The Family of Jacob

29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved,65 he enabled her to become pregnant66 while Rachel remained childless. 29:32 So Leah became pregnant67 and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,68 for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition.69 Surely my husband will love me now.”

29:33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved,70 he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.71

29:34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection,72 because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi.73

29:35 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah.74 Then she stopped having children.

30:1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she1 became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children2 or I’ll die!” 30:2 Jacob became furious3 with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”4 30:3 She replied, “Here is my servant Bilhah! Have sexual relations with5 her so that she can bear6 children7 for me8 and I can have a family through her.”9

30:4 So Rachel10 gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had marital relations with11 her. 30:5 Bilhah became pregnant12 and gave Jacob a son.13 30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer14 and given me a son.” That is why15 she named him Dan.16

30:7 Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, became pregnant again and gave Jacob another son.17 30:8 Then Rachel said, “I have fought a desperate struggle with my sister, but I have won.”18 So she named him Naphtali.19

30:9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave20 her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. 30:10 Soon Leah’s servant Zilpah gave Jacob a son.21 30:11 Leah said, “How fortunate!”22 So she named him Gad.23

30:12 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah gave Jacob another son.24 30:13 Leah said, “How happy I am,25 for women26 will call me happy!” So she named him Asher.27

30:14 At the time28 of the wheat harvest Reuben went out and found some mandrake plants29 in a field and brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 30:15 But Leah replied,30 “Wasn’t it enough that you’ve taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes too?” “All right,”31 Rachel said, “he may sleep32 with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 30:16 When Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must sleep33 with me because I have paid for your services34 with my son’s mandrakes.” So he had marital relations35 with her that night. 30:17 God paid attention36 to Leah; she became pregnant37 and gave Jacob a son for the fifth time.38 30:18 Then Leah said, “God has granted me a reward39 because I gave my servant to my husband as a wife.”40 So she named him Issachar.41

30:19 Leah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a son for the sixth time.42 30:20 Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.43

30:21 After that she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

30:22 Then God took note of44 Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.45 30:23 She became pregnant46 and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.”47 30:24 She named him Joseph,48 saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”