# 38 - Rachel & Leah: Sisters at War - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, the intense rivalry between Leah and Rachel over Jacob’s affection reaches new heights as love, jealousy, and competition collide. This episode explores how their struggle for children and validation drives their actions, revealing deep human desires and divine interventions that shape the birth of Israel's tribes.
Episode 38 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.”
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Show Notes:
(02:34) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(04:03) Rachel & Leah: Sisters at War
(27:52) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People.
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Speaker 2: Lord Layman, it would be a great act of mercy
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Speaker 2: if you'd give me sanctuary here for a while as
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Speaker 2: my mother's kinsman.
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Speaker 3: What's this, lord nonsense? You're my sweet sister's son. You'll
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Speaker 3: stay under my roof as an honored guest on a refugee. Come, Come,
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Speaker 3: there's a hot pot on the flame.
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Speaker 1: Jacob turned his gaze back at Rachel. She glanced back,
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Speaker 1: wondering why he was looking at her. A smile curled
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Speaker 1: on the edges of Jacob's face. He turned to Larbon
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Speaker 1: with a glint in his eye.
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Speaker 2: I'll serve you for seven more years. That should be
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Speaker 2: more than enough for your youngest daughter, Rachel's, and in marriage.
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Speaker 2: One thing that certain, dear Rachel, was that I do
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Speaker 2: love you, And seven years of labor for your hand
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Speaker 2: will seem like mere moments as long as I get
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Speaker 2: to see you every day. Leah, what are you doing here?
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Speaker 4: I was with you last night, Jacob. Don't you remember?
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Speaker 5: What? No?
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Speaker 6: What?
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Speaker 5: No?
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Speaker 2: How's it possible? How was supposed to be with Rachel? I?
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Speaker 2: How did you?
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Speaker 4: My father insisted that it should be this way. He
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Speaker 4: sent Rachel back to her tent and bid me meet
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Speaker 4: you in here to be your wife. We sealed the covenant.
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Speaker 4: It's done a treacherous night.
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Speaker 2: They've been treats me.
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Speaker 7: I swear, Jacob.
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Speaker 3: I had no choice, Jacob, Jacob, you know better.
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Speaker 5: I knew you wouldn't take Leah for a bride price
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Speaker 5: of seven years. I did what I had to do.
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Speaker 5: This way, I got to marry off my eldest daughter,
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Speaker 5: and you worked my fields for far more years than she's.
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Speaker 5: It's a win win. Well by that, of course, I
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Speaker 5: mean that I win twice.
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Speaker 1: They sealed the promise that night with passion underneath the stars.
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Speaker 1: To Jacob, it was well worth for fourteen years. Yet
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Speaker 1: something was hiding in the margins between love and longing.
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Speaker 1: Leah's love for Jacob, Jacob's love for Rachel, Lea's contempt
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Speaker 1: for Rachel, and love AND's love of control were all brewing.
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Speaker 1: Like the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern winds. They were
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Speaker 1: doomed to collide, causing a storm of epic proportions.
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Speaker 6: In the House of Jacob, we find love and envy
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Speaker 6: amid ancient cries of barren wombs and broken hearts. Shallo
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Speaker 6: my friends from here in the Holy Land I'm youa
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Speaker 6: l Extein with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and
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Speaker 6: welcome to the Chosen People. Have you been impacted by
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Speaker 6: this podcast? Do you enjoy listening?
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Speaker 2: Well?
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Speaker 6: I would love if you can leave a review. I
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Speaker 6: read them all and they not only help me understand
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Speaker 6: what you like in the podcast so I can give
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Speaker 6: you more of it, but they also help give us
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Speaker 6: a better understanding of who we're reaching. I want to
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Speaker 6: know about you, So go right now and leave a review.
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Speaker 6: Thank you so much. And if you're interested in learning
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Speaker 6: more about the countless lives being affected and biblical prophecy
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Speaker 6: coming to fruition through my work at the International Fellowship
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Speaker 6: of Christians and Jews, you can visit IFCJ dot com.
