Keraia
Genesis 30

Genesis 30:2

Dan and Naphtali · Genesis 30:1–8
Read Genesis 30

Translations

Modern
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
Traditional
And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Literal
And the anger of Jacob burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
Latin
Cui iratus respondit Jacob: Num pro Deo ego sum, qui privavit te fructu ventris tui?

Original

Hebrew
English
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

Notes

Genesis 30:1–2

In that culture, for a woman not to have children could feel like a kind of death (compare 1 Samuel 1). Only God could enable Rachel to have children.

Genesis 30:1–8

Rachel’s naming of sons through Bilhah does not reflect faith as Leah’s namings had. Rachel felt wronged over the marriage and her barrenness. The names of Bilhah’s sons reflect Rachel’s bitter struggle with her sister and her feeling of some victory.

Genesis 29:31–30:24

  • The rivalry between these sisters explains much of the later conflict among their sons, and then among the tribes. This is similar to how Jacob and Laban's rivalry predicted future conflicts between Israel and the Arameans of Damascus (2 Samuel 8:5–6; 10:8–19; 1 Kings 20:1–34; 2 Kings 5:1–8:29; 13:1–25; Isaiah 7:1–9).

  • God fights for the cause of the poor and oppressed. He honored Leah, the despised first wife, by making her the first mother. Judah's royal tribe and Levi's priestly line came from her. This was despite Jacob's favoritism for Rachel and her children.

    Despite the tension and jealousy resulting from Laban’s deceit and Jacob’s favoritism, God still grew Jacob’s family and brought about the births of the tribal ancestors.

Genesis 29:1–31:55

  • These chapters describe how God fulfilled his promise by greatly blessing Jacob with a family and possessions. God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years. Laban was Jacob’s match in deception, and thus a means of correction.

  • The story of Jacob and Laban is similar to Israel's later stay in Egypt. Jacob struggled while serving his uncle but finally emerged with a large family (the founders of the 12 tribes) and great wealth. In Egypt, the Israelites suffered under their oppressors, but they also flourished, becoming a great nation of 12 large tribes and escaping with great riches.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Hagar Jacob Leah Rachel Infertility Symbolic Numbers

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Rachel: Wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin

Glossary

Adultery Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Dan (Person) Ebla Tablets Genealogy Genesis, Book of Hagar Jacob Leah Maid, Maiden Mandrake Nathanael Nuzi, Nuzi Tablets Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Bilhah: Rachael's Servant: Mother of Dan and Naphtali Childlessness: A Reproach Children: The Gift of God Emulation: Illustrated in Jacob's Household Family: Infelicity In of Jacob, the Bigamic Jealousy Between Leah and Rachel Jacob: Descendants of Polygamy: Domestic Unhappiness in Jacob's Family Rachel: Her Grief in Consequence of Her Sterility