Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 30:7-13
We are not looking at a war called birth, counter birth! The sisters, who are both married to Jacob, are envious of each other's children and are using their servants to have more and more children with Jacob. At the rate they are producing kids, it is a wonder we do not have the 36 tribes of Israel.
Leah stopped getting pregnant at first, so Rachel used her servant to give Jacob a son called Dan and now the same servant has another child and Rachel gets to name it. She says, "I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed." (Naphtel'ti with my sister)
So Naphtali means I have wrestled - see for yourself below.
"When Leah saw..." is the next line and you can bet she is going to find a way to put someone in bed with Jacob! The results are two more boys as follows.
Bah-gad (with good fortune) - and his name was Gad
Bah-ash'ree (with my happiness) - and his name was Happiness
This all gives us a very good idea of how the culture works, naming children due to circumstances during which the child was born.
Today's reading
English
Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings, I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali. '
When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, "Good fortune has come!" so she called his name Gad. Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, "Happy am I! For women have called me happy." So she called his name Asher.
Hebrew
Next week: The women continue arguing and trade time in bed with Jacob...
Info on each letter starting at the beginning
If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here
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Thanks for reading.
Shabbat Shalom
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