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. 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). Rachel: Wife of Jacob, Sister of Leah - Guideposts The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. Jacob told Reuben: The birthright, the priesthood, and kingship were yours. In 1860, Sir Moses Montefiore enlarged this structure. "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." Who was Rachel in the Bible? By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. Had I not revealed to thee our signs, he would never have become thy husband" (Midr. When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. (NIV). 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). InJer. Buber],Mikez13). In the fourth interpretive possibility, the name given by Rachel portrays the childs character, thus predicting the future. When Naphtali was born, Rachel felt that her competition with her sister had reached a point of equilibrium. 123a; Midr. Rachel Stevens shuts down ex-fianc Jeremy Edwards' claim she cheated A miracle was performed for her, the idols were transformed into cups, and therefore Laban did not find them(Gen. Rabbah74:9). While Rachel was barren for the first fourteen years of her marriage, she is still described as Jacobs preferred wife and a powerful woman. DAY 34: Jacob Was 84 Years Old When He Married Rachel And Leah Laban would take these gifts and give them to Leah, and Rachel would remain silent (Tanhuma[ed. When Jacob spoke with Leah, Rachel would answer him, so that he would not identify Leahs voice (Lam. At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. 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. How old was Jacob when he married Rachel? - Answers So you wouldn't expect two old people, would you? 2). All the furrows that I plowed in your mother [i.e., acts of intercourse] should I not have done with Rachel? 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. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. 11). 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. xxi., where the number 37 must be corrected to 36). 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. The reason for this was Josephs fear that Esau would see Rachel and desire her. 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). And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country(Gen. Rabbah82:10). Elijah came and stood before them. Jacob allowed Laban to search for the idols. Rachel | Bible, Jacob, Leah, & Facts | Britannica Another tradition has Leah herself being responsible for the change. She was responsible for taking the sheep to the well for water every day. The 63-year-old Dirty Dancing icon appeared in the very first season of the show, playing Mindy. cit.). She was the second daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother, making Jacob her first cousin. Thus Rachel knew that Jacob loved her more than he did Leah.[1][2][3][4]. ; Midr. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The contention between the two women did not cease even after Rachels death, and arose again as regards the seniority of Jacobs sons: who would be considered the firstbornthe son of Leah, or of Rachel; and similarly, regarding the origin of Elijah, the harbinger of the Redemption. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. 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. Therefore, Jacob was 71 years old at the time he met Rachel. Have an update or correction? He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". 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. This exposition aims to applaud Jacobs strength, which increased due to his love for 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. 14). Rachel's death was so deeply felt by Jacob that he considered it the greatest of all his sorrows (Ruth R. i. 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. Laban agreed to the arrangement. Higger], chap. 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. 3, 6). 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). [1] In 1620, the Ottoman Turks surrounded the supposed grave with a cube surmounted by a dome. In another exegetical tradition, Jacob placed Rachel and Joseph last because he wanted to protect them. cit.). Rather, he told the latter(Gen. 49:3): Reuben, you are my first-born; notwithstanding this, Jacob also spoke disparagingly of him (v. 4): Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer. Many years later, Moses would bless Reuben and release him from this disgrace(Deut. The birthright should have come forth from Rachel, but Leah preceded her in [receiving divine] mercy; because of the formers modesty, God restored the birthright to Rachel(BTBava Batra123a). 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). 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the . Jacobs response is described in v. 2: Jacob was incensed at Rachel, and said, Can I take the place of God, who has denied you fruit of the womb? The midrashic exegesis further intensifies Jacobs strong statement. 26-28). Agadah to Gen. xxix. [2] Jacob had traveled a great distance to find Laban. Today, we live in a performance-based society. cit.). Before she died, she said that the child should be named Ben-oni, or "son of my pain." Gen. 30:22reveals: Now God remembered Rachel; God heeded her and opened her womb. In the midrashic expansion, Rachel was remembered (i.e., became pregnant) on The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. 14-16, 19, 34-35). 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. Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). Agadat Bereshit l.c. 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! Consort with her [] that through her I too may have children (Gen. Rabbahloc. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). xxxvi. Rachel said: If Leah were not righteous, would she have given birth?(Gen. Rabbah71:6). 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). Isaac, the father of Jacob, wanted his son to marry from among their own people, so he sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to find a wife among the daughters of Laban, Jacob's uncle. [1] At that time God was revealed to Jacob and He told him: Rachels children are with you, and you are afraid? The Jewish New Year, held on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin. Laban substituted Leah, his older daughter, and in the darkness, Jacob thought Leah was Rachel. 