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Speaker 6: Now let's begin. Have you ever asked yourself this question?
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Speaker 6: Why do we deceive the ones that we love most?
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Speaker 6: What drives us to sow seeds of discord in the
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Speaker 6: soil of our own homes? In Genesis twenty nine to thirty,
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Speaker 6: we find a family ensnared by lies, each deception dividing
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Speaker 6: them further, and we ask ourselves, is love enough to
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Speaker 6: sustain us in the middle of our deepest longings?
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Speaker 4: He's exactly like this well.
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Speaker 1: Leah was at the shepherd's well, venting to Zilpah. While
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Speaker 1: drawing out water. She gestured to the large stone that
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Speaker 1: sealed the top shot.
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Speaker 4: Jacob opens his heart for Rachel, but when I try
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Speaker 4: to connect with him, he's sealed shut. It's not fair.
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Speaker 4: He was mine first by right.
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Speaker 1: Zilpah, her loyal servant, friend and sister, placed a tender
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Speaker 1: hand on Leah's shoulder, her expression one of sympathy and understanding.
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Speaker 7: Perhaps when you bear him children, he'll begin to love
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Speaker 7: you earnestly, Mistress. Give a man a son, and he'll
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Speaker 7: treasure you forever.
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Speaker 4: We've lain together enough times to make me concerned. I
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Speaker 4: can't conceive.
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Speaker 7: Perhaps you may pray to the gods for favor.
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Speaker 4: No, they are not my gods. My god is the
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Speaker 4: god of his forefathers Now. Jacob told us how his
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Speaker 4: father was conceived to a woman far beyond her child
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Speaker 4: bearing years. He can open up wombs. I shall pray
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Speaker 4: to him and pour out my longing.
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Speaker 1: Leah prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
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Speaker 1: She asked that he would see her ply and respond
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Speaker 1: with the child. That night, she entered Jacob's tent while
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Speaker 1: he was alone. It was rare, since Rachel was usually
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Speaker 1: with him in the late hours. She made love to him,
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Speaker 1: although Jacob.
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Speaker 5: Did not to her.
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Speaker 1: Their union was a sad and unrequited one. Leah longed
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Speaker 1: for him, pining for a simple glance of affection in
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Speaker 1: her direction. Still wounded by the tricks played on him,
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Speaker 1: Jacob tolerated Leah long enough to fulfill his husbandly duties
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Speaker 1: and give her a child. When they were through, they
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Speaker 1: lay beside each other in silence. Leah wanted to roll
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Speaker 1: over and hold him. She longed for the simplest touch
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Speaker 1: of genuine affection. Jacob refused, Could you leave my tent now?
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Speaker 1: I have to wake up before sunrise tomorrow and bring
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Speaker 1: the flocks to the shearers.
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Speaker 4: You'd send me away so late I could sleep beside
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Speaker 4: you and help you prepare early in the morning.
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Speaker 2: No, that won't be necessary.
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Speaker 1: Please leave now, Leah laughed quietly, her heart heavy with sorrow.
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Speaker 1: Jacob turned away, burying his face in his blanket, consumed
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Speaker 1: by a maelstrom of guilt and anger. Guilt for not
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Speaker 1: loving Lea and anger at the trickery that had bound
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Speaker 1: him to her. The favor of the Lord shone upon Lea,
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Speaker 1: and her womb quickened with life. The discomfort of pregnancy
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Speaker 1: was a small price to pay for the joy of
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Speaker 1: bearing Jacob's child. She sat opposite Jacob, her hands lovingly
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Speaker 1: cradling her belly.
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Speaker 4: Jacob, do you think it will be a boy or
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Speaker 4: a girl?
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Speaker 2: Anybn tells me A man always hopes for a son,
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Speaker 2: but would not love his daughter any less. I think
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Speaker 2: that's how I feel.
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Speaker 1: Leah's cheeks flexed with a smile, and her forehead became
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Speaker 1: like a rose. But Rachel seated nearby, or a mask
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Speaker 1: of som be longing. She had yet to conceive, and
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Speaker 1: the weight of her worry grew with each passing day.
