Discussion Questions

The Jacob-Rachel-Leah Story

 

1. Rachel is barren while her sister is fertile with Rachel’s husband. Considering that a similar situation in the 21^st Century is not completely far fetched given the technology of traditional surrogacy which involves naturally or artificially inseminating a surrogate with intended father’s sperm via IUI, IVF or home insemination, how would a woman of the 21^st Century react to this situation (obviously ignoring the bigamy aspect)?

 

2. Like Rachel, Hannah was barren while her husband was fertile with other women. Why is Rachel so beloved and Hannah remains in the shadow of her son, Samuel, and is remembered principally because she was the mother of Samuel? Would Hannah have made the same choices that Rachel did?

 

3. If Rachel would have been told that she would have two sons, but one of them would be eliminated by his half-brothers and the other one would kill her in childbirth, do you think she would still have gone through with her attempts to become pregnant? Would Hannah have continued with her prayers for a child if she would have been told that she would die in childbirth?

 

4. Why did the story have Rachel barren when the ultimate objective for Jacob was to produce progeny and could just as easily been fulfilled by having Rachel fertile?

 

5. How do you think Leah’s self image was affected by her view that she was merely Jacob’s seedbed and maybe his second choice?

 

6. If Leah was fertile, why did they need the handmaidens, especially after her fertility had been demonstrated?

 

7. What do you think of Leah’s choice of being a seedbed for Jacob versus being a wife for Esau or an unmarried woman?
8. How is the relationship between Rachel and Leah different from the relationship of Hannah and Peninnah (Elkanh’s other wife) in which Peninnah taunted Hannah’s barrenness (1 Sam 1:7)? Do you think Leah ever overtly taunted Rachel for her barrenness?

 

9. If Jacob had been a 21^st Century man, how do you think he would have handled the situation of a barren wife, whom he loved dearly, versus his obligations to his father and grandfather?

 

10. Other than Jacob’s labor, what did Laban have to gain from this situation?

 

11. In Genesis 30:25-33, Laban tried persuading Jacob to stay, but Jacob left anyway in Gen 31:17. If Laban had offered Jacob a full partnership in his farm, do you think Jacob would have stayed on with Laban rather than returning home? If Jacob would have made this choice and remained with Laban, how do you think the history of the Jews would have been altered?
12. Why do you think Rebecca sent Jacob to Laban rather than somewhere else?

 

13. Do you think Laban was aware of the covenant between God and Abraham and Isaac before Jacob’s arrival?

 

14. What do you think Laban’s religion was?

 

15. The story seems to depict Laban as avaricious and underhanded. Do you agree? Put yourself in his place and try to see the situation through his eyes when answering.

 

16. If Laban was this underhanded and avaricious, why did he allow Jacob and his family to leave without more of a fight?

 

17. Why did the story depict Laban as underhanded and avaricious? How would the story have changed if it had shown Laban to be kind, generous, understanding and believing in Yahweh?

 

18. Do you think Jacob’s history with Esau influenced any of his actions towards Rachel, Leah or even Laban?

 

19. In Gen 31:44-53, Laban parted with Jacob and his daughters and grandchildren. Most likely, Laban never saw his family again. Can you empathize with Laban? What do you think became of Laban after this parting?

 

20. Do you think Rebecca consulted Laban when she was formulating her plan to substitute Jacob for Esau? Do you think Rebecca formulated the plan “on the spur of the moment” and “on the fly” or do you think she spent time planning and effecting her plan?

 

21. Rachel’s theft of Laban’s idols raises many questions

(a) The essay discusses one reason why Rachel “got away with” having idols as well as presenting reasons given by others for her theft in the first place. Can you think of another reason why she took them in the first place, and why she was not punished?

(b) Instead of praying to God the way Hannah did, Rachel tries homeopathic cures (the Mandrake episode) and idols. Why didn’t she trust God exclusively?

(c) Do you think Jacob knew his wives (psychologically, not in the physical sense)? The story allows him to be fooled into mistaking Leah for Rachel on his wedding night (is this logical after living with the two of them for seven years?)? Then allows Rachel to steal Laban’s idols while claiming he knows nothing about it when Laban confronts him? Either Jacob did not know Rachel or he was lying. Either way, it does not show Jacob well. Do you agree? Do you think Leah knew that Rachel had stolen the idols, after all she knew Rachel was desperately trying any means to get pregnant? If she knew, what does her silence say? About her? About her relationship with Rachel? With Jacob? With Laban?

(d) This episode seems to be incongruous with the rest of the story. Why was this episode even included in the story?

