John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:1-43
Jacob’s Children. His Stratagem to Increase his Property1. Rachel envied her sister] To be childless was regarded as a great reproach: cp. Luke 1:25. Fruitfulness meant an addition of strength and prosperity to a family. 3. By this symbolic act Bilhah’s children would be legally regarded as Rachel’s: cp. Luke 16:1 note. 6. Dan] ’judging.’ God had judged her case and decided in her favour by giving her, after a fashion, a child. 8. Great wrestlings] lit. ’wrestlings of God,’ an emphatic... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 30:22-24
God eventually granted Rachel a son, Joseph. He was born at the end of Jacob’s fourteenth year in Laban’s service.The jealousy, bickering, superstition, and weak faith demonstrated by Jacob and his wives stand out in this section. God’s gift of children was gracious; He gave them in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the parents. Rachel acknowledged this finally (Genesis 30:23-24) as did Jacob. The use of the names "Elohim" and "Yahweh" reflects the attitudes of the various... read more