The language of ivrit ( עברית ) Genesis 30, Post #1

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hebrew

Self-taught Hebrew learner for over ten years. Blogging the process as I go.

2 years ago

Topics: Hebrew, Insights, DClub, Language, God, ...

Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.

Genesis 30:1-6

Marrying sisters is problematic no matter how you slice it. We see now that Rachel is extremely jealous of her sister who has borne four boys to Jacob so far. She is crying out to him to do something! She wants a child. Jacob cannot believe that the woman he loves is asking for the impossible. "Am I in the place of God?" he says.

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Women in today's world would not be thrilled if a man had dated their sister, even years ago.

But Jacob married two who were sisters. Women in today's society would not allow a man to cheat, let alone have a baby with the other woman, but Rachel is doing just that in order to claim the baby as her own. A man who gives his wife everything she asks for will soon find himself unable to attain what she asks. It is inevitable.

For insight on his fifth child Dan, see my last article on the topic of Daniel.

Today's reading

English

30 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!" Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" Then she said, "Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her." So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bil- hah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.

Hebrew