The Competition Worsens

Genesis 30:14-24

There are just a few things God hates, and Proverbs 6:16-19 names seven. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Notice that causing conflict between siblings ranks right along side murder, lying, and deliberate wickedness.

Jacob had married two sisters, and it caused a conflict between them. Nearly five hundred years later, though he never forbid polygamy, God forbid marrying sisters in Leviticus 18:18 because it would cause conflict between them. “Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.” Once initiated, the conflict tends to keep growing unless someone makes a deliberate effort to reduce it. The anger and bitterness shows up in many ways.

“And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.” (Genesis 20:14-15)

According to the dictionary, mandrakes are a member of the night shade family, and are toxic if too much is eaten. Found largely in the Mediterranean region, their roots are especially valued for medicinal purposes. Leah’s oldest son, Reuben brought some home, and Rachael asked for some. Innocuous though it was, the request stirred the resentments simmering just below the surface.

Jacob had loved Rachael and thought that was who he was marrying on their wedding night, but their father had switched the girls, and for seven years Leah was Jacob’s only wife. When Jacob took Rachael also, Leah no longer had him to herself, and she blamed Rachael for stealing him. Irrational though it was, the request for some of the mandrakes seemed like she was just trying to take away everything. As the favored wife, Rachael got most of Jacob’s attention, and she offered to allow Leah to enjoy her husband’s company that night. With that offer, Rachael just changed sex from a demonstration of love to bargaining tool to get what one wanted.

“And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.” (Genesis 30:16)

Prostitution is having sex to obtain something one wants. Though they were husband and wife, the sexual relationship that night was a form of prostitution, The meaning had been destroyed, as was most of the pleasure. Both Leah and Jacob were aware the only reason they were together was the money. It was just a business transaction involving emotions.

“And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.” (Genesis 30:17-21)

Emotionally bonded to Jacob, Leah was desperate for his love, and hoped that having another child would win it, or at least his attention. When Issachar was born, she felt that she had been vindicated for encouraging Jacob to marry Her maid, Zilpah. When Zebulon was born, she believed it would make Jacob prefer her because she had more sons.

Between Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah, Jacob had ten sons. As the only girl, Dinah was probably a little spoiled and could wrap all of them around her little fingers. Even the other wives would treat her special.

“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.” (Genesis 30:22-24)

Like a lot of other women who don’t get pregnant as soon as they want, Rachael had gotten discouraged and decided to get a child another way, giving her maid, Bilhah as a surrogate mother. As so often happens, after seven years of marriage, and twenty one years after Jacob fell in love with her, Rachael finally had a son. She named him Joseph, meaning “let him add” or “adding” expecting that God would give another as well.

While competition is not always bad, it often leads to sin, just as it did in this case. It would be better to avoid it in most cases.