Rachel

December 11, 2018

The prayer of Elizabeth (Lk 1:25-1:25)

“Elizabeth said.

‘This is what

The Lord

Has done to me.

He looked on me.

He took away

The disgrace

That I have endured

Among my people.’”

 

λέγουσα

ὅτι Οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν Κύριος ἐν ἡμέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός μου ἐν ἀνθρώποις.

 

Luke has this prayer of Elizabeth.  She said that the Lord had done this to her (ὅτι Οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν Κύριος).  Many believed that only God could help people get pregnant, since he controlled the opening and closing of the womb, as indicated in Genesis, chapter 16:2, about Sarah and being barren.  That was the reason that there were so many pagan fertility gods, rites, and rituals, since giving birth was considered to be some kind of magical or divine action.  Also, contemporary political gesturing around reproductive rights has its basis in religious beliefs.  Elizabeth said that in those days (ἐν ἡμέραις), the Lord had looked on her (αἷς ἐπεῖδεν), since he took away her disgrace or reproach (ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός) that she had endured among her people or other men (ἐν ἀνθρώποις).  Being barren or sterile was considered a punishment from God.  The prime example of a happiness at birth would have been in Genesis, chapter 29:31-30:23, where Rachel finally had a son, Joseph.  Elizabeth understood her pregnancy as a personal vindication or reward for her righteousness.  She did not seem to understand the wider consequences of her pregnancy.

 

March 7, 2018

The fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah (Mt 2:17-2:18)

“Then was fulfilled

What had been spoken

Through the prophet Jeremiah.

‘A voice is heard

In Ramah.

Wailing

With loud lamentation.

Rachel is weeping

For her children.

She refuses to be consoled,

Because they are no more.’”

 

τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος

Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη, κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς·

Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν.

 

Matthew once again has a prophetic citation, but this time explicitly from the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 31:15. He said that the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled here (τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος). In the Jeremiah prophecy, Yahweh talked about Rachel, one of the wives of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. At the time of Jeremiah, Rachel had been dead and buried for a long time at Ramah, about 6 miles north of Jerusalem in the former Benjamin territory. Thus, Rachel (Ῥαχὴλ) was loudly lamenting from her grave. Jeremiah said that a voice from Ramah was heard (Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη). She was weeping bitterly and mourning (κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς) for her lost children (κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς). She refused to be comforted (οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι), because they were dead and gone. They were no more (ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν). Here Matthew, used this saying to apply to the innocent male children that Herod had killed. In the follow up to the Rachel story in Jeremiah, Yahweh told her to stop weeping and dry her tears, because she was going to be rewarded with descendants. There is no indication of that here in this text.

February 3, 2018

The wider meaning of prophet

The term prophet had a wide meaning among the Israelites, since it also included people like Abraham, Moses, and Miriam.  That is why some so-called historical books are often called the early prophets.  Jewish traditions hold that there were 48 male prophets, and seven female prophets, Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther.  Others have recognized Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah as female prophets also.  Thus, there is a wide range of written prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament.  The Hebrew prophetic dominant message was a return to Yahweh and his laws.  They were to protect the poor, the orphans, and the widows.  Justice and righteousness dominate in their messages.  Yahweh would judge them.  Although some Israelites were sinners, they would have a bright future if they turned from their evil ways to Yahweh.

October 9, 2017

Jacob in Aram (Hos 12:12-12:12)

“Jacob fled

To the land of Aram.

There Israel served

For a wife.

He guarded sheep

For a wife.”

This incident about Jacob or Israel can be found in Genesis, chapter 29. Jacob went east and found his cousin Rachel, whom he wanted to marry. He was tricked into marring her sister Leah. However, he stayed on to take care of the sheep of his uncle Laban, so that he would have Rachel as his wife also.

December 20, 2016

Rachel laments her children (Jer 31:15-31:17)

“Thus says Yahweh.       

‘A voice is heard in Ramah.

There is lamentation.

There is bitter weeping.

Rachel is weeping

For her children.

She refuses to be comforted

For her children.

Because they are no more.’

Thus says Yahweh.

‘Keep your voice

From weeping!

Keep your eyes

From tears!