(e) How would the story have changed if Rachel had not stolen the idols? Would Laban have pursued them if she had not stolen the idols?

 

22. If God could intervene and allow an otherwise barren woman to become pregnant (as He did for Sarah), why did He not intervene and allow Rachel to have twelve children thereby eliminating the need for Leah?

 

23. For a sensitive and enlightening story on 21^st Century barrenness, read “Procreate, Generate” by Anthony Doerr, a short story included in the book “Memory Wall” by Anthony Doerr, Scribner publishers, New York, 2011.

 

24. There are so many questions with respect to Rachel and Leah and especially with regard to Leah. Leah is the ancestress of Israel’s priesthood, it monarchy, and the Messiah to come. Leah is the mother of ten of the tribes of Israel, and the only two extant tribes, the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Levi, both trace their origins to Leah. Therefore, every single Jew who traces his or her lineage back to Abraham, has their lineage go through Leah. Leah is buried with Jacob and his ancestors at Machpelah. Yet, the Bible spends nearly no verbiage on Leah (in fact, there may be less verbiage in the Bible concerning Leah than there is on the Nephilim). She is nearly totally overlooked. Why is the Bible so incredibly sparse with verbiage for Leah. She is nearly left out, and we are told virtually nothing about her, her character, her history, her motivations, her appearance, etc. Why? Still further, many midrashim actually condemn Leah in many instances, especially the Dinah incident at Shechem where many midrashim actually blame Leah for the incident. Why would the Rabbis actually condemn this woman based on virtually no evidence or text at all? Maybe this is simply another example of how Leah persevered in the face of difficult odds exactly the way she persevered in the face of the odds she faced with Jacob and Rachel. She simply stuck to her path, kept her nose to the grindstone and, ultimately, triumphed in the end. What do you think?
25. How old was Leah when Jacob arrived?
26. How old was Rachel when she first met Jacob at the well?
27. How old was Jacob when he arrived at Haran?
28. Why did Jacob shed tears when he first kissed Rachel (Gen 29:11)?
29. What sort of kiss did Jacob give Rachel? A cousinly kiss? A passionate kiss? A greeting kiss? A kiss on the forehead? On the cheek? On the mouth?
30. Where was Leah and why was she not the one Laban sent to the well, she was the older sister? Why would Laban send a young girl like Rachel to the well by herself?
31. What do you think was said between Rachel and Jacob during their first meeting at the well? What was said between Rachel and Leah afterwards?
32. Do you think that Jacob and Rachel fell in love “at first sight”?
33. If Leah is the elder sister, why is Rachel introduced first? It seems that Leah is hidden during this initial meeting between Rachel, Laban and Jacob. Then, Leah is introduced in the curtest and most unappealing fashion: two sentences “Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes; Rachel was shapely and beautiful.” Gen 29:16-17. Why did the text feel it was necessary to call attention to Leah’s weak eyes? Especially in contrast to Rachel’s beautiful face and shapely figure? Could the Bible have meant that Leah has soft, tender eyes, thereby reflecting a soft and tender character? Or the opposite, that Leah eyes were weak showing a weak character? Or was it simply what it appears: Leah had weak vision? If the last, what purpose is served by emphasizing this trait in contrast to Rachel’s physical beauty?
34. Immediately after noting the beauty of Rachel in contrast to the weak eyes of Leah, it is observed that “Jacob loved Rachel;” (Gen 29:17). Is it possible that Jacob had been pre-conditioned by his mother to “love” Rachel? That is, is it possible that Laban and Rebecca had pre-arranged with each other that their children marry: the two eldest, Leah/Esau marry; and the two younger, Rachel/Jacob marry? In such a situation, Jacob would already have known about Rachel as being his before he arrived at Haran. However, as we know, Esau went off the rails and thus would be an unfit husband for Leah, thereby messing up the plans.
35. Do you think that Rachel and Leah had always been rivals, even before Jacob entered the scene? Was that rivalry played out in their sons?
36. Immediately after he is introduced to Leah in 29:17, Jacob declares his love for Rachel, and offers to work for seven years for her. Could it be that Jacob is making it patently clear that he is there for Rachel, and not for Leah? How do you think this made Leah feel?
37. How did Jacob arrive at the term of seven years servitude for Rachel (29:18)? Could it be that Rachel is so young, that it would be seven years before she is ready to be a bride (see question 26)?
38. In spite of all the neglect, Leah is the one who is buried alongside Jacob and not Rachel. Does this indicate that God favored Leah so she would be with Jacob in the World to Come and not Rachel? Or is there another meaning?
