how old was rachel when she married jacob

Bride-Price: The Story of Jacob's Marriage to Rachel and Leah 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. Those were the last children she would have. Jacob was 77 years old, and he loved Rachel immediately. 6) interpreted by the Rabbis as indicating one of the characteristics of women. "Staging Rachel: Rabbinic Midrash, Theatrical Mime, and Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity." Rachel in the Bible - Jacob's Wife and Mother of Joseph - Learn Religions Jacob Proposes Marriage with Rachel to Laban, Antoine Trouvain, after Nicolas Poussin, 1666-1708. 1777 BC-1759 BC-1738 BC) was the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. 16). This exegesis hints that in the rivalry between Israel and Esau [= Rome] Rachels children would emerge victorious. Rachel and Leah in the Bible - Biblical Archaeology Society The S Club 7 singer was engaged to former Holby . 21). By ancient custom, Bilhah's children would be credited to Rachel. [1] Jacob decided to leave quietly at night. Rachel and Jacob were cousins. 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. l.c.) Continuing this exegetical orientation, in another midrashic depiction Jacob tells Reuben, while blessing his sons before his death: The birthright was not yours. Rachel had taken the idols and placed them in the cushion on her camels back. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Some midrashim view the name given by Rachel to her son Joseph as a prophecy for what would befall his descendants. This midrash criticizes Jacob for responding so harshly and inconsiderately to Rachel, who is presented as a bitter woman. Harvard Theological Review113, no. 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). The Rabbis present Labans act of deceit as something in which Rachel was involved, from which they learn of her special qualities. 31 December 1999. 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. Zavada, Jack. So we would only be guessing if we came up with an age for Leah and Rachel. 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). According to one of these interpretations, the disgrace to which Rachel refers is the affair of theConcubine of a Levite(Jud. 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. When Jacob met Rachel near the well, and proposed to marry her, she informed him that she had an elder sister, and that as her father was of a deceitful nature, he (Jacob) would be imposed upon. In any case, Rachel cannot have conceived Benjamin earlier than the springtime. cit.) Some criticized Leah, for by her actions she exhibited ingratitude to Rachel. Rachel: The Epitome of Motherhood - Bereishit (Genesis) - Parshah - Chabad We don't need to perform good works to earn it. In the fourth interpretive possibility, the name given by Rachel portrays the childs character, thus predicting the future. 13b; B. 2). When Abraham was about 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah had a son who they named Isaac. After working for Laban another seven years, Jacob marries Rachel Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. The first was his anguish at his poverty. If she breaks a vessel within the house, whom shall she blame for this? Before she died, she said that the child should be named Ben-oni, or "son of my pain." He was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labour. Bilhah: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive This exposition emphasizes that Jacob acted in accordance with the commandment of the Torah and did not prefer the son of the loved wife to the son of the unloved one. 11). How old was Jacob when he married? - The Bible Made Plain When Joseph was born, Rachel stated(Gen. 30:24): May the Lord add [yosef] another son for me. TheLit. Deut. Did I not go to Laban only for Rachel? 10). Another tradition suggests that when Rachel saw that she did not bear children, she feared lest Esau take her from Jacob and marry her [because of the prior agreement between the parents of Jacob and Esau that each would marry one of the sisters, while Jacob had married both]. A compilation of the commentary and discussions of the amora'im on the Mishnah. Now that you have sinned, the birthright has been given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and kingship to Judah (Gen. Rabbahloc. 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. Jacob told Reuben: The birthright, the priesthood, and kingship were yours. Rachel immediately told her father Laban about the helpful stranger at the well. What age were Leah and Rachel when they got married 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. This is whyGen. 29:25relates: When morning came, there was Leah!because Rachel had given her the signs, Jacob did not know until the morning that they had switched(BTBava Batra123a). cit.). Accordingly, after the birth of Joseph, Esaus foil, Jacob resolved that the time had come to return to his homeland(Gen. Rabbah73:7). Rachel: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive In the episode of the mandrakes, when Leah reproached her sister for having robbed her of her husband (Gen. xxx. Rabbah37:1). Now the birthright has returned to its owner(Gen. Rabbah98:4, [ed. Gen. xxv. Rachel is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29 when Jacob happens upon her as she is about to water her father's flock. Hadjittofi, Fotini, and Hagith Sivan. Ussher[8] disputes the notion that Benjamin may be counted among the sons born or engendered in Padan-aram. (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. