share torah logo

Genesis 30:9 - Leah's strategic motherhood move

Genesis 30:9 - בראשית 30:9

Hebrew Text

וַתֵּרֶא לֵאָה כִּי עָמְדָה מִלֶּדֶת וַתִּקַּח אֶת־זִלְפָּה שִׁפְחָתָהּ וַתִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ לְיַעֲקֹב לְאִשָּׁה׃

English Translation

When Le᾽a saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpa her maid, and gave her to Ya῾aqov to wife.

Transliteration

Va'tere Leah ki amda miledet vatikach et Zilpa shifchata vatiten ota le'Yaakov le'isha.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַתֵּ֣רֶא לֵאָ֔ה כִּ֥י עָמְדָ֖ה מִלֶּ֑דֶת וַתִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֣ה שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
וַתֵּ֣רֶא לֵאָ֔ה כִּ֥י עָמְדָ֖ה מִלֶּ֑דֶת וַתִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֣ה שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Leah's Decision to Give Zilpah to Yaakov

The verse states: "When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her to Yaakov to wife" (Bereishit 30:9). This action parallels Rachel's earlier decision to give Bilhah to Yaakov (Bereishit 30:3-4), demonstrating the intense rivalry between the sisters in bearing children for Yaakov.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Bereishit 30:9) explains that Leah saw she had ceased bearing children after the birth of her fourth son, Yehudah. Recognizing that Yaakov was destined to have twelve sons (as later revealed in Bereishit 35:22-26), Leah sought to continue contributing to this divine plan by giving her maidservant Zilpah to Yaakov as a wife. This act was motivated by her desire to merit additional children through Zilpah, similar to Sarah’s giving of Hagar to Avraham (Bereishit 16:2).

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 71:9) elaborates that Leah and Rachel engaged in a prophetic understanding of Yaakov’s future lineage. Leah, realizing that Yaakov would have twelve sons, calculated that if she bore six (including those through Zilpah), Rachel would bear six (including those through Bilhah), ensuring an equal division. This demonstrates Leah's deep spiritual awareness and commitment to building the tribes of Israel.

Halachic Perspective

Rambam (Hilchos Ishus 1:7) discusses the permissibility of a man marrying a maidservant under certain conditions, as seen here with Zilpah. Since Zilpah was given to Yaakov as a wife (אִשָּׁה) and not merely as a concubine, this union was halachically valid. The Torah later lists Zilpah’s sons—Gad and Asher—among the twelve tribes (Bereishit 35:26), confirming their full status as Yaakov’s descendants.

Leah's Motivations

  • Spiritual Aspiration: Leah sought to fulfill the divine plan of establishing the twelve tribes, ensuring her participation in this holy mission.
  • Rivalry with Rachel: The Torah (Bereishit 30:15) later describes Leah’s competitive dynamic with Rachel, further highlighting the tension between them in childbearing.
  • Emunah (Faith): Leah trusted that Hashem would bless Zilpah with children, just as He had blessed Bilhah when Rachel gave her to Yaakov.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Berakhot 60a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about Leah's actions and her giving Zilpah to Jacob as a wife, illustrating the dynamics of the matriarchs' relationships.
📖 Megillah 14a
The verse is mentioned in the context of discussing the lineage and the roles of the matriarchs in the formation of the tribes of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Leah give her maidservant Zilpa to Jacob as a wife?
A: According to Rashi and the Midrash, Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children (after giving birth to four sons), and she wanted to continue building the tribes of Israel through her maidservant Zilpa, similar to how Rachel had given her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob earlier (Genesis 30:3). This was an accepted practice at the time to ensure progeny.
Q: What is the significance of Zilpa being called Leah's 'shifchah' (maidservant)?
A: The term 'shifchah' indicates that Zilpa was Leah's personal maidservant, given to her by her father Lavan (as mentioned in Genesis 29:24). The Talmud (Berachot 16a) discusses the status of shifchot and their role in the household. Zilpa's children (Gad and Asher) later became full tribes of Israel.
Q: How does this verse relate to the theme of building the 12 tribes of Israel?
A: This verse shows how the 12 tribes were formed through Jacob's wives and their maidservants. Leah and Rachel, along with their maidservants Zilpa and Bilhah, bore all 12 sons who became the tribes. The Ramban explains that this was part of Hashem's plan to establish the Jewish nation.
Q: What can we learn from Leah's actions in this verse?
A: The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 71:9) teaches that Leah demonstrated great selflessness in wanting to continue building the Jewish people, even through her maidservant. This shows her dedication to the future of the nation and her desire to fulfill the divine promise of numerous descendants to Jacob.
Q: Why is Zilpa's name mentioned differently in other parts of the Torah?
A: Rashi notes (on Genesis 46:18) that Zilpa is sometimes called 'Zilpa' and other times 'Zilpah' with a 'hey' at the end. The variation comes from different grammatical forms, but it refers to the same person. Names in Torah often have slight variations without changing their identity.