Leah and Rachel Fight Over Jacob’s Love with Children

Leah and Rachel Fight Over Jacob’s Love with Children: Rachel was very jealous of Leah because she was able to have children. One day she said to Jacob, “I’ll die if you don’t give me some children!” Jacob became upset with Rachel and answered, “Don’t blame me! I’m not GOD.”

Sounds like a typical young couple arguing. Then a desperate suggestion surfaced: “Here, take my servant Bilhah,” Rachel told him. “Have children by her, and I’ll let them be born on my knees to show that they are mine.”

Here’s the Actual Transcript – Genesis 30:1-13 KJV

[1] And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. [2] And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

[3] And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. [4] And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. [5] And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

[6] And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. [7] And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

Naphtali, Gad, and Asher

[8] And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. [9] When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. [10] And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

[11] And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. [12] And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son. [13] And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Brief Comments

Jacob and Leah were four children in and Rachel, his love, gave him none. Rachel was really frustrated and commanded Jacob to give her children or she’d kill herself. Jacob snapped back, he reminded her he was not the ALMIGHTY; this gave Rachel the idea to do as her grandmother-in-law, Sarah, had done with Abraham.

She gave her bondmaid to Jacob, Bilhah and Bilhah was able to conceive. Although she had the child for Jacob as a bondmaid, the child technically still belongs to Rachel (You boys and girls abreast of how slavery works understand what we mean). Biologically, the child was between Israel and Bilhah, and Rachel named the child, Dan.

They made the same arrangement a second time and this son they named Naphtali. Jacob now had six children; four with Leah, two with Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid). When Leah saw the success of a handmaid/bondmaid bearing children, she took her handmaid, Zilpah, and Jacob had another son named Gad.

Eight Sons and Three Baby Mamas (called Concubines back then)

(Excuse our humor and modern day referencing)

Now technically/legally, the child’s parents are Jacob and Leah, but biologically, the child belongs to Jacob and Zilpah. They also repeated the process and had a second son named Asher. Israel now had eight sons with three different women; none of which he originally desired when he arrived in Pandanaram in Laban’s compound. How’s that for life!

More 5 Minute Studies

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The disciples asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

BibleStudyMinistry.com with KingdomOfPriests.com are working together with others to usher in the Kingdom of the ALMIGHTY! Join us!