Genesis 29

Looking back, we can again see God’s hand in ordering these events. Jacob got his just deserts for cheating Esau. God got six future tribes of Israel from Leah, and two more from her maidservant Zilpah (verse 24). Once more, God used the schemings of sinful humans to further His larger purposes.

Jacob and Leah Begin Having Children (29:31–35)

31–35 The scheming in Jacob’s family was destined to continue, this time between his two wives, Leah and Rachel. The two sisters were soon struggling with each other to gain Jacob’s affection and also to produce the greater number of offspring.

Because Leah was not loved by Jacob, God had compassion on her, and as a consolation He enabled her to begin having children first. Though Jacob had chosen Rachel to bear his children, God had chosen Leah. Rachel remained barren (verse 31).

Each wife had what the other wanted. Rachel had love but wanted children (Genesis 30:1). Leah had children but wanted love. Indeed, Leah expressed her longing for Jacob’s love in the names she gave her first three sons: Reuben, which sounds in Hebrew like “he has seen my misery”; Simeon, which means “one who hears”; and Levi, which means “attached”—an intimation of Leah’s hope that Jacob would become more “attached” to her after the birth of her third son. Levi became the ancestor of the Levites, the priestly line of Israel.

After the birth of her fourth son, Leah seems to have become more content and thankful, for she named him Judah, which means “praise.” Judah became the ancestor of the royal line of Judah, from which would come King DAVID and eventually the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3).