saint Augustine to support him. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. In another tradition, God remembered Rachels silence when Leah was given to Jacob instead of her. Rachels barrenness intensified the jealousy between them, but Leah, out of demonstrated compassion for her sister, prayed that she give birth. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. 13b; B. This midrash indicates a certain correction of the injustice done to Rachel. Today, we live in a performance-based society. Zavada, Jack. 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. Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). 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. Jacob retorted in anger that he did not stand in the place of God, Who alone decided questions of that sort. 24), show that she was a prophetess. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193. According to another exegetical approach, it is Rachels son who wins the birthright. Once she has given birth, she places the blame on her child (Tanhuma[ed. Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. Captivated by her, "Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncles flock." Instead of giving Laban the traditional bride-price, Jacob agreed to work for Laban seven years to earn Rachel's hand in marriage. 3). By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Vilna] petihtah 24). 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. According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. Laban's excuse was that it was not their custom to marry off the younger daughter before the older one. Leah was busy with raising her children and therefore could not care for the needs of the household. Then she waived this status when she consented to Leahs marriage to Jacob. Learn Religions. Had I not revealed to thee our signs, he would never have become thy husband" (Midr. As the four different plants with which the Jews were commanded to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. According to Gen. R. (lxxii. According to these first two traditions, Naphtalis name portrays an experience undergone by Rachel. 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. Buber],Vayeze19). cit.). 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. We don't need to perform good works to earn it. Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. 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. When those seven years were completed and the time came for my marriage to my husband, my father advised exchanging me with my sister. 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. 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. Let us know. By her merit, Joseph was given the birthright, and her descendants rose to royalty, leadership, and greatness. Rachel had been given Bilhah as a handmaiden by her father Laban upon her marriage to Jacob. Therefore, Benjamin must have been conceived shortly before the flight from Laban and born nine months later. When Laban came to search her tent, Rachel asked him to excuse her for not rising, because she was menstruating. 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. Jacob insisted on giving the child the name of Benjamin, or "son of my right hand."[1]. Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician. l.c.) In the four years following their marriage, Leah had four sons; Rachel had none. Zilpah, Leah's maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. "Jacob and Rachel at the Well, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot, c. 1896-1902. The proverb teaches that we should not be surprised by this similarity, since Rachel was exceedingly beautiful, so was her son. After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. Jacob's wife, Leah, had four sons in quick succession, and then stopped bearing. Omissions? Gen. xxx. 28:20) his tribe received the jasper [yashfe, with the meaning ofyesh pehthere is a mouth] stone in the High Priests breastpiece. 10:5], and therefore Rachel died during childbirth(Gen. 35:19). She was the younger daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah. https://www.learnreligions.com/rachel-favored-wife-of-jacob-701193 (accessed May 1, 2023). Vilna] petihtah 24). The account of Jacob and Rachel is presented to the reader as a love story, and quite a romantic one at that. Rachel said: I should have been Jacobs bride before my sister. This exegetical direction is supported by the divine aid she received in the miraculous concealment of the idols from Laban. Jacob said to Joseph that he had buried Rachel near Ephrath, where Bethlehem now stands. "order." cit.). Buber],Vayeze6). God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. 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. A miracle was performed for her, the idols were transformed into cups, and therefore Laban did not find them(Gen. Rabbah74:9). Altogether, the four women bore 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. The reason for this was Josephs fear that Esau would see Rachel and desire her. In the episode of the mandrakes, when Leah reproached her sister for having robbed her of her husband (Gen. xxx. (Genesis 29:10, NLT). Agadah to Gen. xxix. 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. midrash relates that Rachel was twenty-two years old when she was married to Jacob ( "order.". Leah suddenly found herself sterile after the birth of Judah, and offered Jacob her own handmaid as well. DAY 34: Jacob Was 84 Years Old When He Married Rachel And Leah By richoka Leave a Comment We've now arrived at the third Biblical patriarch: Jacob. Because of the curse which Jacob uttered to Laban(Gen. 31:32): But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive! (Gen. Rabbahloc. 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. While Rachel was barren for the first fourteen years of her marriage, she is still described as Jacob's preferred wife and a powerful woman. 1-min read. 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. She raised Joseph and Benjamin as if she were their mother(Gen. Rabbah84:11). 13). But Rachel was not content with this. Benjamin, who had just been born, needed a wet nurse; a miracle was performed for Bilhah and her breasts filled with milk, thus enabling her to nurse the newborn(Tanhuma,Vayeshev7; see also the entry: Bilhah). Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion of all he possesses. The midrash compares this mandate with the story of Jacob. xxiii. The Story of Jacob and his Wives Leah and Rachel The role of women in the Old Testament. 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. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. Lit. 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. He was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labour. Genesis 29:18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Rachel said: I prepared myself [nupeti, i.e., I prepared myself for Jacobs bed], I allowed myself to be persuaded [pititito withdraw in favor of my sister and to aid her to be Jacobs wife], I exalted my sister over myself [taliti ahoti alai], and I have prevailed(Gen. Rabbah71:8). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Before she died, she said that the child should be named Ben-oni, or "son of my pain." When Laban overtook Jacob in the hill country of Gilead, he reproached him(Gen. 31:30): but why did you steal my idols?, to which Jacob replied (v. 32): But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive! Themidrashexplains that this statement by Jacob was as an error committed by a ruler [which is nevertheless implementedfollowingEccl. 13). The impregnation of Sarah and Rachel, the Matriarchs of the nation, heralds that God will also deliver their descendants from the troubles they would suffer in the future. 15). Rachel was one of the four Jewish matriarchs, all of whom were prophetesses (Ber. Who was Rachel in the Bible? The Bible does not say when Rachel was born, nor how old she was when she married Jacob, nor how long she lived. Jacob was on his way back to his native country when Rachel died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Theodor-Albeck, MS. Vatican, p. 1243]). ; Midr. According to the Rabbis, Laban would not have succeeded in deceiving Jacob without Rachels involvement. Gen. 33:67describes the meeting with Esau: Then the maids, with their children, came forward and bowed low; next Leah, with her children, came forward and bowed low; and lastly, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed low. The Rabbis noted that the other wives came first and their children after them, while Joseph stepped forward before his mother Rachel. In another tradition, Rachel stole these idols so that they would not reveal to Laban that Jacob had fled with his wives, his children and his flocks (Tanhuma,Vayeze12). Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. When not specified, "Talmud" refers to the Babylonian Talmud.Talmud asserts that the Matriarch Rachel was one of the first women prophets. 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. The S Club 7 singer was engaged to former Holby . Recall Jacob had to flee from his family's house because of his treachery toward his brother Esau. The affair of the mandrakes is generally represented by the Rabbis as unfavorable to Rachel; and it was due to her mode of obtaining them (comp. In another tradition, Rachel envied Leahs good deeds. Thus, we see that the rivalry between the two sisters did not come to an end but even pertains to the identity of the herald of the future Redemption. According to another tradition, Rachel and Leah were twins, and they were married to Jacob at the age of twenty-two (Lit. Rachel was one of Jacob's wives through . Rachel's words at the birth of Joseph, "The Lord shall add to me another son" (Gen. xxx. Rachel and her sister Leah are mentioned as the two women who founded the house of Israel, Rachel, though younger, being mentioned first (Ruth iv. [2] Thus Leah would be the older sister only in the sense of having been born first. 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. When Rachel saw that she did not bear children, she followed in the footsteps of Sarah: just as she [Sarah] had been built (i.e., had children) through her rival wife [Hagar], so too, this one [Rachel] would be built by her rival wife [Bilhah] (Gen. Rabbahloc.