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Speaker 4: I know it's a boy. God most High has nearly
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Speaker 4: confirmed it. He will be the heir to Abraham's promise.
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Speaker 7: We'll see about that. What do you mean, Rachel, I
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Speaker 7: mean we shall see. Jacob's family has an untraditional history.
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Speaker 7: His father, Isaac was the second born. Jacob himself was
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Speaker 7: the second born as well. You'd know these if you
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Speaker 7: were closer to him.
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Speaker 1: Leah's eyes fell, shame washing over her. She rose and left,
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Speaker 1: feeling Rachel's jealous gaze burning into her back. In due time,
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Speaker 1: Leah gave birth to a son. She cradled him tenderly,
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Speaker 1: marveling at his dark hair and sturdy frame. To Leah,
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Speaker 1: he was perfect.
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Speaker 4: His name shall be Reuben, which means behold a son.
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Speaker 4: Because God has looked at my affliction. He's seen me
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Speaker 4: and answered my prayers. Now I get to present Jacob
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Speaker 4: with a son. He will be an offering of devotion.
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Speaker 4: Now my husband will love me.
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Speaker 1: But Jacob's heart remained distant. Though he loved his son, Reuben,
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Speaker 1: he paid Leah little heed. Most of his time was
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Speaker 1: spent with Rachel under the sycamore tree, whispering secrets and
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Speaker 1: sharing laughter. Leah watched from afar, her heart aching for
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Speaker 1: a love that remained just out of reach. She turned
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Speaker 1: to Zilpah, her ever devoted servant, sister and friend.
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Speaker 4: She still hasn't given him a child. Perhaps he'll see
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Speaker 4: my value if I conceive again, and the gap between
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Speaker 4: us will close.
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Speaker 1: Leah waited until the sun set. Rachel left for her tent,
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Speaker 1: and Jacob returned alone to his Leah whispered to God
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Speaker 1: an earnest and longing.
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Speaker 4: Prayer, Please grant me another son. Hear me, God of Jacob,
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Speaker 4: hear me.
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Speaker 1: Once more, Leah called upon Jacob to fulfill his duties.
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Speaker 1: Despite his coldness, Leah clung to the hope that another
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Speaker 1: child might bridge the chasm between them. They conceived again,
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Speaker 1: and months later Leah bore a second son.
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Speaker 2: What is his name?
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Speaker 4: His name is Simeon. Because God has heard that I
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Speaker 4: am hated, he has given me a gift of pity.
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Speaker 2: You are not hated, Leah, just not loved. Ah. I'm
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Speaker 2: grateful of the sons you've given me.
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Speaker 5: That is what.
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Speaker 1: Leah's pain and longing lingered. Each day, the tension between
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Speaker 1: her and Rachel thickened. Rachel made a point to hold
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Speaker 1: Jacob closer when they walked together, tightening her grip around
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Speaker 1: his arm when they passed. Rachel consumed more of his
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Speaker 1: time in the evenings, blocking access to him later in
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Speaker 1: the night. If Leah wanted time with Jacob, she had
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Speaker 1: to be an opportunist like her father. When Rachel left
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Speaker 1: Jacob's tent and return to hers early in the morning,
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Speaker 1: Leah snuck in. Jacob laid on the bed, sprawled out
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Speaker 1: in heavy slumber. Leah ran her hands over his chest.
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Speaker 2: And kissed his neck.
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Speaker 1: In a dream like days, Jacob embraced her. Leah felt
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Speaker 1: tinges of guilt, but pushed them away. She was locked
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Speaker 1: in Jacob's embrace and received another seed to grow a child,
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Speaker 1: another son. Leah entered the dining hall with her third
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Speaker 1: son wrapped around her chest. Rachel was sitting with her servant, Billa.
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Speaker 1: Rachel's jaw clenched with anger when she saw the child.
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Speaker 7: What sad name have you given this one? Leah? Is
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Speaker 7: his name me skinnem pathetic?