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. "the written Torah." Gen. 30:25relates that after Josephs birth Jacob asked Laban for permission to return to his land. lxx. 60a, and Targ. Had I not revealed to thee our signs, he would never have become thy husband" (Midr. She died after bearing her second son, in 2266 AM. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. The midrash explains that the education that Joseph received from his mother continued to guide him even after her death. Gen. 29:17attests: Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Themidrashadds that there was no maiden fairer than Rachel (Tanhuma,Vayeze6). 1-min read. Rachel and Joseph were most beloved by Jacob, and therefore they stood last. Have an update or correction? In the narrative inGen. 31:19, when Jacob fled from Labans house, Rachel stole her fathers household idols. So Rachel offered her handmaid, Bilhah, as her surrogate. How long were Jacob and Rachel married? - Christianity Stack Exchange ; Midr. TheTorahrelates that it was Joseph who ordered that the goblet be hidden in Benjamins sack. 15). How old was Rachel when she died. But had she been obviously pregnant, she would not have been able to lie convincingly. Jacob was quite old compared to other generations when he finally married. Her name means "ewe" in Hebrew. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Vilna] petihtah 24). Rabbah3:2). Rachel first met Jacob in 2245 AM (1759 BC), at the community well in Haran. He said to them: My masters, why do you disagree about me? Jacob replied that he was her father's equal in trickery; and he agreed with Rachel upon certain signs which would enable him to recognize her. Since he did not have the money to pay the bride price (the mohar ) for her, he agreed to work seven years for him and then marry Rachel. Isaac married Rabecah and they had two sons - Esau and Jacob.. 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). 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. Rachel then offered to allow Leah to lie with Jacob that evening. Yet a third tradition explains that Rachel merited pregnancy because she brought her rival wife [Bilhah] into her house. By merit of the birth of Dan [the son of Bilhah], Rachel became pregnant; and by merit of the birth of Dan, Joseph and Benjamin were born(Gen. Rabbah73:4). Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Jacob was on his way back to his native country when Rachel died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. 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. Joshua son of Nun was an Ephraimite, one of Rachels descendants. 10:12): Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! was by merit of Rachels kindness (Tanhuma[ed. Agadah to Gen. xxix. How old was Rachel when she married Jacob? - Answers 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. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Jacob gave Reuben the birthright, but it was postponed because of the sin of the latter, who was vindicated and regained his birthright in the time of Moses. She was the second daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother, making Jacob her first cousin. midrash relates that Rachel was twenty-two years old when she was married to Jacob ( "order.". 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. The competition between Rachel and Leah did not cease upon Rachels death, and is reflected in the question of the birthright: which of the firstborn of Jacobs wives would receive the birthright, Reuben or Joseph? 1) is only once (Gen. R. xlv. The "Sefer ha-Yashar" (section "Wayishla," p. 56b), however, gives her age at the time of her death as forty-five. "Meet Rachel - Favored Wife of Jacob." So after the ceremonial week of the wedding to Leah was over, Rachel married Jacob, becoming his second but most-loved wife. Jacob now explained his actions. 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. When those seven years were completed and the time came for my marriage to my husband, my father advised exchanging me with my sister. At such an age, a girl might be given adult responsibility in a family that did not (yet) have sons. 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. 123a; Midr. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. 11). 3; Pire R. El. Themidrash, however, presents two principal approaches to this question. "order." The uncertainty arises from the unknown time between Jacob leaving Paddan-aram and arriving in Ephrath which was presumably at least 2 years (with Bethel in between) and when Joseph was 17 years old. 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. Rachel married Jacob after he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. But the Bible makes no specific statement to this effect. Another midrash adds that by merit of Rachels silence, two tribesEphraim and Manassehissued forth from her, in addition to the other ten tribes(Gen. Rabbah71:5;Tanhuma,Vayeze6). At the same time, they also illustrate the intricate and complex relationship betweenLeahand Rachel, the two sisters and the two wives of Jacob whose fate was intertwined. Rachel was one of Jacob's wives through . Yet another tradition asserts that this was not stated to Rachels credit, and confirms the fact of her barrenness. 