OT Characters: Rachel & Leah

<p>For more notes and resources check out Douglas' <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ot12-rachelaleahmp3/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Hebrew words:</strong></p><ul><li><i>Rakhel </i>(Rachel)<ul><li>Sounds like "ewe."</li><li>Appears 47x in the Bible (all but once in the O.T.).</li><li>She bore Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin.</li></ul></li><li><i>Le'ah </i>(Leah)<ul><li>Sounds like "weary." It is less likely it means "dull" or "wild cow."</li><li>Interpreters often suggest her eyes lacked luster.</li><li>Appears 34x in the O.T.</li><li>She bore Jacob six sons and one daughter (Dinah).</li></ul></li><li><i>Yosef </i>(Joseph, pronounced "yo-SAFE") -- may he add / increase</li></ul><p><strong>Further study:</strong></p><ul><li>Genesis:<ul><li>Excerpts used in the podcast: 29:23-24, 31; 30:1-3, 22-24; 31:14-20; 33:1-2; 35:16-19; 48:7.</li><li>Broader sections: Genesis 28-31, 33, 35, 48</li><li>28 and 24 -- going back to the people of God when seeking a spouse.</li></ul></li><li>Other passages cited:<ul><li>The Shulammite: Song of Songs 1:8, 6:13.</li><li>Leviticus 18:18: Mosaic law forbade (simultaneously) marrying sisters.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Some things we learn about God:</strong></p><ul><li>God blesses those who marry within the faith.</li><li>God's plan is monogamous marriage. Polygamy does not work, and only leads to great dysfunction.</li><li>Superstitions are vain. <i>God </i>is the one in control. He cannot <i>be controlled </i>by magic.</li><li>Those the Lord has chosen to bless do not always have the smoothest relationships -- even (especially?) within their own families.</li><li>The objects of our prayers often have a high price tag. Be careful what you pray for!</li><li>With the Lord, it isn't just quantity, but quality. Though Leah had seven children, and Rachel only two, these two gave rise to:<ul><li>The first king of Israel and his N.T. namesake, Saul of Tarsus.</li><li>A man, Joseph, whose sons' descendants would not only constitute a plurality within Israel, but who himself would