Review: Jacob is blessed, he runs away, he starts working for Laban.
Leah – weak eyes (Gen. 29:16)
Rachel – beautiful in form
The marriage of Jacob and... Leah?!
Give me my wife – that I may know her
There was a great feast = wine!
Laban brought Leah in the evening – when it’s dark!
What is this you have done to me?!
What can Jacob do?
Keep Leah, forget about Rachel - [The right thing?]
Ditch Leah, marry Rachel - [Laban will not approve]
Ditch Leah, run away - [Not practical]
Keep Leah, marry Rachel also - [Customarily acceptable; but right?]
Jacob demands his true love – Rachel
He loved Rachel more than Leah
He served Laban 14 years for Rachel
Leah 4, Rachel 0
Leah was unloved = hated
Reuben = See, A Son - Now my husband will love me
Simeon = Heard - The Lord heard that I am unloved
Levi = Attached - Now my husband will be attached to me
Judah = Praise - Now I will praise the Lord
“Give me children, or I will die!”
Rachel envied her sister
She accuses her husband -- "Am I God?"
She offers her maid
She obtains mandrakes
Sons
Of Rachel’s maid:
Dan = Judge - God has judged my case (in my favor)
Naphtali = My Wrestling - I wrestled with my sister and prevailed
Of Leah’s maid:
Gad = Troop or Fortune - A troop comes
Asher = Happy - I am happy; I will be called blessed
Of Leah:
Issachar = Wages - My wages for giving my maid to Jacob
Zebulun = Dwelling - Now my husband will dwell with me
Of Rachel:
Joseph = He will add - The Lord will add to me another son
Ben-Oni = son of my sorrow - (Rachel died)
Benjamin = son of my right hand
The case against polygamy
Definition: one man with more than one woman; polyandry is the opposite
