Leah

Leah, the Unloved Wife

Genesis 29:21-35; 30:1-13

by patsy norwood (c) 2005-2017 All Rights Reserved

Mini Lesson # 9

Thus far Leah has born Jacob 4 sons, Rachel on the other hand has been unable to conceive.  In her attempt to get children by Jacob, Rachel comes up with a plan.  

Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”   And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”  So she said, “here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”  Genesis 30:1-3

What is Rachel’s plan?

Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah, conceives twice and gives Jacob two more sons.  Since Bilhah was Rachel’s handmaid and since Rachel had arranged for her to bear Jacob’s children in her stead, Rachel was considered their mother.  What did she name each of these boys and why?

Leah, seeing that she has stopped bearing decides that two can play that game and decides that she too, will have more children by Jacob via her handmaid, Zilpah.  Zilpah bears two more sons by Jacob for Leah, what does she name them and why?

Jacob now has eight sons.  Who is the birth mother of who?

patsy

She Hath Done What She could