Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Jacob came home from the field after night had fallen, for he observed
the law obliging a day laborer to work until darkness sets in, and
Jacob's zeal in the affairs of Laban was as great in the last seven
years, after his marriage, as in the first seven, while he was serving
for the hand of Rachel.[190] When Leah heard the braying of Jacob's
ass, she ran to meet her husband,[191] and without giving him time to
wash his feet, she insisted upon his turning aside into her tent.[192]
At first Jacob refused to go, but God compelled him to enter, for unto
God it was known that Leah acted from pure, disinterested motives.[193]
Her dudaim secured two sons for her, Issachar, the father of the tribe
that devotes itself to the study of the Torah, whence his name meaning
"reward," and Zebulon, whose descendants carried on commerce, using
their profits to enable their brethren of Issachar to keep at their
studies.[194] Leah called this last-born son of hers Zebulon,
"dwelling-place," for she said, "Now will my husband dwell with me,
seeing that I have borne him six sons, and, also, the sons of Zebulon
will have a goodly dwelling-place in the Holy Land."[195]
Leah bore once more, and this last time it was a daughter, a man child
turned into a woman by her prayer. When she conceived for the seventh
time, she spake as follows: "God promised Jacob twelve sons. I bore him
six, and each of the two handmaids has borne him two. If, now, I were
to bring forth another son, my sister Rachel would not be equal even
unto the handmaids." Therefore she prayed to God to change the male
embryo in her womb into a female, and God hearkened unto her
prayer.[196]
Now all the wives of Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah, united
their prayers with the prayer of Jacob, and together they besought God
to remove the curse of barrenness from Rachel. On New Year's Day, the
day whereon God sits in judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth, He
remembered Rachel, and granted her a son.[197] And Rachel spake, "God
hath taken away my reproach," for all the people had said that she was
not a pious woman, else had she borne children, and now that God had
hearkened to her, and opened her womb, such idle talk no longer had any
reason.[198]
By bearing a son, she had escaped another disgrace. She had said to
herself: "Jacob hath a mind to return to the land of his birth, and my
father will not be able to hinder his daughters who have borne him
children from following their husband thither with their children. But
he will not let me, the childless wife, go, too, and he will keep me
here and marry me to one of the uncircumcised."[199] She said
furthermore, "As my son hath removed my reproach, so Joshua, his
descendant, will roll away a reproach from the Israelites, when he
circumcises them beyond Jordan."[200]
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