Ge 30:1-24

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Children born in Haran

(Gen 29:31-30:24)

Jacob’s coolness to Leah created unhappiness in his household. Leah’s desire for Jacob’s love is seen in the names she gave her first four sons (Gen 29:31-35).

Rachel, feeling ashamed that she had not yet produced a child herself, gave her slave-girl to Jacob so that the slave-girl might produce a son whom Rachel could adopt as her own.

The result was two sons (Gen 30:1-8; cf. Gen 16:1-4). Leah, believing she was not able to have any more children, did the same, and soon Jacob had two more sons (Gen 29:9-13).

When Leah obtained some mandrakes (plants used to make a medicine that people believed helped a woman become pregnant), Rachel bought them from her at the price of giving her a night with Jacob.

Rachel’s bitterness increased when she found that the mandrakes did not help her, whereas Leah had another son. Leah soon afterwards had yet another son (her sixth) and then a daughter (Gen 29:14-21).

Finally Rachel had a son, Jacob’s eleventh (Gen 29:22-24).