| 18And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, "I will work for you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter." |
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יחוַיֶּֽאֱהַ֥ב יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה: |
| I will work for you seven years: (Gen. Rabbah 67:10, 70:17) They are the few days of which his mother said, “And you shall dwell with him for a few days.” (27:44 above) You should know that this is so, because it is written: “and they appeared to him like a few days.” (verse 20) |
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אֶֽעֱבָדְךָ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים:
הֵם יָמִים אֲחָדִים שֶׁאָמְרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ עִמּוֹ יָמִים אֲחָדִים (בראשית רבה); וְתֵדַע שֶׁכֵּן הוּא, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְתִיב וַיִּהְיוּ בְעֵינָיו כְּיָמִים אֲחָדִים (בראשית כ"ט):
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| for Rachel, your younger daughter: Why were all these signs necessary? Since he (Jacob) knew that he (Laban) was a deceiver, he said to him, “I will work for you for Rachel,” and lest you say [that I meant] another Rachel from the street, Scripture states: “Your daughter.” Now, lest you say, “I will change her name to Leah, and I will name her (Leah) Rachel,” Scripture states: “[your] younger [daughter].” Nevertheless, it did not avail him, for he (Laban) deceived him. — [from Gen. Rabbah 70:17] |
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בְּרָחֵל בִּתְּךָ הַקְּטַנָּֽה:
כָּל הַסִּימָנִים הַלָּלוּ לָמָּה? לְפִי שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ בּוֹ שֶׁהוּא רַמַּאי, אָמַר לוֹ, אֶעֱבָדְךָ בְרָחֵל, וְשֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר רָחֵל אֲחֶרֶת מִן הַשּׁוּק, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בִּתְּךָ, וְשֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר אַחֲלִיף לְלֵאָה שְׁמָהּ וְאֶקְרָא שְׁמָהּ רָחֵל, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר הַקְּטַנָּה; וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא הוֹעִיל, שֶׁהֲרֵי רִמָּהוּ:
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| 19And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than I should give her to another man. Stay with me." |
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יטוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֗ן ט֚וֹב תִּתִּ֣י אֹתָ֣הּ לָ֔ךְ מִתִּתִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ לְאִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֑ר שְׁבָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי: |
| 20So Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they appeared to him like a few days because of his love for her. |
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כוַיַּֽעֲבֹ֧ד יַֽעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַֽהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ: |
| 21And Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are completed, that I may come to her." |
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כאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹ֤ב אֶל־לָבָן֙ הָבָ֣ה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּ֔י כִּ֥י מָֽלְא֖וּ יָמָ֑י וְאָב֖וֹאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ: |
| for my days are completed: [The days] of which my mother told me. Moreover, my days are completed, for I am already eighty-four years old. When will I raise up twelve tribes? This is what he [meant when he] said, “that I may come to her.” Now, isn’t it true that even the most degenerate person would not say this? But he (Jacob) meant [that he intended] to beget generations. — [from Gen. Rabbah 70:18] |
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מָֽלְאוּ יָמָי:
שֶׁאָמְרָה לִי אִמִּי, וְעוֹד מָלְאוּ יָמַי, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֲנִי בֶן פ"ד שָׁנָה וְאֵימָתַי אַעֲמִיד י"ב שְׁבָטִים? וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר וְאָבוֹאָה אֵלֶיהָ, וְהֲלֹא קַל שֶׁבַּקַּלִּים אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כֵּן? אֶלָּא לְהוֹלִיד תּוֹלָדוֹת אָמַר כֵּן:
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| 22So Laban gathered all the people of the place, and he made a feast. |
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כבוַיֶּֽאֱסֹ֥ף לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּֽה: |
| 23And it came to pass in the evening that Laban took his daughter Leah, and he brought her to him, and he came to her. |
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כגוַיְהִ֣י בָעֶ֔רֶב וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־לֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אֵלָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ: |
