Read Gen 29:31-30:21 at Bible Gateway.
the teaching tools of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Gen 28:10-32:2 {p} God fulfills His promise to Jacob
Strong themes of the parashah:
None this week
Gen 29:31-30:21 chiastic structure:
1a) Gen 29:31-30:2, Leah bore 4 sons to Jacob, for God opened her womb as she was unloved;
1a) Gen 29:31a, When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb;
1b) Gen 29:31b, But Rachel was barren;
central axis) Gen 29:32-35, Leah conceives and bears Jacob 4 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah;
32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
2b) Gen 30:1, Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children;
1a) Gen 30:1a, When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children;
central axis) Gen 30:1b, Rachel envied her sister;
2a) Gen 30:1c, And said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”
2a) Gen 30:2, Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
1b) Gen 30:3-13, Rachel + Leah give their maids to Jacob as wives, who bear him 4 sons: Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher;
1c) Gen 30:14a, Reuben in the days of wheat harvest brought mandrakes to his mother;
1d) Gen 30:14b, Rachel: Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes;
central axis) Gen 30:15a, Leah: Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband?
2d) Gen 30:15b, Leah: Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?
2c) Gen 30:15c-16, Leah hired a night with Jacob for her son’s mandrakes;
2b) Gen 30:17-18, Leah conceived a 5th time + bore Isaachar/ because I have given my maid to my husband;
2a) Gen 30:19-21, Leah conceived a 6th time + bore Zebulun/ Now my husband will dwell with me.
Theme of the parashah:
God begins fulfilling His promise to Jacob, and gives him children
Finding Messiah in Torah:
The name of Judah, the forefather of Messiah Yeshua according to the flesh, meaning, “Now I will praise the Lord,” is the only name given without referencing the contest between Rachel and Leah for Jacob’s love and esteem. It is a name rooted purely in worship and thanksgiving to God for His goodness. And just as Judah was received without spite or challenge, so God gave His only Son, Messiah Yeshua, the son of Judah after the flesh, to the world wholly in love without spite or challenge. Thank You Father!
Additional readings for this parashah:
no Psa | Isa 60 (my notes) | Rev 19 (my notes)
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