39. The text describing the wedding night between Jacob and Leah is quite enigmatic: “Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife, for my time is fulfilled, that I may cohabit with her.’ (29:21), then “When evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and he cohabited with her.” (29:23). It is not at all clear that Jacob meant Rachel in 29:21 and it is also not at all clear that Jacob thought he was “cohabiting” with Rachel in 29:23. Why is the text so mysterious?
40. In 29:25, it is stated that “When morning came, there was Leah.” This seems to indicate that it was a shock to Jacob. But if so, it is pretty mild (imagine yourself waking up with a mate that is different from what you expected when you went to bed….it seems pretty certain that you would be way more surprised than a simple….”there was Leah”). Why is this revelation that should be shocking be so mildly referenced?
41. What do you think Jacob and Leah discussed on the morning after the wedding night?
42. Assume that the substitution of Leah for Rachel was a hoax on Jacob. If this is so, what is Leah’s status? Is she legitimately married or not due to the fraud? If she is not legitimately married, what is the status of her children? See Gen 29:28 (Laban gives Rachel to Jacob as his wife).
43. Assume that the substitution of Leah for Rachel was a successful and Jacob is legitimately married to Leah. If this is so, what is Rachel’s status? Is she legitimately married or not due to the fraud? If she is not legitimately married, what is the status of her children?
44. Who is the hero or heroine in this story? Who is the protagonist?
45. Did Rachel and/or Leah perform an act of hesed (see the Ruth essay)? If so, who was the beneficiary of the act?
46. Where did Jacob sleep most nights?
47. Do you think that the Bible allowing Jacob to “get away with” bigamy is really just a manifestation of the Bible’s gender bias?
48. What do you think would have happened if Jacob had gotten his first wish and married Rachel and hence, not married Leah? What would have happened in this story and what would have happened to history? What would have happened to Judaism?
49. If God was acting to permit Jacob’s bigamy, why would God want such tension and competition among the offspring and descendants of these two wives?
50. What do you think is meant by the phrase “The Lord saw that Leah was unloved and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.” (Gen 29:31)? Could it mean that God wanted to protect Leah from being divorced from Jacob now that Jacob had his beloved Rachel? Or could it mean that God wished to punish Rachel for “stealing” Jacob? Or was it to make Rachel more like the other matriarchs who were barren (Sarah, Hannah, etc)? Or was it to give Leah’s children legitimacy? The essay offers one suggestion (Leah was pregnant and Rachel was having trouble getting pregnant thereby endangering the covenant between Abraham, Isaac and God due to an end of the line). Could it mean that the analysis suggested in the essay (that the trio knew Rachel would have great difficulty conceiving and Leah was fertile, because they had tried before the wedding scene) is correct? Do you have others?
51. How do you think Leah regarded her sons? Did she love them? Or were they merely a means to and ends (getting Jacob to love her)? What do you think her relationship was with those sons?
52. In Gen 30:1-2, Rachel demands that Jacob give her children or she will die, and states that she envied her sister. Do you think Rachel is jealous, envious, competitive, petulant and perhaps a bit spoiled? How old is she at this time? She is certainly acting like a spoiled teenager. Or is it possible that the two had been arguing about other things (as married couples do sometimes), and she exploded with this outburst late in the argument? Or was she saying that if she does not have children, her genealogical line will die (which would indicate sorrow rather than anger)? Whom is she angry with: Jacob or God?
53. Further to the above, could it be that Rachel is still too young to be a responsible parent, and may be prevented from bearing because she is simply too young (this could be done by Jacob practicing contraception)? This scenario would fit with the thesis of the essay that prior to the marriage, Jacob had been with both Leah and Rachel and they all were afraid that Rachel might be barren or have extreme difficulty bearing children thereby endangering the propagation of the covenant handed to Jacob by his father, Isaac, who had received it from his own father, Abraham.
54. By stating that she will die without children, could it be that Rachel is afraid that she will lose Jacob (i.e., “die” to him) because one cannot be a true wife based on love without children? Could Rachel have simply been indulging in hyperbole as some teenage girls often do? Can one be a treasured and loved wife without bearing children? The essay says that the answer is “yes.” What do you say?
55. What do you think of Jacob’s response to Rachel (“And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, ‘Am I in God’s place, who has denied you fruit of the womb?’” Gen. 30:2)? Is Jacob responding to her words or to her hurt? Do you think that since Jacob already has descendants through Leah, he cares about Rachel’s hurt at not having children?
56. What do you think God’s reaction to this dispute was? His reaction to Rachel, and His reaction to Jacob’s response.