| 24And Laban gave Zilpah his maidservant to his daughter Leah as a maidservant. |
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כדוַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לָ֔הּ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה: |
| 25And it came to pass in the morning, and behold she was Leah! So he said to Laban, "What is this that you have done to me? Did I not work with you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?" |
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כהוַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּה־הִ֖וא לֵאָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־לָבָ֗ן מַה־זֹּאת֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לִּ֔י הֲלֹ֤א בְרָחֵל֨ עָבַ֣דְתִּי עִמָּ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה רִמִּיתָֽנִי: |
| And it came to pass in the morning, and behold she was Leah: But at night, she was not Leah, because Jacob had given signs to Rachel, but when she saw that they were bringing Leah, she (Rachel) said, “Now, my sister will be put to shame. So she readily transmitted those signs to her.” - [from Meg. 13b] |
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וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וְהִנֵּה־היא לֵאָה:
אֲבָל בַּלַּיְלָה לֹא הָיְתָה לֵאָה, לְפִי שֶׁמָּסַר יַעֲקֹב סִימָנִים לְרָחֵל, וּכְשֶׁרָאֲתָה רָחֵל שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין לוֹ לֵאָה אָמְרָה: עַכְשָׁו תִּכָּלֵם אֲחוֹתִי, עָמְדָה וּמָסְרָה לָהּ אוֹתָן סִימָנִים (מגילה י"ג):
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| 26And Laban said, "It is not done so in our place to give the younger one before the firstborn. |
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כווַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן לֹא־יֵֽעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בִּמְקוֹמֵ֑נוּ לָתֵ֥ת הַצְּעִירָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַבְּכִירָֽה: |
| 27Complete the [wedding] week of this one, and we will give you this one too, for the work that you will render me for another seven years." |
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כזמַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וְנִתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ גַּם־אֶת־זֹ֗את בַּֽעֲבֹדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲבֹ֣ד עִמָּדִ֔י ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת: |
| Complete the [wedding] week of this one: Heb. שְׁבֻעַ. This is the construct state, because it is vocalized with a chataf (a sheva), [and means] the week of this one, which are the seven days of feasting [celebrated by a newly wedded couple]. [This appears in the] Talmud Yerushalmi, Mo’ed Katan (1:7). It is impossible to say [that it means] really a week [in the absolute state and should be rendered: this week,] because, if so, the “shin” would have to be vowelized with a “patach,” (he means to say a “kamatz” שָׁבֻעַ). Furthermore, שָׁבֻעַ is in the masculine gender, for it is written: (Deut. 16:9) “You shall count seven weeks (שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעֹת).” Therefore, it does not signify a week but seven [days], septaine in Old French. |
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מַלֵּא שְׁבֻעַ זֹאת:
דָּבוּק הוּא, שֶׁהֲרֵי נָקוּד בַּחֲטָף, שָׁבוּעַ שֶׁל זֹאת, וְהֵן שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה, בְּתַלְמוּד יְרוּשׁ' בְּמוֹעֵד קָטָן (וְאִי אֶפְשַָׁר לוֹמַר שָׁבוּעַ מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְהִנָּקֵד בְּפַתָּח הַשִּׁי"ן; וְעוֹד שֶׁשָּׁבוּעַ לְשׁוֹן זָכָר, כְּדִכְתִיב שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעֹת תִּסְפָּר לָךְ, לְפִיכָךְ אֵין מַשְׁמַע שָׁבוּעַ אֶלָּא שִׁבְעָה, שטיי"נא בְּלַעַז):
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| and we will give to you: [This is] a plural expression, similar to (above 11;3, 7), “Let us descend and confuse;” “and let us fire them.” This, too, is an expression of giving. |
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וְנִתְּנָה לְךָ:
לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, כְּמוֹ נֵרְדָה וְנָבְלָה וְנִשְׂרְפָה (בראשית י"א), אַף זֶה לְשׁוֹן וְנִתֵּן:
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| this one too: immediately after the seven days of feasting, and you will work after her marriage. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 36] |
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גַּם־אֶת־זֹאת:
מִיָּד לְאַחַר שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה, וְתַעֲבֹד לְאַחַר נִשּׂוּאֶיהָ:
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| 28And Jacob did so, and he completed the week of this one, and he gave his daughter Rachel to him as a wife. |
