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Scripture

Rachel & Leah

Genesis 30:1-13

30:1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 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?” Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf,1 that even I may have children2 through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.3 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings4 I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.5

When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad.6 12 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.7

Footnotes

[1] 30:3 Hebrew on my knees

[2] 30:3 Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children

[3] 30:6 Dan sounds like the Hebrew for judged

[4] 30:8 Hebrew With wrestlings of God

[5] 30:8 Naphtali sounds like the Hebrew for wrestling

[6] 30:11 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for good fortune

[7] 30:13 Asher sounds like the Hebrew for happy

(ESV)