5.7 Do you think Leah was being arrogant and hurtful toward Rachel (like Eli’s first wife, Peninnah, toward Hannah in 1 Sam 1:2)?

58. Compare Rachel’s attitude toward Leah to Sarah’s attitude toward Hagar.
59. What was the status of the handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah, after the children had been born? Servants? Concubines? Mothers? Wives? How did their status affect the status of the tribes associated with their children? Did it affect the status at all?
60. What do you think Jacob’s reactions to all this competition between the two sisters was (aside from the obvious delight in having four women at his disposal)? He does not take steps to stop the competition or to mediate his rivalry. Nor does he seem to have any idea of the consequences of all of these children who each have an interest that may not line up with the interests of the other children. The women seem to be in charge.
61. With so little love from Jacob, so little actually said about her, how did Leah come to be considered as one of the Matriarchs of Judaism?
62. With the pettiness and competition between Rachel and Leah, how is it that they are held up as Matriarchs and paragons of Judaism? It seems that the mere fulfillment of a biological function of mothering children should not be sufficient to achieve such lofty status; there must be something more
63. Do you think that Rachel maintained her dignity throughout her life? Do you think she achieved her goals? In fact, what were her goals? Did she adjust them as circumstances dictated? What was Rachel’s main character trait? Do you think she would make a good friend?
64. Do you think that Leah maintained her dignity throughout her life? Do you think she achieved her goals? In fact, what were her goals? Did she adjust them as circumstances dictated? What was Leah’s main character trait? Do you think she would make a good friend?
65. In Gen 30:15, Leah speaks one of her only two lines in the entire Bible, and this line is an extremely curt and cold refusal to Rachel’s gentle plea for the Mandrakes. What does this exchange tell about Leah’s character? What does it say about the situation as it existed among the wives and Jacob?
66. Who, Rachel or Leah, was in charge of Jacob’s sleeping arrangements?
67. In the Mandrake episode, it appears that Rachel is bargaining away the right to sleep with Jacob for a handful of flowers. Does this seem proper to you?
68. In 30:17, it is stated that “God heeded Leah,” What was God “heeding?” The text never states that Leah asked God for another child, if she had asked, wouldn’t this seem a bit greedy since she already had children and Rachel had none? If it is greedy, why would God participate in such a plan? If Leah did not ask for another child, what was God “heeding”? Could it be that God was trying to comfort Leah for her loveless marriage to Jacob, and/or Leah’s recent barrenness (which may have been caused by Jacob absenting himself from her bed thereby causing her great pain).
69. Gen 30:21 is curiously succinct: “Last, she bore him a daughter, and named her Dinah.” Nothing more is said. What happened here? What is the story associated with this statement? Could Dinah have been Zebulun’s (the son Leah bore in 29:20) twin? Also, with each other birth, Leah ascribes some special meaning to the name she chooses; however, no such meaning is associated with the name Dinah. Why?
70. Does it seem odd that with the birth of all these children, only one was a girl? Twelve boys and one girl?
71. The sisters had a fierce rivalry; yet they appeared to have cooperated with and agreed with each other when Jacob decided to leave Laban in 31:14-16. Why do you think this change occurred?
72. If Leah is married to Jacob first, why do all contemporary Jewish prayers that recite the Matriarchs, all recited Rachel’s name first before Leah’s name (if Leah is mentioned at all)?
73. There are several explanations about why Rachel stole Laban’s teraphim. The essay offers yet another reason. Can you think of any other reason why she would do this?
74. In Gen 31:32, Jacob curses anyone “with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive.” Midrash often attributes this curse as being the cause of Rachel’s death. First of all, do the idols even qualify as “gods?” Next, since Laban did not find the gods on Rachel, does the curse even apply? Third, if it does apply, does Jacob have the power to place such a curse on anyone, and then make it come true? If he does, when did he obtain such power, he certainly did not have it when he fled Esau. Also, if he does have such power, does it seem proper that he would be usurping God’s power of life and death? Perhaps a pagan religion might attribute such power to a human, but certainly not Judaism. Again, if he did have such power, wouldn’t this application of that power seem way out of line, vindictive and arbitrary? Someone with such power should be more judicious in its use. If he did have such power and did use it in such a manner, wouldn’t that disqualify him from being a paragon who is considered a great patriarch of the religion?
75. Compare Rachel’s character to Leah’s character (for example, when Leah gives birth to her sons these names are often significant, and often a means of giving thanksgiving; whereas, when Rachel gives birth to her first son, his name has no special meaning, certainly not one of thanksgiving).