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כחוַיַּ֤עַשׂ יַֽעֲקֹב֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיְמַלֵּ֖א שְׁבֻ֣עַ זֹ֑את וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־רָחֵ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה: |
| 29And Laban gave his daughter Rachel his maidservant Bilhah, for a maidservant. |
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כטוַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה: |
| 30And he came also to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah; and he worked with him yet another seven years. |
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לוַיָּבֹא֙ גַּ֣ם אֶל־רָחֵ֔ל וַיֶּֽאֱהַ֥ב גַּם־אֶת־רָחֵ֖ל מִלֵּאָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֣ד עִמּ֔וֹ ע֖וֹד שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֥ים אֲחֵרֽוֹת: |
| yet another seven years: (Gen. Rabbah 70:20) Scripture compares the other ones to the first ones. Just as [he worked for him during] the first ones faithfully, so [did he work for him during] the other ones faithfully, although he (Laban) had dealt with him deceitfully. |
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עוֹד שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִים אֲחֵרֽוֹת:
אֲחֵרוֹת הִקִּישָׁן לָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת, מָה רִאשׁוֹנוֹת בֶּאֱמוּנָה אַף הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת בֶּאֱמוּנָה, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּרַמָּאוּת בָּא עָלָיו (בראשית רבה):
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| 31And the Lord saw that Leah was hated, so He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. |
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לאוַיַּ֤רְא יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה: |
| 32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has seen my affliction, for now my husband will love me." |
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לבוַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־רָאָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעָנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶֽאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי: |
| and she named him Reuben: (Ber. 7b) Our Sages explained: She said, “Look at the difference between my son and the son of my father-in-law, who sold the birthright to Jacob (above 25:33). This one (Reuben) did not sell it to Joseph, and he did not contend against him but even sought to take him out of the pit.” |
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וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רְאוּבֵן:
רַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּ, אָמְרָה רְאוּ מַה בֵּין בְּנִי לְבֶן חָמִי שֶׁמָּכַר הַבְּכוֹרָה לְיַעֲקֹב, וְזֶה לֹא מְכָרָהּ לְיוֹסֵף וְלֹא עִרְעֵר עָלָיו, וְלֹא עוֹד שֶׁלֹּא עִרְעֵר עָלָיו אֶלָּא שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לְהוֹצִיאוֹ מִן הַבּוֹר) (ברכות ז'):
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| 33And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, "Since the Lord has heard that I am hated, He gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. |
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לגוַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֘ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֤ע יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה אָנֹ֔כִי וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֖י גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֑ה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן: |
| 34And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, "Now this time my husband will be attached to me, for I have borne him three sons; therefore, He named him Levi. |
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לדוַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֘ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֤ה הַפַּ֨עַם֙ יִלָּוֶ֤ה אִישִׁי֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי ל֖וֹ שְׁלשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָֽרָא־שְׁמ֖וֹ לֵוִֽי: |
| this time my husband will be attached: Heb. יִלָּוֶה. Since the Matriarchs were prophetesses, they knew that twelve tribes would emanate from Jacob, and that he would marry four wives, she said, “From now on, he will find no fault with me for I have contributed my share in (producing) sons.” - [from Bereishith Rabbathi, attributed to Rabbi Moshe Hadarshan, Midrash Aggadah] [I.e., three sons were thought to be each wife’s share of the twelve.] |
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הַפַּעַם יִלָּוֶה אִישִׁי:
לְפִי שֶׁהָאִמָּהוֹת נְבִיאוֹת הָיוּ, וְיוֹדְעוֹת שֶׁי"ב שְׁבָטִים יוֹצְאִים מִיַּעֲקֹב וְד' נָשִׁים יִשָּׂא, אָמְרָה, מֵעַתָּה אֵין לוֹ פִתְחוֹן פֶּה עָלַי, שֶׁהֲרֵי נָטַלְתִּי כָּל חֶלְקִי בַּבָּנִים (ברבות ס'):
