Devar/5771/Vayetzei
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< Devar | 5771
עברית
English
And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren (Gen 29:31)
It is quite difficult to understand what is meant by the word "hated" here. After all, nothing in the Torah indicates that Jacob yelled or hit, or did anything at all to demonstrate that he hated Leah. Not only that, but and Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob (Gen 30:19). If he really hated her, how could he bear six sons from her? It is also difficult that our verse seems to indicate that God shut Rachel's womb -- why would He do that?
The fact that Jacob had relations with Leah and bore sons from her is no proof that he didn't hate her. According to Jewish law, a husband is responsible to provide his wife "food, clothing and marital relations". If you object that the Torah had not yet been given, and despite our sages' statements that our forefathers kept the Torah even before it was given, one might say that as a descendant of Noah, Jacob was also obligated in "be fruitful and multiply". Since it was impossible to observe that obligation with Rachel, he observed it with Leah. However, I think the correct interpretation of "hated" here is that he "did not love" her, and not that he actually hated her. She was pushed upon him against his will, and he desired Rachel from the beginning. Therefore he didn't love her, though he also didn't really hate her.
Concerning Rachel being barren, contrasted with Leah in our verse where it says God opened her womb, I believe this to be on the order of Who raises up the poor from the dust (Psa 113:7). And the verse states, Leah's eyes were weak (Gen 29:17), which our sages interpret as "weak from crying". God sees that Jacob does not desire Leah, and that she is "hated", and that all his love is directed towards Rachel who is of beautiful form and fair to look upon (ibid). So God says, so to speak, "by your life! It is inappropriate for a righteous man, pillar of the world, to look at physical beauty. Rather, he should look at the person's beauty", as the verse states grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain (Prov 31:30). May it be His will we merit being able to discern the true beauty of others, and not look only at their exterior.
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