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Speaker 4: No, his name is Levi joined because this third son
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Speaker 4: will finally attach Jacob to me. Our hearts and fates
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Speaker 4: will be bound with these three sons. You know it's true,
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Speaker 4: and that's why you've been so nasty to me.
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Speaker 7: I've been nasty to you because you stole my husband
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Speaker 7: from me. He wanted to marry me. You and father
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Speaker 7: tricked him. I bet every time he sees you beside
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Speaker 7: him in his bed, he just sees Laban. That's why
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Speaker 7: he spends most nights with me. You're just bitter and jealous, Rachel,
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Speaker 7: jealous of you. That's laughable, Leah.
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Speaker 1: Rachel stood up and began walking out. Before leaving, she
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Speaker 1: leaned into her sister's ear.
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Speaker 7: You may have the sons, but I have the love
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Speaker 7: of our husband. You can't buy that with more children.
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Speaker 1: Leah's body tensed with grief. She looked at little Levi
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Speaker 1: curled up against her chest. She heard Reuben and Simeon
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Speaker 1: plain tag outside. Three sons, all gifts given to her
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Speaker 1: by God. Perhaps she had been obsessing over the wrong
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Speaker 1: thing all this time. Maybe these children were gifts given
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Speaker 1: to her instead of bargaining chips for her husband's affection.
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Speaker 1: Months went by and Leah was able to conceive another child.
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Speaker 1: She labored for hours with Zilpah close by. This child
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Speaker 1: was her most painful labor. Love for the child fueled
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Speaker 1: her resolve as she pushed late into the night. Finally, thankfully,
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Speaker 1: the child arrived. Leah held the babe with trembling arms.
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Speaker 1: Tears and sweat soaked her garments. Her chin quivered as
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Speaker 1: she placed a finger on the child's nose.
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Speaker 4: I will name you Judah. Praise this time. I will
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Speaker 4: praise God. I will praise God for you, little one
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Speaker 4: and all your brothers. You are a gift and a treasure.
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Speaker 1: Leah pressed Judah against her chest and wept tears of joy.
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Speaker 1: Mingling with sorrow. Jacob entered the tent, his expression weary.
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Speaker 1: Leah smiled at him, her warm, contented grin that asked
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Speaker 1: for nothing in return. She placed Judah in Jacob's arms.
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Speaker 2: Ah, Judah, Now there's a name. What will become of you?
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Speaker 2: Sweet child? Who will you become?
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Speaker 1: Rachel was listening from the other side of the canvas.
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Speaker 1: When she heard Jacob's tender whispers towards his son. Her
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Speaker 1: heart sank.
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Speaker 7: Will I ever be able to give him a so?
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Speaker 1: Jacob returned to his tent, weary from a day of
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Speaker 1: hard work and a night of waiting for Leah to
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Speaker 1: give birth. He finally laid down, ready to slip blissfully
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Speaker 1: to sleep. However, his peace was interrupted by heavy footsteps
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Speaker 1: approaching his tent. Rachel burst in and grabbed Jacob by
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Speaker 1: the tunic. She kissed him violently and pressed against him aggressively.
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Speaker 1: Jacob grabbed her shoulders to stop her.
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Speaker 2: What on earth are you doing?
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Speaker 7: Give me children now?
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Speaker 1: She leaned in again with anger and aggression.
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Speaker 2: It's not up to me, Rachel, Get off. You're not
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Speaker 2: in your right mind.
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Speaker 7: Ah. Are you calling me mad? Jacob? Are you calling
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Speaker 7: me a mad woman?
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Speaker 2: That's not what I said. Don't put words in my mouth.
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Speaker 7: Give me a child, Jacob, Give me a child or
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Speaker 7: I will die.
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Speaker 2: Am I in the place of God. He's withheld the
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Speaker 2: fruit of the womb from you, not me. You're coming
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Speaker 2: to a sheep for eggs. I'm not the control of
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Speaker 2: whether you can conceive or not.
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Speaker 1: Rachel threw her fists against Jacob's chest and jumped off him.