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| therefore: Whoever is referred to with the expression עַל-כֵּן had a large population, except Levi, because the Ark destroyed many of them. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:4] |
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עַל־כֵּן:
כָּל מִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ עַל כֵּן מְרֻבֶּה בְּאֻכְלוֹסִין, חוּץ מִלֵּוִי שֶׁהָאָרוֹן הָיָה מְכַלֶּה בָּהֶם:
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| He named him Levi: [I wondered why] it is written concerning this one, “and he named,” while concerning all [the others], it is written, “and she named.” There is an aggadic midrash in Deuteronomy Rabbah, [which relates] how the Holy One, blessed be He, sent Gabriel and he brought him (Levi) before Him, and He gave him this name, and He gave him the twenty-four priestly gifts; and because he accompanied him (לִוָּהוּ) with gifts, he named him Levi. |
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קָֽרָא־שְׁמוֹ לֵוִֽי:
בְּכֻלָּם כְּתִיב וַתִּקְרָא, וְזֶה כָתַב בּוֹ קָרָא, וְיֵשׁ מִקְרָא אַחֵר בְּאֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים רַבָּה שֶׁשָּׁלַח הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גַּבְרִיאֵל וֶהֱבִיאוֹ לְפָנָיו וְקָרָא לוֹ שֵׁם זֶה, וְנָתַן לוֹ כ"ד מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה, וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁלִּוָּהוּ בְמַתָּנוֹת קְרָאוֹ לֵוִי:
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| 35And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, "This time, I will thank the Lord!" Therefore, she named him Judah, and [then] she stopped bearing. |
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להוַתַּ֨הַר ע֜וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֗ן וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַפַּ֨עַם֙ אוֹדֶ֣ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֛ן קָֽרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַתַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מִלֶּֽדֶת: |
| This time, I will thank: since I have taken more than my share. Consequently, I must offer up thanks. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:4] |
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הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה:
שֶׁנָּטַלְתִּי יוֹתֵר מֵחֶלְקִי, מֵעַתָּה יֵשׁ לִי לְהוֹדוֹת:
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| 1And Rachel saw that she had not borne [any children] to Jacob, and Rachel envied her sister, and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, and if not, I am dead." |
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אוַתֵּ֣רֶא רָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָֽלְדָה֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וַתְּקַנֵּ֥א רָחֵ֖ל בַּֽאֲחֹתָ֑הּ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹב֙ הָֽבָה־לִּ֣י בָנִ֔ים וְאִם־אַ֖יִן מֵתָ֥ה אָנֹֽכִי: |
| and Rachel envied her sister: She envied her good deeds. She said, “If she had not been more righteous than I, she would not have merited children” (Gen. Rabbah 71:5). |
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וַתְּקַנֵּא רָחֵל באחותה:
קִנְּאָה בְמַעֲשֶׂיהָ הַטּוֹבִים, אָמְרָה אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁצָּדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי לֹא זָכְתָה לְבָנִים (בראשית רבה):
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| Give me: Did your father [not] do that for your mother? Did he not pray for her?- [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7] |
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הָֽבָה־לִּי:
וְכִי כָּךְ עָשָׂה אָבִיךָ לְאִמְּךָ? וְהֲלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל עָלֶיהָ:
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| I am dead: From here [we learn] that whoever has no children is counted as dead. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:6] |
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מֵתָה אָנֹֽכִי:
מִכָּאן לְמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָנִים שֶׁחָשׁוּב כַּמֵּת (בראשית רבה):
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| 2And Jacob became angry with Rachel, and he said, "Am I instead of God, Who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" |
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בוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב בְּרָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲתַ֤חַת אֱלֹהִים֙ אָנֹ֔כִי אֲשֶׁר־מָנַ֥ע מִמֵּ֖ךְ פְּרִי־בָֽטֶן: |
| Am I instead of God: Am I in His place? |
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הֲתַחַת:
וְכִי בִמְקוֹמוֹ אֲנִי?
