[:en]When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children, she became jealous of her sister gave Jacob her maid-servant Bilhah to sleep with him so that she can bear children for her. Jacob slept with her and Bilhah gave birth to the following sons. Rachel named them as:
- Dan – meaning God has vindicated me, he has listened to my plea and given me a son (v. 6)
- Naphtali – meaning I had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won. (v. 7)
When Leah saw that she had stopped having children she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as wife. These are Zilpah’s son named by Leah:
- Gad – meaning “What a good fortune!” (v. 11)
- Asher – meaning “How happy I am” (v. 12)
One day Reuben brought some mandrakes to his mother Leah. Rachel asked for the mandrakes in exchanged for the permission to let Jacob sleep with Leah. She became pregnant and bore Jacob the following sons with these names:
Fifth son – Issachar – meaning “God has rewarded me for giving my maid-servant to my husband” (v. 18)
Sixth son – Zebulun – meaning “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him 6 sons” (v. 20)
1st daughter – Dinah
God listened to Rachel and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said: “God has taken away my disgrace”. She name him Joseph and said: “May the Lord add to me another son” (vs. 22-24)
Jacob had decided to go back to his own homeland. But Laban asked him to stay. So Laban agreed to give Jacob all the flocks that are streaked, speckled, spotted, or dark colored. Jacob selected the stronger females that were in heat and devised ways to have them mated in front of the branches so that they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. So Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys. (vs. 42-43)
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