Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Rachel called her son Joseph, "increase," saying, "God will give me an
additional son." Prophetess as she was, she foresaw she would have a
second son. But an increase added on by God is larger than the original
capital itself. Benjamin, the second son, whom Rachel regarded merely
as a supplement, had ten sons, while Joseph begot only two. These
twelve together may be considered the twelve tribes borne by
Rachel.[201] Had Rachel not used the form of expression, "The Lord add
to me another son," she herself would have begotten twelve tribes with
Jacob.[202]
JACOB FLEES BEFORE LABAN
Jacob had only been waiting for Joseph to be born to begin preparations
for his journey home. The holy spirit had revealed to him that the
house of Joseph would work the destruction of the house of Esau, and,
therefore, Jacob exclaimed at the birth of Joseph, "Now I need not fear
Esau or his legions."[203]
About this time, Rebekah sent her nurse Deborah, the daughter of Uz,
accompanied by two of Isaac's servants, to Jacob, to urge him to return
to his father's house, now that his fourteen years of service had come
to an end. Then Jacob approached Laban, and spoke, "Give me my wives
and my children, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country,
for my mother has sent messengers unto me, bidding me to return to my
father's house."[204] Laban answered, saying, "O that I might find
favor in thine eyes! By a sign it was made known unto me that God
blesseth me for thy sake." What Laban had in mind was the treasure he
had found on the day Jacob came to him, and he considered that a token
of his beneficent powers.[205] Indeed, God had wrought many a thing in
the house of Laban that testified to the blessings spread abroad by the
pious. Shortly before Jacob came, a pest had broken out among Laban's
cattle, and with his arrival it ceased.[206] And Laban had had no son,
but during Jacob's sojourn in Haran sons were born unto him.[207]
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