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| Who has withheld from you: You say that I should do as my father did. I am not like my father. My father had no sons [at the time he prayed], but I have sons. [It is thus apparent that] He has withheld [children] from you, not from me. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7] |
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אֲשֶׁר־מָנַע מִמֵּךְ:
אַתְּ אוֹמֶרֶת שֶׁאֶעֱשֶׂה כְאַבָּא, אֲנִי אֵינִי כְּאַבָּא, אַבָּא לֹא הָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים, אֲנִי יֵשׁ לִי בָּנִים; מִמֵּךְ מָנַע וְלֹא מִמֶּנִּי:
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| 3So she said, "Here is my maidservant Bilhah; come to her, and she will bear [children] on my knees, so that I, too, will be built up from her." |
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גוַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְתֵלֵד֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וְאִבָּנֶ֥ה גַם־אָֽנֹכִ֖י מִמֶּֽנָּה: |
| on my knees: As the Targum renders: and I will rear [them]. |
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עַל־בִּרְכַּי:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וַאֲנָא אֱרַבֵּי:
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| so that I, too, will be built up: What is [the meaning of] “too” ? She said to him, “Your grandfather Abraham had sons from Hagar; yet he girded his loins (he prayed fervently) on Sarah’s behalf.” He replied, “My grandmother brought her rival into her house.” She said, “If this matter is holding things up (prevents me from having children), here is my maidservant.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7] |
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וְאִבָּנֶה גַם־אָֽנֹכִי:
מַהוּ גַּם? אָמְרָה לוֹ זְקֶנְךָ אַבְרָהָם הָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים מֵהָגָר וְחָגַר מָתְנָיו כְּנֶגֶד שָׂרָה, אָמַר לָהּ זְקֵנָתִי הִכְנִיסָה צָרָתָהּ לְבֵיתָהּ, אָמְרָה לוֹ אִם הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מְעַכֵּב, הִנֵּה אֲמָתִי:
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| so that I, too, will be built up from her: like Sarah. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7] |
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וְאִבָּנֶה גַם־אָֽנֹכִי:
כְּשָׂרָה:
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| 4So she gave him her maidservant Bilhah for a wife, and Jacob came to her. |
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דוַתִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֥ה שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ יַֽעֲקֹֽב: |
| 5And Bilhah conceived, and she bore Jacob a son. |
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הוַתַּ֣הַר בִּלְהָ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד לְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב בֵּֽן: |
| 6And Rachel said, "God has judged me, and He has also hearkened to my voice and has given me a son"; so she named him Dan. |
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ווַתֹּ֤אמֶר רָחֵל֨ דָּנַ֣נִּי אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְגַם֙ שָׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֔י וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֖י בֵּ֑ן עַל־כֵּ֛ן קָֽרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ דָּֽן: |
| God has judged me: He judged me, declared me guilty, and then declared me innocent. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7]. |
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דָּנַנִּי אֱלֹהִים:
דָּנַנִּי וְחִיְּבַנִי וְזִכַּנִי (בראשית רבה):
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| 7And Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. |
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זוַתַּ֣הַר ע֔וֹד וַתֵּ֕לֶד בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֑ל בֵּ֥ן שֵׁנִ֖י לְיַֽעֲקֹֽב: |
| 8And Rachel said, "[With] divine bonds I have been joined to my sister; I have also prevailed"; so she named him Naftali. |
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חוַתֹּ֣אמֶר רָחֵ֗ל נַפְתּוּלֵ֨י אֱלֹהִ֧ים | נִפְתַּ֛לְתִּי עִם־אֲחֹתִ֖י גַּם־יָכֹ֑לְתִּי וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ נַפְתָּלִֽי: |
| divine bonds: Heb. נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים. Menachem ben Saruk (p. 147) classified it in the grouping of Num. 19:15, “a cover bound (פָּתִיל).” With bonds from the Omnipresent, I have joined my sister to merit children. But I interpret it as an expression of “perverse and crooked (וּפְתַלְתֹּל).” (Deut. 32:5). I have stubbornly pleaded many tortuous pleas to the Omnipresent to be equal to my sister. |
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נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים:
מְנַחֵם בֶּן סָרוּק פֵּרְשׁוֹ בְּמַחְבֶּרֶת צָמִיד פָּתִיל, חִבּוּרִים מֵאֵת הַמָּקוֹם נִתְחַבַּרְתִּי עִם אֲחוֹתִי לִזְכּוֹת לְבָנִים. וַאֲנִי מְפָרְשׁוֹ לְשׁוֹן עִקֵּשׁ וּפְתַלְתֹּל (דברים ל"ב) – נִתְעַקַּשְׁתִּי וְהִפְצַרְתִּי פְצִירוֹת וְנַפְתּוּלִים הַרְבֵּה לַמָּקוֹם, לִהְיוֹת שָׁוָה לַאֲחוֹתִי:
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| I have also prevailed: He yielded to my importunities. Onkelos, however, rendered it as an expression of prayer (תְּפִלָּה): נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי. Requests beloved to Him were accepted on my behalf, and I was answered like my sister. |
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גַּם־יָכֹלְתִּי:
הִסְכִּים עַל יָדִי; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם לְשׁוֹן תְּפִלָּה, כְּמוֹ נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִתְפַּלְתִּי בַּקָּשׁוֹת הַחֲבִיבוֹת לְפָנָיו; נִתְקַבַּלְתִּי, וְנֶעֱתַרְתִּי כַאֲחוֹתִי:
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| נִפְתַּלְתִּי: means my prayer was accepted. There are many aggadic midrashim that interpret this phrase with the method of notarikon, (i.e., each group of letters represents a word).