76. When Jacob arranged his family and clan at the banks of the Jabbok River prior to meeting Esau, he arranged the wives and families in a preferential order. The most favored, Rachel and Joseph, were placed in the rear, with Leah and her children in front of them, and the handmaidens and their children in front of Leah. This arrangement had to be noticed. Do you think this preferential treatment contributed to the rivalry and animosity felt among the tribes of these children? Certainly, it would appear that Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph contributed to such animosity. How do you think Leah felt at being placed in harm’s way in front of Rachel?
77. What kind of mother do you think Leah is? Rachel?
78. In Gen 32:23, as he crossed the ford of the Jabbok river, it is reported that Jacob took his “two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven children”. What happened to Dinah?
79. Do you think Leah changed, or grew as a person, from the time she first met Jacob in Haran to the time when the family camped next to Shechem? If so, how? Did her views on marriage changed? If so, how? Do you think she became more self-sufficient and/or more self-confident? Do you think Rachel changed, or grew as a person, from the time she first met Jacob in Haran to the time of her death? If so, how? Did her views on marriage changed? If so, how? Do you think she became more or less self-sufficient and/or more or less self-confident?
80. How do you think Rachel’s death affected Leah? Her relationship with Jacob? How do you think Leah felt about Rachel’s death? Do you think she mourned? Do you think she felt sorry for Jacob?
81. On his deathbed, Jacob elevated Rachel’s grandsons (Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim) over even two of his sons, and certainly over any of the sons of his other children. Jacob’s grant of the separate inheritance shares to Joseph’s two sons in effect awards to Joseph the firstborn’s traditional birthright of a double-inheritance portion. How do you think these other grandsons felt? Or how do you think his other sons, especially Leah’s sons, felt having Joseph’s sons elevated over their own sons?
82. With the elevation of Manasseh and Ephraim, could it be said that Rachel was a progenitor of four sons (Joseph, Benjamin, Manasseh and Ephraim)?
83. Where was Leah during the family’s sojourn in Egypt?
84. If Jacob loved Rachel so much, why did he simply bury her by the side of the road and not carry her body to Machpelah, or at least to Bethlehem for burial?
85. In Gen 48:7, Jacob, on his deathbed, states “When I was returning from Padan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, while I was journeying in the land of Canaan, when I was still some distance short of Ephrath; and I buried her there on the road to Ephrath”. What does this statement say about Jacob’s present feelings for Rachel? Do you think Jacob felt guilty for not giving Rachel a proper burial? Could this guilty feeling have been why he doubled the portion of his inheritance given to Joseph’s sons? Or could the statement have been Jacob giving a reason why he doubled those portions? If it is a reason, what do you think that reason was (if it is not his guilty conscience)? Note that with the addition of Joseph’s two sons to the mix, Rachel now has three sons in the mix thus making her overall share ¼ of the total which is equal to her position as one of four mothers in the overall clan (Rachel, Leah, Bilhah and Zilphah,(the two handmaidens)).
86. Compare 48:7 (see above question) to 49:31 (“and there I buried Leah”) with regard to how Jacob mentions his two wives and their burials. His mention of Rachel is full of emotion, regret and loss; whereas, his mention of Leah is cold, emotionless and matter of fact. Does this comparison provide any clue about how Jacob feels towards these two women?
87. Do you think Rachel was ever satisfied with merely having Jacob’s total love? Or did she want more, such as sons for example? Do you think Leah was ever satisfied with merely providing sons for Jacob? Or did she want more? Who won the rivalry between Rachel and Leah?
88. Why do you think Rachel is so beloved today and Leah nearly ignored?

 

89. The essay suggests that Leah was strictly lucky to be fertile and available to Jacob when he was the only link to the covenant and thus needed progeny to continue this chain. As such, the essay suggests that Leah was merely “in the right place at the right time” which is hardly sufficient to be a matriarch of the entire religion. What do you think?
90. The essay also suggests that due to the paucity of text attributable directly to Leah or her dialogue, Leah can only be discovered in the interstices of the text. The essay then suggests that the Rabbis went to great pains and expended much energy and ink asking and answering questions which would shed light on this mysterious character. The essay then extends this discussion to allege that this Midrash is intended to provide basis sufficient to elevate Leah from merely being a seedbed who was fortunate enough to be available to Jacob into matriarch status. Do you agree?
91. Which of the two woman, Rachel or Leah, would you choose as a role model for your daughter or granddaughter? And Why?
92. If Rachel and Leah could look down from heaven and see the total story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah from the time Jacob first entered Haran to his death in Egypt and his burial at Machpelah, what do you think they would think?