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Speaker 1: She paced back and forth, vibrating with jealousy and anger.
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Speaker 2: What good am I?
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Speaker 7: If I can't give you a child? How soon before
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Speaker 7: you leave my side and find yourself to Leah.
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Speaker 2: She's the one who's given you sons, Rachel, My love
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Speaker 2: is for you and you alone. You know this, yes,
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Speaker 2: But for how long?
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Speaker 7: Jacob? How will we measure up when I am old
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Speaker 7: and baron and Leah has given you a hundred sons?
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Speaker 1: Jacob was silent, shifting his eyes down and to the side.
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Speaker 1: Rachel's upper lip curled upward into a snarl. She was
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Speaker 1: a shepherdess, not a prophetess, but she could see the future.
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Speaker 1: In that moment, she could see Jacob and Leah side
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Speaker 1: by side, advancing the call of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca.
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Speaker 7: I won't lose you and my status to Leah. I refuse.
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Speaker 2: What are we supposed to do? Rachel? I can't make
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Speaker 2: you fertile anymore than I can make the sunrise.
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Speaker 7: No, but there are other ways for me to give
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Speaker 7: you children. Marry my half sister and maidservant, bil Ha.
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Speaker 7: She can have children on my behalf.
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Speaker 1: Jacob froze and peered at Rachel for a long while.
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Speaker 7: Is is this a trap, No, Jacob, this is a
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Speaker 7: way for me to seize control. Bill Ha is still young.
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Speaker 7: She can give you more children on my behalf. We
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Speaker 7: will exercise the ritual of fertility. I will stand over
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Speaker 7: her when she gives birth, so that I too may
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Speaker 7: become fertile. This way, you have a son in my honor,
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Speaker 7: and my womb may be opened.
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Speaker 1: Jacob knew about his grandfather's history. He knew about hagar
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Speaker 1: Ishmael and the ensuing chaos after Abraham had taken a
00:17:14
Speaker 1: second wife. Yet for all this knowledge, Jacob couldn't see
00:17:19
Speaker 1: the trap door to chaos right before him. With the
00:17:22
Speaker 1: same clueless carnal decision making as Abraham, Jacob agreed.
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Speaker 2: Ah very well, send bill Halen. The two of us
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Speaker 2: will be bound in covenant, and she will give me
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Speaker 2: sons on your behalf.
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Speaker 7: Bill Ha, Yes, my lady, we have discussed this matter already.
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Speaker 7: You will bear Jacob's sons on my behalf. Between the
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Speaker 7: two of us, we will catch up to Leah. As
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Speaker 7: you say, my lady, don't be so uptight now.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: Billah was brought to Jacob's side. Together, they consummated a
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Speaker 1: marriage and bound her future children to Rachel's. It was
00:18:01
Speaker 1: an awkward and unsavory event. Rachel, warring with her own
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Speaker 1: self worth, shared her husband with yet another Billa, conceived
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Speaker 1: and bore a son. Rachel, in accordance with the rituals
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Speaker 1: of the time, stood over her in an attempt to
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Speaker 1: open up her womb. It was a vain attempt.
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Speaker 7: What should his name be, my lady, His name will
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Speaker 7: be Damn, For God has heard my voice and judged
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Speaker 7: rightly that I should have a son.
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Speaker 1: Jacob's growing family was marked with tension. Rachel and Leah,
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Speaker 1: bound by blood and marriage, were forced to live in
00:18:41
Speaker 1: close proximity to each other, but their hatred boiled even
00:18:45
Speaker 1: deeper towards each other since Billah entered the fray.
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Speaker 7: Oh isn't damn precious? He's going to be a strong boy.
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Speaker 1: Rachel swooned over Billa's child loudly and in front of Lear.
00:19:00
Speaker 4: Yes, Bila must be happy to have such a healthy child.
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Speaker 4: He's mine by right too, you know sure, Rachel, whatever
00:19:08
Speaker 4: brings you comfort.
