Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.

Genesis 29:31-35

We are talking about the first four tribes of Israel as we finish the twenty-ninth chapter of the Tanakh today. These four are the children of Jacob and Leah. I said Israel because later, after wrestling with God, Jacob will be called Israel which means exactly that.

The reading for today shows the Creator empathizing with Leah, the wrong wife, the disappointment,

the one he had to take before he was able to have his true love.

He closed Rachel's womb and allowed only Leah to conceive. He did that before Leah asked for help. She now had a husband, but there was no love there. She should thank her father Laban for that one. We also have the birth of the first four boys and the meaning of their names.

• Reuben - meaning obey, but also to see and understand. It is said to mean "son of vision" but she said it in the text, "ra-ah b'ah-n ee" (he has looked upon my affliction). You hear the name in what she said. So, we hear the name re-u-ben in her reason for naming him such *.

• Simeon - meaning heard and understood. She speaks of God having heard that she is hated. Each child that comes brings hope that her husband will finally love her.

• Levi - meaning to attach or a joiner. She says, "a*tah ha-pa-am yee- la-veh ee-shee" (now my husband will be joined to me). That said after three children. She is still waiting.

• Judah - "y'hudah" - from "yada" - to praise and "hod" to be worthy of praise.

*When conjugated, the verbs change quite a bit depending on who is speaking and who is doing the action, like in English - am - is - are - was - were - been - and being - are all forms of one verb to be. It is a lot of memorization for new English learners and Hebrew verbs are a lot of work too.

Leah had no more kids for a bit after that and Jacob still waited for the woman he loved to have his child.

Today's reading

English

Jacob's Children
When YHVH saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but
Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because YHVH has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me." She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because YHVH has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise YHVH." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

Hebrew

The story continues next week as Rachel begs to have a child too...

Info on each letter starting at the beginning

If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here

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Thanks for reading.

Shabbat Shalom

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