Reading the Bible with the Dead

An Introduction to the Story of Rachel and Leah

Genesis 29-31 tells the story of Rachel and Leah-two sisters pitted against each other in the name of love and obedience. They both have two very powerful but very different personalities. This traditional biblical love triangle was heavily focused on the affections these women carried for Jacob. Rachel was Jacob's first love, but Leah was the first to marry him and bear children for him. Leah also gave Jacob the majority of his children.  

Jacob was the nephew of their father Laban who is a shepherd in the village of Haran. Here, Laban gives many of the herding responsibilities to his youngest Rachel, a beautiful goddess like figure. Jacob initially falls in love with Rachel who he is naturally drawn to. Following a seven year deal to work for Laban in exchange for Rachel, Both Jacob and Rachel are betrayed by Laban when he puts Leah in Jacob's bed. This happens because Laban cannot marry off his younger daughter first due of his culture.

After yet another seven year agreement, Jacob has both Leah and Rachel as his wives. Leah feels bad, thinking she has betrayed her sister Rachel who also cannot bear children. She also deals with her feelings of not being loved by a husband who did not want or choose to be married to her. When she is pregnant with her seventh child, she prays and prays for Rachel to be able to bear children too. Following this, a string of back and forth with Rachel, Leah and their maids conceiving children leads to Jacob having two wives alongside two mistresses, and many children.

After gaining wealth from Laban’s herds when he is payed in sheep, lambs, and goats, Jacob decides to run off with his family (all of his children and their mothers) and his money. This leads to an angry Laban following after him questioning why he left with his daughters and grandchildren despite their agreement of seven years, which at this point has passed. Laban and Jacob eventually work out their rows in a covenant to be civil with each other as long as Jacob treats Laban’s kin with care.

The story focuses on Rachel and Leah and how although they are sisters, they share many differences that cause them to turn against each other. Leah shows Rachel sympathy feeling that she betrayed her by marrying her love, Jacob, before Rachel. This causes Leah to be sympathetic towards her sister and pray for her. This sympathy along with the differences between the two are shown in the different interpretations of this complicated story.


 

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