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. 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. When Rachel heard this, she ran to tell her father. According to another tradition, Rachel and Leah were twins, and they were married to Jacob at the age of twenty-two (Lit. These midrashic expositions cast Rachels act in a positive light. She was the younger daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah. Those were the last children she would have. Jacob agreed to this. 21:1517prescribes that If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both [] have borne him sons [] he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older. Rachel had been given Bilhah as a handmaiden by her father Laban upon her marriage to Jacob. Vilna] petihtah 24). The Rabbis learned from this that seven days of feasting are to be conducted for a bride and groom (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer[ed. R., Petita, 25). xxxi. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. How old were Rachel and Leah when they married Jacob? How old - Quora RACHEL, JACOB in the BIBLE. Famous love story with passion, tragedy. Rabbah3:2). Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children. 2; Midr. In return, Leah requested that Rachel forgo her right to be with Jacob that night. The Rabbis present Labans act of deceit as something in which Rachel was involved, from which they learn of her special qualities. In thismidrash, Rachel has the insight that the birth of children is a reward from God. Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. cit.). 8:6: Passion [kinah, literally, jealousy] is mighty as Sheolthis was Rachels jealousy of her sister (Tanhuma[ed. 40) are considered by the Rabbis to symbolize the four matriarchs, Rachel, who died the youngest, they consider symbolized by the willows of the brook, which fade sooner than any other plant (Lev. lxx. Although Rachel died young, the Rabbis indicate her positive influence on her descendants, even long after her passing. A compilation of the commentary and discussions of the amora'im on the Mishnah. 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. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Consequently, Rachel found herself in an inferior position, since Leah bore children to Jacob, while she herself had not. 14; Tan., Wayee, 13). So did your mother shame our father when she stole the household idols from Laban! By merit of the blows that he received on his shoulders, theShekhinah(Divine Presence) would rest between Benjamins shoulders, as it is said in the blessing by Moses(Deut. 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. (This mistaken belief was similar to the belief that both sisters had in the power of the common mandrake to confer fertility.) 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. According to another tradition, Rachel died before Leah because she spoke before her sister. According to this conception, Rachels son should from the outset have been the firstborn, but because God had compassion on the unloved Leah, He gave her the fruit of the womb and she bore Jacobs firstborn son. Jacob said to Rachel: who has deniedyoufruit of the wombHe denied you, but me He did not deny [since I have sons from Leah]. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. She therefore insisted that Jacob pray to God for children, arguing that his father, Isaac, had done so(comp. cit.). 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. She told Jacob that if he didn't "give" her children, she would die. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. How old? So, Jacob married and started having children 7 years into his 20 years of service to Laban. Agadah to Gen. xxx. "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." Both bore him children. The Rabbis speak of the passionate love for Rachel exhibited by Jacob, who already understood from their first encounter that she was his intended bride. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Some argued that he was from the tribe of Gad, while others maintained that he was a Benjaminite. How Old Was Jacob When He Married? - Bible Study 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. Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob. 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. 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. Mandelbaum],Roni Akarah20:1). When those seven years were completed and the time came for my marriage to my husband, my father advised exchanging me with my sister. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. 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). What age Rachel when she married Jacob Bible? - Answers 6:23)(Gen. Rabbah82:7). Jacob retorted in anger that he did not stand in the place of God, Who alone decided questions of that sort. 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. The most extreme description of Rachels act of self-sacrifice appears inLam. 14; Midr. God took pity on Leah and allowed her to bear children, while Rachel was barren. In an additional commentary, another son referred to the apportioning ofThe Land of IsraelErez Israel, since Benjamin did not have a portion with Joseph, but with the tribe of Judah(Gen. Rabbah73:56). I acted kindly with her, I was not jealous of her, and I did not cause her to be shamed and disgraced. God remembered Rachel on Rosh ha-Shanah (Ber. Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive Rachel said: Naftalihe is mynofet[honeycomb].Nofetare the words ofTorah, that are called(Ps. 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. Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. TheTorahstates that Rachel named Bilhahs sons. She did not want to adhere to the paganism of her fathers house, but rather sought to prevent Laban from engaging in idolatry. At his meeting with Esau, Jacob showed his particular affection for Rachel by placing her last, with her son Joseph (xxxiii. 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Rachel. Did I not go to Laban only for Rachel? 