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Texts -- Genesis 29:31--30:24 (NET)

Context
The Family of Jacob
29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved , he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless . 29:32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son . She named him Reuben , for she said , “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition . Surely my husband will love me now .” 29:33 She became pregnant again and had another son . She said , “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved , he gave me this one too .” So she named him Simeon . 29:34 She became pregnant again and had another son . She said , “Now this time my husband will show me affection , because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi . 29:35 She became pregnant again and had another son . She said , “This time I will praise the Lord .” That is why she named him Judah . Then she stopped having children . 30:1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children , she became jealous of her sister . She said to Jacob , “Give me children or I’ll die !” 30:2 Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed , “Am I in the place of God , who has kept you from having children ?” 30:3 She replied , “Here is my servant Bilhah ! Have sexual relations with her so that she can bear children for me and I can have a family through her.” 30:4 So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife , and Jacob had marital relations with her. 30:5 Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son . 30:6 Then Rachel said , “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son .” That is why she named him Dan . 30:7 Bilhah , Rachel’s servant , became pregnant again and gave Jacob another son . 30:8 Then Rachel said , “I have fought a desperate struggle with my sister , but I have won .” So she named him Naphtali . 30:9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children , she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife . 30:10 Soon Leah’s servant Zilpah gave Jacob a son . 30:11 Leah said , “How fortunate !” So she named him Gad . 30:12 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah gave Jacob another son . 30:13 Leah said , “How happy I am, for women will call me happy!” So she named him Asher . 30:14 At the time of the wheat harvest Reuben went out and found some mandrake plants in a field and brought them to his mother Leah . Rachel said to Leah , “Give me some of your son’s mandrakes .” 30:15 But Leah replied , “Wasn’t it enough that you’ve taken away my husband ? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes too?” “All right,” Rachel said , “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes .” 30:16 When Jacob came in from the fields that evening , Leah went out to meet him and said , “You must sleep with me because I have paid for your services with my son’s mandrakes .” So he had marital relations with her that night . 30:17 God paid attention to Leah ; she became pregnant and gave Jacob a son for the fifth time. 30:18 Then Leah said , “God has granted me a reward because I gave my servant to my husband as a wife.” So she named him Issachar . 30:19 Leah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a son for the sixth time. 30:20 Then Leah said , “God has given me a good gift . Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons .” So she named him Zebulun . 30:21 After that she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah . 30:22 Then God took note of Rachel . He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant . 30:23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son . Then she said , “God has taken away my shame .” 30:24 She named him Joseph , saying , “May the Lord give me yet another son .”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Jacob

    [nave] JACOB Son of Isaac, and twin brother of Esau, Gen. 25:24-26; Josh. 24:4; 1 Chr. 1:34; Acts 7:8. Ancestor of Jesus, Matt. 1:2. Given in answer to prayer, Gen. 25:21. Obtains Esau's birthright for a some stew, Gen. 25:29-34...

  • Family

    [nave] FAMILY. Of Saints Blessed, Psa. 128:3, 6. Should be taught God's word, Deut. 4:9, 10. Worship God together, 1 Cor. 16:19. Be duly regulated, Prov. 31:27; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12. Live in unity, Gen. 45:24; Psa. 133:1. Live ...

  • Polygamy

    [nave] POLYGAMY Forbidden, Deut. 17:17; Lev. 18:18; Mal. 2:14, 15; Matt. 19:4, 5; Mark 10:2-8; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:6. Authorized, 2 Sam. 12:8. Tolerated, Ex. 21:10; 1 Sam. 1:2; 2 Chr. 24:3. Practiced, Job 27:15; by Lamech, Ge...

  • Emulation

    [nave] EMULATION, Rom. 11:11, 14; 2 Cor. 8:1-8; 2 Cor. 9:1-5; Heb. 10:24 Illustrated In Esau's marriages, Gen. 28:6-9. In Jacob's household, Gen. 30:1-24.

  • CHILD; CHILDREN

    [isbe] CHILD; CHILDREN - child, chil'-dren (ben, "son," yeledh, "child" na`ar, "lad"; teknon, paidion): The Hebrews regarded the presence of children in the family as a mark of Divine favor and greatly to be desired (Gen 15:2; 30:1...

