That was a lie. Rachel knows that she is Jacobs true intended bride. Jacob loved Rachel but was indifferent toward Leah. 3). Themidrashperceives Rachel as an educational figure who delineated the path that her offspring were to follow. Rachel said: Naftalihe is mynofet[honeycomb].Nofetare the words ofTorah, that are called(Ps. 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. How old was Jacob's age when he married his wife in the Bible? genesis - How old was Jacob when he first saw Rachel? - Biblical Jacob should have understood her pain, instead of rebuking her for the manner in which she spoke. The Rabbis claim that Rachel did so for the sake of Heaven. How old was Rachel when she died. Laban's excuse was that it was not their custom to marry off the younger daughter before the older one. She spends much of her married life attempting to bear children for Jacob and eventually uses her maid Bilhah as a surrogate, but Rachel still craves biological children. Thismidrashattributes a dual meaning to Gods statement: for there is a reward for your labor. Rachel acted in an extraordinary manner when she helped her sister to be married to Jacob and also when she prayed for her children. [Note Jacob was less than half this age when he met Rachel - this means that even compared to a modern man, he was in the prime of his life at that point.] Therefore, Benjamin must have been conceived shortly before the flight from Laban and born nine months later. 33:6): May Reuben live and not die. This blessing expresses Reubens standing as firstborn, who took a double portion [as is the law of the firstborn]: May Reuben live and not dieMay Reuben live, in this world; and not die, in the World to Come (Tanhuma[ed. Buber],Vayeshev19). She spoke in precise language when she said: May the Lord add another son for meshe did not say other sons, rather, there will be one more son from me. Rachel probably conceived Benjamin, her second son, in the spring of 2265 AM (1739 BC). She bore another son and a daughter over the next two years. Referred to alternatively as the "Day of Judgement" and the "Day of Blowing" (of the shofar).Rosh Ha-Shanah, like Sarah andHannah. 13b; B. The Rabbis differ as to the reason why Rachel stole her father's teraphim. Laban's younger daughter, who became one of Jacob's wives (Gen. xxix. Rachel initially relies on her handmaiden Bilhah to bear children in her place, but Rachel eventually becomes pregnant and goes on to have one other child. Jacob's other wife is Rachel's sister Leah, which causes issues between the sisters, especially because Leah is able to bear children. Rabbah[ed. At the well at Haran, Jacob found Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, tending sheep. Gen. 30:25relates that after Josephs birth Jacob asked Laban for permission to return to his land. And there is hope for your futuredeclares the Lord: Your children shall return to their country (Lam. These two exegetical positions derive the word akarah from ikar. The first view maintains that even though Leah had children, Rachel continued to be the beloved and preferred wife, which was expressed in the running of the household. When Jacob blesses Joseph before his death, he tells his son(Gen. 49:25): The God of your father who helps you, and Shaddai who blesses you [] blessings of the breast and the womb. The Rabbis comment on this: Come and see how greatly Jacob loved Rachel. Zavada, Jack. The first was his anguish at his poverty. 26-28). In another midrashic understanding, Rachel alluded to the disgrace during the time of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was a descendant of the tribe of Ephraim, and who engaged in idolatry and denigrated the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh(I Kings 1214); this disgrace was taken away when Jeroboam was put to death(II Chron.