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GENESIS Heart of David Study Bible

Ya`aqob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rakale his daughter as wife.
Laban gave to Rakale his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid. He went in
also to Rakale, and he loved also Rakale more than Leah, and served with him yet seven
other years.
Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rakale was barren.
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben [behold a son]. For she said,
“Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me.” She
conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he
has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Shimon [hearing]. She conceived
again, and bore a son. Said, “Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I
have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Lawi [joined]. She conceived
again, and bore a son. She said, “This time will I praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named
him Yehudah. Then she stopped bearing.
When Rakale saw that she bore Ya`aqob no children, Rakale envied her sister. She
said to Ya`aqob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”
Ya`aqob’s anger was kindled against Rakale, and he said, “Am I in Elohim’s place,
who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees,
and I also may obtain children by her.” She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and
Ya`aqob went in to her. Bilhah conceived, and bore Ya`aqob a son. Rakale said, “Elohim
has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore called she
his name Dan [judge]. Bilhah, Rakale’s handmaid, conceived again, and bore Ya`aqob a
second son. Rakale said, “With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have
prevailed.” She named him Naphtali [my wrestling].
When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and
gave her to Ya`aqob as a wife. Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, bore Ya`aqob a son. Leah said,
“A troop comes.” She named him Gad [troop]. Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, bore Ya`aqob a
second son. Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named
him Asher [happy].
Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and
brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rakale said to Leah, “Please give me some of
your son’s mandrakes.”
She said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would
you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?”
Rakale said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”
Ya`aqob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and
said, “You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.”
He lay with her that night. Elohim listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore

Ya`aqob a fifth son. Leah said, “Elohim has given me my hire, because I gave my

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