  • Barren

    [ebd] For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Gen. 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Sam. 1:6, 27; Isa. 47:9; 49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Gen. 11:30; 25:21; 29:31; Judg. 13:2, 3; Luke ...

  • Concubine

    [ebd] in the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would b...

  • Rachel

    [ebd] ewe, "the daughter", "the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter" of Laban, and one of Jacob's wives (Gen. 29:6, 28). He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was Jacob's affecti...
    [isbe] RACHEL - ra'-chel (rachel, "ewe"; Rhachel (Gen 29:6; Jer 31:15, the King James Version "Rahel")): 1. Biography: An ancestress of Israel, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban,...
    [nave] RACHEL, daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob. Meets Jacob at the well, Gen. 29:9-12. Jacob serves Laban fourteen years to secure her for his wife, Gen. 29:15-30. Sterility of, Gen. 29:31. Her grief in consequence of her ste...

  • Leah

    [ebd] weary, the eldest daughter of Laban, and sister of Rachel (Gen. 29:16). Jacob took her to wife through a deceit of her father (Gen. 29:23). She was "tender-eyed" (17). She bore to Jacob six sons (32-35), also one daughter, D...
    [isbe] LEAH - le'-a (le'ah; Leia, "weary," "dull"(?), "wild cow"): Rachel's sister, and the elder daughter of Laban (Gen 29:16). We are told that her eyes were "tender" rakkoth). Gesenius renders it "weak," Septuagint astheneis; ac...
    [nave] LEAH Daughter of Laban, Gen. 29:16. Married to Jacob, Gen. 29:23-26. Children of, Gen. 29:31-35; 30:9-13, 17-21. Flees with Jacob, Gen. 31:4, 14, 17; 33:2-7. "Builder of the house of Israel,'' Ruth 4:11.

  • Bilhah

    [ebd] faltering; bashful, Rachel's handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob (Gen. 29:29). She was the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:3-8). Reuben was cursed by his father for committing adultry with her (35:22; 49:4). He was deprived...
    [smith] (timid, bashful), handmaid of Rachel, (Genesis 29:29) and concubine of Jacob, to whom she bore Dan and Naphtali. (Genesis 30:3-8; 35:25; 46:25; 1 Chronicles 7:13) (B.C 53.)
    [nave] BILHAH 1. Rachel's servant, bears children by Jacob, Gen. 29:29; 30:3, 4; 37:2. Mother of Dan and Naphtali, Gen. 30:1-8; 35:25; 46:23, 25. Reuben's incest with, Gen. 35:22; 49:4. 2. A place in the land of Simeon, 1 Chr. 4...

  • RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY

    [isbe] RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY - re-la'-shun-ships: I. CONSANGUINITY 1. In General 2. Parents and Children 3. Brothers and Sisters 4. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Kinsmen II. AFFINITY 1. Husband and Wife 2. Father-in-Law, etc. 3. Brother-...

  • Zilpah

    [ebd] drooping, Leah's handmaid, and the mother of Gad and Asher (Gen. 30:9-13).
    [isbe] ZILPAH - zil'-pa (zilpah, meaning uncertain; Zelpha): The ancestress of Gad and Asher (Gen 30:10,12; 35:26; 46:18), a slave girl of Leah's, given her by Laban (Gen 29:24; 30:9). In Ezek 48 the Zilpah tribes have the 5th divi...
    [smith] (a trickling), a Syrian given by Laban to his daughter Leah as an attendant, (Genesis 29:24) and by Leah to Jacob as a concubine. She was the mother of Gad and Asher. (Genesis 30:9-13; 35:26; 37:2; 46:18) (B.C. 1753.)
    [nave] ZILPAH Leah's handmaid, Gen. 29:24. Mother of Gad and Asher by Jacob, Gen. 30:9-13; 35:26; 37:2; 46:18.

  • Children

    [nave] CHILDREN In answer to prayer: To Abraham, Gen. 15:2-5, with Gen. 21:1, 2; Isaac, Gen. 25:21; Leah, Gen. 30:17-22; Rachel, Gen. 30:22-24; Haah, 1 Sam. 1:9-20; Zacharias, Luke 1:13. Treatment of, at birth, Ezek. 16:4-6; Luke ...