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נִפְתַּלְתִּי:
נִתְקַבְּלָה תְפִלָּתִי, וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר יֵשׁ רַבִּים בִּלְשׁוֹן נוֹטָרִיקוֹן:
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| 9When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing [children], she took her maidservant Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob for a wife. |
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טוַתֵּ֣רֶא לֵאָ֔ה כִּ֥י עָֽמְדָ֖ה מִלֶּ֑דֶת וַתִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֣ה שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב לְאִשָּֽׁה: |
| 10And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Jacob a son. |
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יוַתֵּ֗לֶד זִלְפָּ֛ה שִׁפְחַ֥ת לֵאָ֖ה לְיַֽעֲקֹ֥ב בֵּֽן: |
| And Zilpah…bore: In the case of all of them (i.e., all Jacob’s wives), conception is mentioned, except for Zilpah, because she was the youngest of them all and so young in years that her pregnancy was not noticed. In order to deceive Jacob, Laban gave her to Leah, so that he would not perceive that they were bringing in Leah, for this was their custom, to give the older maidservant to the older [daughter] and the younger [maidservant] to the younger [daughter]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71: 9] |
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וַתֵּלֶד זִלְפָּה:
בְּכֻלָּן נֶאֱמַר הֵרָיוֹן חוּץ מִזִּלְפָּה, לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה בַחוּרָה מִכֻּלָּן וְתִינֹקֶת בְּשָׁנִים וְאֵין הֵרָיוֹן נִכָּר בָּה; וּכְדֵי לְרַמּוֹת לְיַעֲקֹב, נְתָנָהּ לָבָן לְלֵאָה, שֶׁלֹּא יָבִין שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין לוֹ אֶת לֵאָה, שֶׁכָּךְ מִנְהָג לִתֵּן שִׁפְחָה הַגְּדוֹלָה לַגְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה לַקְּטַנָּה:
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| 11And Leah said, "Luck has come"; so she named him Gad. |
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יאוַתֹּ֥אמֶר לֵאָ֖ה בָּ֣א גָ֑ד (כתיב בגד) וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ גָּֽד: |
| “Luck has come”: Heb. בָּא גָּד. Good luck has come [Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel] similar to (Shab. 67b) “May my fate be lucky (גָד גַדִּי) and not fatigued,” and similar to this (Isa. 65:11), “who set a table for Gad.” According to the Aggadah [Midrash Aggadah in the name of “some say”], he was born circumcised גָּד, meaning “cut off”), like Dan. 4:11, “cut down (גֹּדוּ) the tree,” but I do not know why it is written as one word (בָּגָד) [in our verse]. Another explanation: Why is it read as one word? בָּגָד is like בָּגַדְתּ ָבִּי, you betrayed me when you came to my handmaid, as a man who has betrayed (בָּגַד) the wife of his youth. |
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בא גָּֽד:
בָּא מַזָּל טוֹב, כְּמוֹ גַּד גַּדִּי וְסָנוּק לָא (שבת ס"ז), וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ הַעֹרְכִים לַגַּד שֻׁלְחָן (ישעיהו ס"ה), וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר שֶׁנּוֹלַד מָהוּל, כְּמוֹ גֹּדּוּ אִילָנָא (דניאל ד'), וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי עַל מָה נִכְתְּבָה תֵּבָה אַחַת; דָּבָר אַחֵר לָמָּה נִקְרֵאת תֵּבָה אַחַת בָּגָד, כְּמוֹ בָּגַדְתָּ בִּי, כְּשֶׁבָּאתָ אֶל שִׁפְחָתִי, כְּאִישׁ שֶׁבָּגַד בְּאֵשֶׁת נְעוּרִים:
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| 12And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Jacob a second son. |
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יבוַתֵּ֗לֶד זִלְפָּה֙ שִׁפְחַ֣ת לֵאָ֔ה בֵּ֥ן שֵׁנִ֖י לְיַֽעֲקֹֽב: |
| 13And Leah said, "Because of my good fortune, for women have declared me fortunate"; so she named him Asher. |
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יגוַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאָ֔ה בְּאָשְׁרִ֕י כִּ֥י אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי בָּנ֑וֹת וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אָשֵֽׁר: |
