The Birth Contest Continues: Rachel’s Desperation
Genesis 30:1-8
1
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Ya'akov, she envied her sister and said to Ya'akov, "Give me children, or I will die!"
2
This made Ya'akov angry at Rachel; he answered, "Am I in God's place? He's the one who is denying you children."
3
She said, "Here is my maid Bilhah. Go, sleep with her, and let her give birth to a child that will be laid on my knees, so that through her I too can build a family."
4
So she gave him Bilhah her slave-girl as his wife, and Ya'akov went in and slept with her.
5
Bilhah conceived and bore Ya'akov a son.
6
Rachel said, "God has judged in my favor; indeed he has heard me and given me a son." Therefore she called him Dan [he judged].
7
Bilhah Rachel's slave-girl conceived again and bore Ya'akov a second son.
8
Rachel said, "I have wrestled mightily with my sister and won," and called him Naftali [my wrestling].
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