  • HEIR

    [isbe] HEIR - ar: 1. The Word "Heir": In the New Testament "heir" is the invariable translation of kleronomos (15 times), the technical equivalent in Greek, and of the compound sunkleronomos, "co-heir," in Rom 8:17; Eph 3:6; Heb 11...

  • Women

    [nave] WOMEN Creation of, Gen. 1:27; 2:21, 22. Named, Gen. 2:23. Fall of, and curse upon, Gen. 3:1-16; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14. Promise to, Gen. 3:15. Had separate apartments in dwellings, Gen. 24:67; 31:33; Esth. 2:9, 11. Ve...

  • Marriage

    [isbe] MARRIAGE - mar'-ij: Introduction Scope and Viewpoint of the Present Article 1. Marriage among the Hebrews 2. Betrothal the First Formal Part 3. Wedding Ceremonies 4. Jesus' Sanction of the Institution 5. His Teaching concern...
    [nave] MARRIAGE In family blood lines, Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 11:29; 12:13; 20:3, 9-16. Isaac and Rebekah, Gen. 24:3, 4, 67; 28:2. Jacob and his wives, Gen. 29:15-30; see below, in the elaborated text. Levirate (the brother requ...

  • HAGAR

    [isbe] HAGAR - ha'-gar (haghar, "emigration," "flight"; Hagar, Agar): An Egyptian woman, the handmaid or slave of Sarai; a present, perhaps, from Pharaoh when Abram dissembled to him in Egypt (Gen 12:16). Mention is made of her in ...

  • NAMES, PROPER

    [isbe] NAMES, PROPER - I. THE FORM OF HEBREW NAMES 1. Various Types 2. Vocalization 3. Transposition of Parts 4. Methods of Abbreviation II. THE RANGE OF PROPER NAMES 1. Personal Names (1) Not Exclusively Descriptive (2) Drawn from...

  • Reuben

    [ebd] behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22, brought down upon him his dying father's malediction (48:4). He showed kindness to Joseph, and was the means of sav...
    [isbe] REUBEN - roo'-ben, ru'-ben (re'ubhen; Rhouben): The eldest son of Jacob, born to him by Leah in Paddan-aram (Gen 29:32). 1. Jacob's Oldest Son: This verse seems to suggest two derivations of the name. As it stands in Massore...
    [smith] (behold a son), Jacob?s firstborn Child, (Genesis 29:32) the son of Leah. (B.C. 1753.) The notices of the patriarch Reuben give, on the whole a favorable view of his disposition. To him and him alone the preservation of Josep...
    [nave] REUBEN Son of Jacob, Gen. 29:32; 1 Chr. 2:1. Brings mandrakes to his mother, Gen. 30:14. Commits incest with one of his father's concubines, and, in consequence, forfeits the birthright, Gen. 35:22; 49:4; 1 Chr. 5:1. Adro...

  • MANDRAKES

    [ebd] Hebrew dudaim; i.e., "love-plants", occurs only in Gen. 30:14-16 and Cant. 7:13. Many interpretations have been given of this word dudaim. It has been rendered "violets," "Lilies," "jasmines," "truffles or mushrooms," "flowe...
    [isbe] MANDRAKES - man'-draks (dudha'im; mandragoras (Gen 30:14 f; Song 7:13); the marginal reading "love apples" is due to the supposed connection of dudha'im with dodhim, "love"): Mandrakes are the fruit of the Mandragora officin...
    [smith] (Heb. dudraim) are mentioned in (Genesis 30:14,16) and in Song 7:13 The mandrake, Atropa mandragora , is closely allied to the well-known deadly nightshade, A. bellndonna , and to the tomato, and belongs to the order Solanace...
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Biblical Polygamists; References on Envy

