Genesis 30:17-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:14-24

Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she had, for some time, left off bearing. Jacob, it should seem, associated more with Rachel than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes it a common case that, if a man had two wives, one would be beloved and the other hated, Deut. 21:15. But at length Rachel's strong passions betrayed her into a bargain with Leah that Jacob should return to her apartment. Reuben, a little lad, five or six years old, playing in the field, found mandrakes, dudaim. It is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:17

And God hearkened unto Leah ,.... To the prayer of Leah, as the Targum of Jonathan, for more children: the desire of these good women for the company of their husband was not from lust, or an amorous desire in them, but for the sake of having many children, as appears by giving their maids to him; and the reason of this was, as Bishop Patrick well observes, that the promise made to Abraham of the multiplication of his seed, and of the Messiah springing from thence, might be fulfilled; and is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:18

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire ,.... Of the mandrakes with which she had hired of Rachel a night's lodging with Jacob, and for which she had a sufficient recompense, by the son that God had given her: and she added another reason, and a very preposterous one, and shows she put a wrong construction on the blessing she received: because I have given my maiden to my husband ; which, she judged, was so well pleasing to God, that he had rewarded her with another son: and she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:19

And Leah conceived again ,.... For bearing children Jacob took more to her, and more frequently attended her apartment and bed: and bare Jacob a sixth son ; the sixth by her, but the tenth by her and his two maids. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:20

And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry ,.... Having so many children; for though her husband could give her nothing at marriage, and her father gave her no more than one handmaid, yet God had abundantly made it up to her, in giving her so many sons: these are the heritage of the Lord, Psalm 127:3 , now will my husband dwell with me ; constantly; and not come to her tent now and then only, as he had used to do: because I have borne him six sons ; this she thought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:21

And afterwards she bare a daughter ,.... Which some writers, as Aben Ezra observes, say, was at the same birth with Zebulun, a twin with him; but being said to be afterwards shows the contrary: and called her name Dinah ; which signifies "judgment": perhaps she may have some reference to the first son of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, whom she called Dan, a name of the same signification; intimating as if it was a clear case that judgment went on her side; and that by the number of children... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:22

And God remembered Rachel ,.... In a way of mercy and kindness, whom he seemed to have forgotten, by not giving her children: and God hearkened to her ; to her prayer, which had been made time after time, that she might have children; but hitherto God had delayed to answer, but now gives one: and opened her womb ; gave her conception, and made her fruitful, and she became the mother of a child she so much desired. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:23

And she conceived and bare a son ,.... Through the goodness of God unto her, and for which she was greatly thankful: and said, God hath taken away my reproach ; the reproach of barrenness with which she was reproached among her neighbours; and perhaps by her sister Leah, and indeed it was a general reproach in those times; and especially, it was the more grievous to good women in the family of Abraham, because they were not the means of multiplying his seed according to the promise, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:24

And she called his name Joseph ,.... Which signifies "adding", or rather, "to be added"; or, "God shall add", giving this reason for it: and said, the Lord shall add to me another son : which is expressive of strong faith; that as she had begun to bear children, she should bear another, as she did; though some read the words as a wish or prayer, "may the Lord", or, "and that the Lord would add", &c.; F8 יסף "addat", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:18

God hath given me my hire - שכרי sechari . And she called his name Issachar, יששכר , This word is compounded of יש yesh , Is, and שכר sachar , Wages, from שכר sachar , to content, satisfy, saturate; hence a satisfaction or compensation for work done, etc. read more

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