There is a reward

For your work.’

Says Yahweh.

‘They shall come back

From the land of the enemy.

There is hope for your future.’

Says Yahweh.

‘Your children shall come back

To their own country.’”

Jeremiah seems to have a dialogue with Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and Yahweh. Rachel has been dead and buried for a long time at Ramah, during the time of Jacob as in Genesis, chapter 35. However, there the resting place was called Bethlehem. Here it is Ramah, someplace in Benjamin that makes more sense. The prophet Samuel may have lived in this place as in 1 Samuel, chapter 25. However, here Rachel is lamenting from her grave. She is weeping bitterly for her lost children. She refuses to be comforted because they too are dead and gone. This passage had an influence on the later Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, where he used this saying to apply to the innocent children killed by Herod. However, Yahweh tells her to stop weeping and dry her tears, because she was going to be rewarded. The descendants of her children were going to come back to their country from the land of their enemies. Thus the northern tribes would be restored.

April 7, 2016

The righteous Jacob (Wis 10:9-10:12)

“Wisdom rescued from troubles

Those who served her.

When a righteous man fled

From his brother’s wrath,

She guided him on straight paths.

She showed him the kingdom of God.

She gave him knowledge of holy things.

She prospered him in his labors.

She increased the fruit of his toil.

When his oppressors were covetous,

She stood by him.

She made him rich.

She protected him from his enemies.

She kept him safe

From those who lay in wait for him.

In his arduous contest

She gave him the victory.

Thus he might learn

That godliness is more powerful

Than anything else.”

Wisdom also helped the righteous Jacob as we have a condensed version of the story of Jacob in Genesis, chapters 25-32. Of course, the unnamed Jacob is called a just man (δίκαιον) who served wisdom (σοφία). He fled from his brother’s anger after he had tricked Esau out of his birthright. Jacob had dreams that told him about the kingdom of God (βασιλείαν Θεοῦ) and the heavenly angels. Jacob went to live with Laban, the brother of his mother, or his uncle. He then married his 2 first cousins, Rachel and Leah, while he worked for his uncle. He then became rich before he got into a fight with his uncle Laban. For some reason, Jacob was considered righteous as opposed to Esau and Laban in their various disputes.

January 3, 2014

The birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel (Gen 35:16-35:21)

“Then they journeyed from Bethel.  When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth. She had hard labor. When she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, ‘Do not be afraid.  For now you will have another son.’  As her soul was departing, for she died, she named him Ben-oni.  But his father called him Benjamin.  So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem, and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave.  It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.  Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.”

I am not sure why they did not stay in Bethel.  On her way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, Rachel gave birth to a son named Benjamin.  This was a very difficult childbirth so that Rachel died. Israel, that is Jacob, buried her near Bethlehem and set a pillar on her grave. This is the only occurrence of Ben-oni, son of sorrow, because Jacob calls him Benjamin, as the twelfth child is born. Israel/Jacob moved to near the tower of Eder, which is further south near Edom.

January 2, 2014

The meeting with Esau (Gen 33:1-33:11)

“Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.  He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.”

The story of Jacob continues.  He looked up and saw Esau with 400 men coming.  He divided up his family and put the maids with their children up front and Rachel and Leah with their children in the back.  Jacob went out front, bowing to the ground seven times until he came to his brother.

“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.  When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, ‘Who are these with you?’ Jacob said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your servant.’  Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.  Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down.  Finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.  Esau said, ‘What do you mean by all this company that I met?’ Jacob answered, ‘To find favor with my lord.’  But Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother.  Keep what you have for yourself.’  Jacob said, ‘No, please. If I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand.  For truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me with such favor.  Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want.’  So he urged him, and he took it.”

Esau, however, ran to Jacob, embracing and kissing him. Esau asked ‘who are all these people with you?’  Jacob responded that these were his wives and children as they came forward to bow down before Esau.  Esau said that he did not need all of Jacob’s presents, since he had enough by himself.  However, Jacob insisted that he keep the presents and said that seeing his face was like seeing the face of God, because he had been so nice to him.  Finally, Esau took the gifts.  It looks like this brotherly reunion is going to work out fine.

January 1, 2014

Laban pursues Jacob (Gen 31:22-Gen 31:42)

“On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.  So he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.  But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad.’”

