GENESIS 30: The Other Sons of Jacob

Rachel and Leah lived in constant conflict and in a continuous struggle to earn Jacob’s affection. This turned into a competition to see who could give Jacob more children.

Since Rachel could not have children of her own (because God had temporarily closed her womb), she asked Jacob to give her children through her maidservant, just like Sarah had done before with Hagar.

(Genesis 30:1-3)  When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"  (2)  Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"  (3)  Then she said, "Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her." 

5.  DAN (from the verb Diyn: to judge, contend, govern – literally “judge”).

(Genesis 30:4-6)  So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.  (5)  And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.  (6)  Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan. 

6. NAPHTALI (from the verb Pathal: to twist, to struggle; and the word Naphtul: wrestling – literally “mi fight”). 

(Genesis 30:7-8)  Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.  (8)  Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali. 

But Leah did not want to be left behind, and also gave her maidservant to Jacob to have more children through her.

(Genesis 30:9)  When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 

This is how the following sons were born:

7.  GAD (from the verb Gadad: to crowd upon, to invade, to gather troops – literally “troop”).

(Genesis 30:10-11)  Then Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.  (11) And Leah said, "Good fortune has come!" so she called his name Gad. 

8.  ASHER (from the Hebrew Asher: happy, blessed – literally “happy”).

(Genesis 30:12-13)  Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.  (13)  And Leah said, "Happy am I! For women have called me happy." So she called his name Asher.

MANDRAKES

Mandrake

Rachel was desperate because she was barren. The problem was that she was seeking for a solution in the wrong place. She did not think about asking God, as Rebecca had done. First she asked Jacob, who clearly told her that he could not play the part of God. Then she looked for help through a plant that some believed promoted fertility.

(Genesis 30:14-16)  In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."  (15)  But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" Rachel said, "Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes."  (16)  When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night. 

What is ironic is that Leah was the one who became pregnant and not Rachel (even though she was the one who used the mandrakes).

After this, Leah had two more sons and a daughter:

9.  ISSACHAR (Hebrew Yissakar, from the word Sakar: payment, reward – literally “he will bring a reward”

(Genesis 30:17-18)  And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.  (18)  Leah said, "God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband." So she called his name Issachar. 

10.  ZEBULUN (from the verb Zabad: to confer; and the word Zebed: dowry – literally “habitation”).

(Genesis 30:19-20)  And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son.  (20)  Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons." So she called his name Zebulun. 

A DAUGHTER: DINAH – literally “Justice”.

(Genesis 30:21)  Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. 

Some believe that Jacob only had one daughter. Others believe that she is the only one to be mentioned. As a general rule the Bible does not mention the birth of the daughters, unless they are part of the story being told, as is the case with Dinah.

TEMPORARY INFERTILITY

Just like the matriarchs who came before her, Rachel seemed to be barren. However, she was not. It was simply that God was purposely holding the birth of her son… this son would have a special purpose in God’s plans.

(Genesis 30:22-24)  Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.  (23)  She conceived and bore a son and said, "God has taken away my reproach."  (24)  And she called his name Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add to me another son!"

11.  JOSEPH (Hebew Yoseph, fom the verb Asaph: to gather, to receive, to take away – literally “God added”).

Finally Rachel recognized that God was the one who could open her womb – not her husband or a plant.

Later we will see that Rachel will bear another son:

12. BENJAMIN (Hebrew Ben Yamim: “son of my right hand”).

The conflict between Leah and Rachel did not remain exclusively among them. We will later see how their problems and jealousy will permeate to the next generation…