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The events recorded in Genesis stretch historically from Creation to Joseph's death, a period of at least 2500 years. The first part of the book (ch. 1-11) is not as easy to date precisely as the second part (ch. 12-50). The ...
  • Genesis provides the historical basis for the rest of the Bible and the Pentateuch, particularly the Abrahamic Covenant. Chapters 1-11 give historical background essential to understanding that covenant, and chapters 12-50 re...
  • The structure of Genesis is very clear. The phrase "the generations of"(toledotin Hebrew, from yaladmeaning "to bear, to generate") occurs ten times (really eleven times since 36:9 repeats 36:1), and in each case it introduce...
  • The Lord destroyed the corrupt, violent human race and deluged its world, but He used righteous Noah to preserve life and establish a new world after the Flood."Noah's experience presents decisively the author's assertion tha...
  • 8:1-5 When Moses wrote that God remembered someone (v. 1), he meant God extended mercy to him or her by delivering that person from death (here; 19:29) or from barrenness (30:22).311God's rescue of Noah foreshadows His delive...
  • "The Babel account (11:1-9) is not the end of early Genesis. If it were, the story would conclude on the sad note of human failure. But as with earlier events in Genesis 1-11, God's grace once again supersedes human sin, insu...
  • One of the significant changes in the emphasis that occurs at this point in Genesis is from cursing in the primeval record to blessing in the patriarchal narratives. The Abrahamic Covenant is most important in this respect. H...
  • A major theme of the Pentateuch is the partial fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs. The promises in Genesis 12:1-3 and 7 are the fountainhead from which the rest of the Pentateuch flows.397Walter Kaiser labeled the ...
  • "These verses are of fundamental importance for the theology of Genesis, for they serve to bind together the primeval history and the later patriarchal history and look beyond it to the subsequent history of the nation."414"W...
  • The second crisis Abram faced arose because of a famine in Canaan. Abram chose to sojourn in the Nile Valley until it was past. In this incident Abram tried to pass Sarai off as his sister because he feared for his life. By d...
  • Sarai and Abram tried to obtain the heir God had promised them by resorting to a culturally acceptable custom of their day even though it involved a failure to trust God. This fleshly act created serious complications for Abr...
  • Abraham's purchase of a burial site in the Promised Land demonstrated his intention to remain in Canaan rather than going back to his native homeland. Since he was a sojourner in Canaan his friends probably expected him to bu...
  • A new toledotbegins with 25:19. Its theme is "the acquisition of the blessing and its development and protection by the Lord."625Moses set up the whole Jacob narrative in a chiastic structure that emphasizes the fulfillment o...
  • The long account of Jacob's relationship with Laban (chs. 29-31) is the centerpiece of the Jacob story (chs. 25-35). It is a story within a story, and it too has a chiastic structure. At its center is the account of the birth...
  • God formed Jacob's family, the ancestors of the tribes of Israel, as He had promised Jacob at Bethel. Unfortunately Jacob and his wives lived in envy and friction over how God chose to bless them."Jacob had planned to take Ra...
  • Jacob was not disobedient to God in leaving Bethel. God's instructions to go to Bethel and "live there"(v. 1) were evidently directions to dwell there while he fulfilled his vow. God did not command permanent residence there....
  • Joseph faithfully served his father even bringing back a bad report of his brothers' behavior to him for which Jacob expressed his love by giving Joseph preferential treatment. However his brothers envied and hated him. God c...
  • Aalders, Gerhard Charles. Genesis. The Bible Student's Commentary series. 2 vols. Translated by William Heynen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas...
  • Moses revealed God's purpose for giving the Mosaic Covenant in this chapter.19:1-6 The Israelites arrived at the base of the mountain where God gave them the law about three months after they had left Egypt, in May-June (v. 1...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • 105:7-11 God remembered His people (v. 7, cf. v. 42) so His people should remember Him (v. 5). God had been faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 15:18-21; 22:15-18; 28:13-15). He made this covenant with Abraham...
  • Secure in her love the Shulammite now felt free to initiate sex directly rather than indirectly as earlier (cf. 1:2a, 2:6). The references to spring suggest the freshness and vigor of love. Mandrakes were fruits that resemble...
  • Isaiah next tried to move Ahaz to faith (vv. 10-12), then denounced the king for his failure to trust Yahweh (vv. 13-15), and finally forecast a calamity worse than the division of Israel's united kingdom (vv. 16-17).7:10 Evi...
  • The revelation that Yahweh gave Malachi for Israel consisted of six "heavy"messages. The first one reminded God's people of His love for them and of their ungratefulness.1:2a The Lord's first word to His people was short and ...
  • The angel's announcement of John's birth occurred even before Elizabeth conceived him (cf. Matt. 1:18-25). This is further evidence of his being a special provision from the Lord. Elizabeth's self-imposed five-month period of...
  • This section brings the parallel stories of John's birth and Jesus' birth together. The two sons had their own identities and individual greatness, but Jesus was superior. John began his ministry of exalting Jesus in his moth...
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