Three days after Jacob had left, Laban found out about his departure and spent seven days chasing him until he caught up with him at Gilead, the hill country east of the Jordan.  However, God appeared to him in a dream and told not to say a good or bad word to Jacob.

“Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen encamped in the hill country of Gilead.  Laban said to Jacob, ‘What have you done?  You have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword.  Why did you flee secretly and deceive me and not tell me?  I would have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre.  Why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell?  What you have done is foolish.  It is in my power to do you harm.  But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’  Even though you had to go because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?’  Jacob answered Laban, ‘Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.  But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen, point out what I have that is yours, and take it.’ Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.”

Nevertheless, Laban went to Jacob and accused him of stealing his daughters.  Why are you sneaking away when I would have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre.’  Laban called Jacob foolish and asked why he had stolen his gods.  Jacob responded that he feared that Laban would take his daughters by force. He also said that whoever stole his gods will not live, since Jacob did not know that Rachel took the gods.

“So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them.  He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered Rachel’s tent.  Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat upon them.  Laban felt all about in the tent, but did not find them.  She said to her father, ‘Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.’ So he searched, but did not find the household gods.

Laban searched the tents and could not find them because Rachel had put them in the saddle of the camel that she was sitting on.  She said that she could not get off the camel because ‘the way of women is upon me.’

“Then Jacob became angry, and upbraided Laban.  Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?  Although you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods?  Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, so that they may decide between us two.  These twenty years I have been with you.  Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.  That which was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you.  I bore the loss of it myself.  Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.  It was like this with me.  By day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.  These twenty years I have been in your house.   I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.  If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed.  God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.’”

Then Jacob became angry towards Laban and let him know that he was not pleased.  Laban had searched all his goods and found nothing.  Jacob had worked for Laban, day and night, over 20 years, to gain his daughters and his flock, as Laban changed his wages ten times.  Jacob justified his leaving by talking about the 20 years he had spent there working for Laban.  God was on his side. ‘If the God of Abraham and Isaac had not been on my side, surely you would have sent me away empty- handed.’

January 1, 2014

The flight of Jacob (Gen 31:1-31:21)

“Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, ‘Jacob has taken all that was our father’s wealth.  He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.’  Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him as favorably as he did before.  Then Yahweh said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you.’  So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was, and said to them, ‘I see that your father does not regard me as favorably as he did before.  But the God of my father has been with me.  You know that I have served your father with all my strength.  Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me.  If he said, `The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled.  If he said, `The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped.  Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father, and given them to me.”

The sons of Laban were mad that Jacob had taken all the wealth of Laban and even Laban was looking less favorable towards him.  Yahweh appeared to Jacob and told him to return to the land of his ancestors because Yahweh would be with him.  Jacob called his two wives into the field and said that their father had been unfair to him, since their father had changed his wages ten times.  God has taken away Laban’s livestock and given it to Jacob with all the speckled and stripped animals.

“During the mating of the flock, I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats that leaped upon the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.  Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, `Jacob,’ and I said, `Here I am!’  He said, `Look up and see that all the goats that leap upon the flock are striped, speckled, and mottled.   I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.  I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me.  Now leave this land at once, and return to the land of your birth.’  Then Rachel and Leah answered him, ‘Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house?  Are we not regarded by him as foreigners?  He has sold us, and he has been using up the money given for us.  All the property that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children.  Now then, do whatever God has said to you.’”

Jacob told of his dream about the male speckled goats that were attacking the rest of the flock.  Then the angel of God appeared to him and said that he was the God of Bethel, where he made a pillar and vow. Jacob responded with the common theme response ‘Here I am.’  Then God told him to leave this land at once and return to the land of his birth.  Both Rachel and Leah, although they legally were part of Laban’s property, agreed to do whatever God wanted.  They also felt mistreated by their father.

“So Jacob arose, and set his children and his wives on camels.  He drove away all his livestock, all the property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.  Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.  He fled with all that he had, staring out he crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.”

Thus, Jacob got his children, his wives, and all his property and livestock to go back to the land of Canaan and his father Isaac.  For some reason, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.  Obviously they were not monotheists. Jacob did not tell Laban that he was leaving at he set out crossing the Euphrates River.