Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter from his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and Zilpha and Bilhah, their maid-servants respectively. They are listed here, together with their mothers and the emotional responses that led to their names, in the order (the men only) in which they were born. (All Scriptural quotations from NIV.)
1. Reuben, by Leah; "It is because the Lord has seen (Heb. ra'a) my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." (Gen 29: 32)
2. Simeon, by Leah; "Because the Lord heard (Heb. shama') that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." (Gen 29:33)
3. Levi, by Leah; "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." (Gen 29:34)
4. Judah, by Leah; "This time I will praise (Heb. toda) the Lord." (Gen 29:35)
5. Dan, by Bilhah; "God has vindicated (Heb. din) me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son." (Gen 30:6)
6. Naphtali, by Bilhah; "I have had a great struggle (Heb. naptulim with my sister, and I have won." (Gen 30:8)
7. Gad, by Zilpah; "What good fortune (Heb. gad)!" (Gen 30:11)
8. Asher, by Zilpah; "How happy (Heb. ashar) I am! The women will call me happy." (Gen 30:13)
9. Issachar, by Leah; "God has rewarded (Heb. sakar) me for giving my maidservant to my husband." (Gen 30:18)
10. Zebulun, by Leah; "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honour (Heb. yizbeleni), because I have borne him six sons." (Gen 30:20)
— Dinah, by Leah (no explanation, by Dinah is the feminine form of Dan.)
11. Joseph, by Rachel; "May the Lord add (Heb. yosep) to me another son." (Gen 30:24)
12. Benjamin, by Rachel; no explanation; as Rachel was dying she named him Ben-Oni (ambiguous, possibly 'son of my sorrow') but was renamed Benjamin ('son of my right hand') by Jacob. (Gen 35:18)
The emotional response attending each of the sons' birth and naming shows how deeply wounded were the sisters towards each other in their relationship to Jacob, each striving to out-do one another for his approval and skewed affection. And this is the story of the people of God! Grace and grace alone could effect redemption for such as them. And us!
©ALBERITH
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