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. So after the ceremonial week of the wedding to Leah was over, Rachel married Jacob, becoming his second but most-loved wife. This midrash indicates a certain correction of the injustice done to Rachel. Besides, Rachel was afraid that her father, seeing that she had no children by Jacob, might marry her to Esau (Midr. 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. Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. 31:15Israel is called after Rachel: Rachel weeping for her children; inAmos 5:15Israel is named after her son: Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph; and inJer. 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. Laban agreed. Gen. 29tells of the first meeting between Jacob and Rachel at the well. 15). The Rabbis were concerned with the nature of this kiss, which they regarded as an improper act. 4; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Wayee," p. 47a). 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. 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). In another tradition, God remembered Rachels silence when Leah was given to Jacob instead of her. She died after bearing her second son, in 2266 AM. Rachel in the Bible: Characteristics and lessons learned Due to Rachels good deeds or to Reubens sin, the initial order was restored. Buber],Vayeze13). Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, over the next two years.[1][2][3]. 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. 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. He asked for Rachels hand because he thought that Leah was intended for Esau (Tanhuma[ed. 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. Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. Rachel said: I should have been Jacobs bride before my sister. Themidrashlists three reasons for Jacobs crying on this occasion. Thismidrashincorporates several aggadic traditions according to which Leah gave birth to Issachar and Zebulun by merit of the mandrakes that she gave her sister. After that I consoled myself, I suffered [to overcome] my desire and had compassion for my sister that she not suffer disgrace, and I gave her all the signs that I had given to my husband, so that he would think that she was Rachel. When his time came to take leave of the world, he summoned his sons, but he did not choose Joseph instead of Reuben. 8:6: For love is fierce as death (Tanhuma[ed. Rabbah[ed. The midrash views this confrontation between Jacob and Esau as symbolizing the future rivalries between the descendants of the two. Kadari, Tamar. 31:20Israel is called after her sons son: Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me(Ruth Rabbah7:11:13). She had started from a position of superiority over her sister, since she was the desired wife. Rabbah37:1). Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. They assert that Jacobs kiss was not a wanton one, but one that expressed familial feeling, since Rachel was related to him (Gen. Rabbahloc. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah as Jacobs beautiful and beloved wife. 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. Leah was busy with raising her children and therefore could not care for the needs of the household. Themidrashperceives Rachel as an educational figure who delineated the path that her offspring were to follow. Jacob was quite old compared to other generations when he finally married. 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. 22-24). Rachel's envy at her sister's fertility (comp. cit.). Captivated by her, "Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncles flock." The proverb teaches that we should not be surprised by this similarity, since Rachel was exceedingly beautiful, so was her son. When Jacob first met Laban (his mother's brother), he immediately fell in love with his younger daughter Rachel. Rachel: The Epitome of Motherhood - Bereishit (Genesis) - Parshah - Chabad Why, then, did she die? Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. 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. These two exegetical positions derive the word akarah from ikar. The first view maintains that even though Leah had children, Rachel continued to be the beloved and preferred wife, which was expressed in the running of the household. 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). 2, 7). 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. According to this view, from the outset the birthright belonged to Rachels son, which was the intent of both God and Jacob. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Rachel married Andrew Jackson (twice) and at age 61, prior to her husband's inauguration Rachel Jackson died of a heart attack at age 61. genesis - How old was Jacob when he first saw Rachel? - Biblical 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). 16-20). 19:11) drippings of the comb [nofet zufim], which are in the portion of Naphtali, who will engage in Torah study (Gen. Rabbahloc. She stole the household idols (teraphim) that belonged to Laban, in the belief that those idols would confer some protective power. 24), show that she was a prophetess. xxxi. 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). 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! God thereupon promised her the restoration of Israel (Lam. Buber],Vayeze19). 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. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the, Lit. Zavada, Jack. Rachel and Leah persuaded their husband to flee from Laban's house, and at the moment of Jacob's flight Rachel stole her father's teraphim. This exegetical direction is supported by the divine aid she received in the miraculous concealment of the idols from Laban. Rachels son Benjamin knew about the sale of Joseph but did not reveal it to his father; therefore(Ex. Corrections? 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. Rachel, who was not so occupied, therefore became the mainstay of the household. 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. The Rabbis are lavish in their praise of Rachel, whom they describe as merciful, and who waived her personal benefit and desires on behalf of her sister. Gen. xxv. Rachel had to choose between her love for Jacob and her compassion for her sister, and she decided in favor of the latter. Jacobs other wife is Rachels sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children.