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. Jeremiah represents Rachel, weeping for her children being driven into captivity, as the personification of tenderness (Jer. As compensation for this negative depiction, Scripture calls Israel after her, after her son, and after her sons son. Some argued that he was from the tribe of Gad, while others maintained that he was a Benjaminite. Rachel was one of the four Jewish matriarchs, all of whom were prophetesses (Ber. Saul, the son of Rachels son, remained silent(I Sam. 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. 4:19), andMichal (daughter of Saul)(II Sam. 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. But as she approached, a stranger (Jacob) rolled the stone away for her and watered the sheep. 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. I am from the descendants of Rachel(Gen. Rabbah71:9). Themidrashrelates that there was no maiden comelier than Rachel, which was why Jacob desired to wed her, and sent her presents. Agadat Bereshit l.c. 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. Tadshe, in Epstein, "Mi-admoniyyot ha-Yehudim," Supplement, p. After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the shofar).Rosh Ha-Shanah, like Sarah andHannah. Genesis chapters 29-30 and 35 detail the births of Jacob's many children. He buried her on the road to Ephrath because he foresaw that the Israelites, when driven into captivity along that road, would need her intercession with God in their behalf (Midr. Joseph thereby is awarded a double portion, which is the right of the firstborn. Rachel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament beyond her story in Genesis. By her merit, Joseph was given the birthright, and her descendants rose to royalty, leadership, and greatness. How old were Rachel and Leah when they married Jacob? How old - Quora Leah knew that twelve tribes would issue from Jacob. Before her death, Rachel names the newborn. 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. Agadat Bereshit li. Jacob marries Rachel the daughter of Laban | Bibleview Jacob insisted on giving the child the name of Benjamin, or "son of my right hand."[1]. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Consort with her [] that through her I too may have children (Gen. Rabbahloc. Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. She raised Joseph and Benjamin as if she were their mother(Gen. Rabbah84:11). Gen. 35:18attests: But as she breathed her lastfor she was dyingshe named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. The Rabbis explain that Rachel called the child the son of my suffering [in Aramaic], while his father gave him the Hebrew name Benjamin. The midrashic sources specify that Rachel died at the age of thirty-six (SederOlam Rabbah2) and list three women who had difficult childbirths and died: Rachel, the wife of Phinehas(I Sam. Laban immediately said that if Jacob would serve him for an additional seven years, he could marry Rachel as well. 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! Rabbah, according to which Rachel entered under Jacob and Leahs bed on their wedding night. 1; Tan., Wayee, 19; Gen. R. lxxi. Kadari, Tamar. At that time God was revealed to Jacob and He told him: Rachels children are with you, and you are afraid? cit.). TheTorahstates that Rachel named Bilhahs sons. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the . Jealous of her sister, Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. 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. In return, Leah requested that Rachel forgo her right to be with Jacob that night. And, indeed, she bore Jacob only a single additional son, Benjamin(JTBerakhot9:3, 14[ab]). 16), are explained by the Rabbis as referring to the divine gifts bestowed upon their descendants; for while royalty and the priesthood remained permanently with Leah's descendants, they were held only temporarily by Rachel'sroyalty with Joseph and Saul, and the priesthood with the tabernacle of Shiloh (Gen. R. lxx. 9). 10). 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. I buried her there, alongside the road to Ephrath, near Bethlehem." 2 Jacob was a short distance, about two-thirds of a mile, from Ephrath. This exposition aims to applaud Jacobs strength, which increased due to his love for Rachel. Buber],Vayeze19). The Bible does not say when Rachel was born, nor how old she was when she married Jacob, nor how long she lived. 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). Friedmann (Ish-Shalom)], chap. 1; Gen. R. lxxi. xxi., where the number 37 must be corrected to 36). Though she and Jacob were deeply in love, she did not conceive for many years. However, the Rabbis debate the reason behind God granting her the ability to bear children. 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. She was the younger daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. 60a), and who are often referred to in the liturgy, Rachel being mentioned before Leah. You are your mothers son! He therefore went before her, stood up to his full height and hid her from Esau.

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