29 – Leah’s Matriarchal Guidance
Dear Ones (Zohar A 223a) informs us that Leah, the Elder, the greater daughter of Laban, was assigned by Divine Decree to become the wife of Esau, the Elder, the greater son of Isaac. Rachel, the younger lessor daughter of Laban, was to become the wife of Jacob, the younger the lessor son of Isaac. Immediately we should be asking who knew about the Divine Decree? Leah knew! She knew about the Divine Decree and Esau’s wickedness. (Bereishis 70.16) informs us, ‘[those people in the community used to say]: There was an arrangement; the elder daughter [Leah] is for, the elder son [Esau], and the younger daughter [Rachel] for, the younger son [Jacob].’ Here is an Important Key. – Leah was a virtuous woman who shed many prayerful tears before the Lord God Of Israel. Leah wept and prayed, ‘May it be Your will Ooh Lord my God, that I do not fall to the lot of that wicked man, Esau.’ (Bereisheit 70.15) quotes R. Huna: ‘Great is [the power of] prayer because it annulled the decree and she even took precedence of her sister. Hence we learn that whoever prays with tears before the Lord God of Israel can altar any chastisement or decree against her/him [as Leah did].’ (Genesis 29.17 says, ‘Leah’s eyes were רַכּוֹת Rah Coht tender’ from shedding so many tears, crying, and weeping.
God knew Leah’s intentions were pure. She did not want to marry Esau because he was wicked. Leah wanted to marry Jacob because he was righteous. She wanted her children to live in a virtuous atmosphere. Leah was a spiritual woman who perceived the priesthood would come through her son Levi and that kingdom/kingship would come through her son Judah.
There is another side to this story that receives more attention. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Yet, Jacob loved Leah even though Leah schemed and plotted and conspired to get her man, Jacob. Leah was not part of the original agreement between Jacob and Laban. The agreement was only for Jacob to marry Rachel. Yet, somehow Leah squirmed in there. Leah managed to work her way into a relationship with the righteous man, Jacob. She cut in line! Given the circumstances, we can understand why Jacob may not have had the same degree of love for Leah. Our sages teach Jacob planned to divorce Leah, so the Lord gave her sons. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1281.
Dear Ones, it is helpful getting our minds around The totality of God’s Knowledge. God is Omniscience. God is All-Knowing. God is aware of everything in the past, present, and future. God is not surprised by anything. God’s Knowledge is complete. (Genesis 29.30 – 35) gives us a more profound revelation of God. ‘And when the Lord 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, Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore [maybe] my husband will love me. And [Leah] conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has given me this son also; She called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined to me because I have born him three sons;’ therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son, and said, Now will I praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah; and ceased bearing. (Psalms 127.3) Reminds us, ‘Behold, children are a [precious] gift of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is a reward.’ Leah DID NOT ABORT HER GIFT FROM GOD. Children are our valued heritage. (Genesis 1.28) reminds us of the Mitzvah / Obligation. ‘God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply.’
Jacob knew the customs of the land. He knew the older daughter must be married first. That is why he plotted with Rachel to get around that custom. Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says The Book of Bereishis (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), p285.
Now, being aware of these points, we read that Jacob loved Rachel Entirely Completely in addition to Leah. Jacob loved Leah but not entirely. Jacob loved Rachel completely. He was willing to work fourteen years to take Rachel as his wife. Perhaps Jacob wanted to spend most nights with Rachel rather than Leah. He honored Leah’s conjugal rights, but that was not enough. That was not her objection. She could see how Jacob loved her sister, and she felt slighted/hated. Because of that. God saw Leah’s affliction. Her affliction was that she expected a greater level of love and appreciation from Jacob than he gave to Rachel because Leah was Jacob’s first wife. She had given him four sons at this chronological point in the Scriptures.
Our discussion emphasizes Leah’s spiritual dedication to buckle down in prayer as an option to change desperate circumstances. Leah established conjugal rights are not enough. A husband must love, respect, and cherish his wife, the mother of his children, with a tender, compassionate, enduring love. Through us, children learn to be good wives, husbands, mothers, and fathers. Let’s do our part.
May each of us enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and Blessing, as we study the Torah and trust in The Lord.
Good Sabbath!
Blessings,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
