Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 30:1-8”
Categories: Genesis“Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or else I die.' Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?' She said, 'Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children.' So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, 'God has vindicated me, and has indeed heard my voice and has given me a son.' Therefore she named him Dan. Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. So Rachel said, 'With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed.' And she named him Naphtali.”
---End of Scripture verses---
“Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister...” (verse 1) Rachel was the beautiful sister, gorgeous in both physical form and facial features. It was she who had won Jacob over. She was the desire of his heart and Leah was “unloved”. Yet here the fairer sister was, jealous of her older sibling and insanely envious of Leah's ability to have children. Jealousy is a powerfully destructive emotion and condition of heart and mind, and it is listed as a work of the flesh that will keep us out of the kingdom of God. “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
“She said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or else I die.'” (verse 1) Consumed by her jealousy and feelings of impotence, she took her frustrations out on her husband. Often when we are irritated and dissatisfied with how life is going, we aim our displeasure at the ones we love the most, and often hurt the innocent who are really not the source of our problems. Rachel wanted a child of her own so badly that she thought she might die, or that her life might not be worth living, if her husband didn't do something about it. But the problem obviously didn't originate with Jacob. He had successfully fathered four children with Leah, so the issue resided within Rachel herself and her infertility. She demanded that Jacob give her children, but she was talking to the wrong person. She should have been pouring out her heart to the Lord in prayer and casting her cares and requests heavenward to the throne of grace and glory.
“Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel...” (verse 2) Ah there's nothing quite like marital bliss is there? Rachel was engrossed in envy, Jacob was burning with fury, and this family was in some serious trouble. The Lord's brother rightly declared that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16)! “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” She may as well have asked Jacob to make the sun to shine, elicit the rain to fall and cause the grass to grow! “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). Jacob was not in the position to give his beloved wife children if the hand of the Lord was not involved. God is the author and giver of life, and He was the One that Rachel needed to direct her pleas toward.
“Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children.” (verse 3) Jacob and Rachel emulated the foolish mistake of Abraham and Sarah when she substituted her maid, Hagar, to produce offspring because of her barrenness. They obviously did not learn from the blunders of their impatient grandparents. “The placing or reception of a child on or by the knees of another signifies legitimation, whether in acknowledgment of physical parenthood or by adoption. This practice is again referred to in the Bible in Genesis 48:12 and 50:23 and in Job 3:12. Its origin is in the idea of the knee as the seat of generative power...because Bilhah is to act as a surrogate mother for Rachel, her offspring have to be accepted and legitimated.” Bilhah would conceive, carry and deliver the child, but the baby would be placed in Rachel's lap.
“Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, 'God has vindicated me, and has indeed heard my voice and has given me a son.' Therefore she named him Dan.'” (verses 5-6) The name “Dan” means “to judge” (favorably) or “to vindicate”. Rachel obviously viewed the fruit of her maid's womb as the Lord rendering divine judgment in her favor. While it is good that she gave all credit to God, the conception and birth of Dan should not have been necessarily construed as God's approval of her attitude and behavior throughout this episode.
“Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. So Rachel said, 'With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed.' And she named him Naphtali.” (verses 7-8) The Name “Naphtali” means “my wrestling” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible) or “fateful contest” (Nahum Sarna). It seems obvious that Rachel's heart still was not right even though she felt completely “vindicated” and victorious. This was all just a big contest and sibling rivalry to the disgruntled wannabe mother, and motivated by jealousy against her fertile sister. “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)
Please read Genesis 30:9-13 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