00:19:10
Speaker 1: That night, Rachel gave Billa to Jacob again out of spite.
00:19:14
Speaker 1: Jacob was once again thrust into the middle of a
00:19:17
Speaker 1: war between sisters. In the moment, he enjoyed playing his part,
00:19:22
Speaker 1: but with each child born to him, things only seemed
00:19:25
Speaker 1: to get worse. Billa conceived and bore another son. Rachel
00:19:31
Speaker 1: laughed at the sight of him. She had a competitive
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Speaker 1: fire in her against Leah.
00:19:36
Speaker 7: His name shall be neft Tully with mighty wrestling, I
00:19:41
Speaker 7: have struggled and warred with my sister and seized a victory.
00:19:47
Speaker 1: Leah paced back and forth, bouncing Judah on her hip.
00:19:51
Speaker 1: Zilpah was close by, weaving a basket for Reuben to
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Speaker 1: take down to the stream for catching toads.
00:19:58
Speaker 4: Rachel so smug about these news children. The one thing
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Speaker 4: I had over her was that I could bear children.
00:20:04
Speaker 4: But of course, clever, smart and talented Rachel finds a way.
00:20:08
Speaker 7: It's just like our childhood bill Has seems happy with
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Speaker 7: the children I met, least glad she gets that.
00:20:16
Speaker 4: Joy don't take their side. Yes, my lady, I've tried
00:20:21
Speaker 4: many times to conceive another child, but I'm afraid I've
00:20:23
Speaker 4: dried up or something. At this rate, Rachel and Bila
00:20:27
Speaker 4: will catch up. And who's to say Rachel won't end
00:20:30
Speaker 4: up having children of her own.
00:20:32
Speaker 7: I think Jacob is content with having five healthy sons.
00:20:36
Speaker 7: My lady, do we need to press this further?
00:20:39
Speaker 4: Oh, you don't understand. This isn't about Jacob anymore. This
00:20:45
Speaker 4: is about me and Rachel. This is about who will
00:20:48
Speaker 4: sit as the matriarch of this family. This is about
00:20:52
Speaker 4: dominance Zilpah, This is about whose name will be etched
00:20:56
Speaker 4: next to Jacob's in history.
00:20:58
Speaker 7: Then what do we do, my lady. We can't open
00:21:01
Speaker 7: your womb to receive more children any more than we
00:21:04
Speaker 7: can close Bill has.
00:21:06
Speaker 4: Rachel has changed the rules of the game. We'll play
00:21:10
Speaker 4: by her rules. You'll marry Jacob as well and had
00:21:13
Speaker 4: children on my behalf. It would be an honor, my lady,
00:21:18
Speaker 4: Are you sure it must be done?
00:21:22
Speaker 1: Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob, another pawn in the war
00:21:26
Speaker 1: between Leah and Rachel. Leah spoke truly. It was no
00:21:31
Speaker 1: longer about love gained and love kept between Jacob and
00:21:34
Speaker 1: his wives. It had become a battle of dominance. The
00:21:38
Speaker 1: sons of Jacob were born from petty squabbles of favoritism
00:21:42
Speaker 1: and vice for power. Zilpah bore two sons, Goad, which
00:21:47
Speaker 1: means good fortune, and Asher, which means happy. They represented
00:21:52
Speaker 1: Lea's abundance and the growing confidence she had as a
00:21:55
Speaker 1: woman of prominence in Jacob's household. The heat of summer
00:22:00
Speaker 1: gave way to the chilly bite of four The morning,
00:22:04
Speaker 1: dew grew frosted, and the wheat crops were fresh and
00:22:07
Speaker 1: ready for harvest. Leah knew this was the perfect time
00:22:11
Speaker 1: to dig for mandrakes, often called love apples, they were
00:22:15
Speaker 1: well known to affect fertility. Leah sent Reuben out to
00:22:18
Speaker 1: dig for mandrakes. His hands bore through the cold earth,
00:22:22
Speaker 1: digging up as many roots as possible. When Rachel approached,
00:22:27
Speaker 1: he was carrying them back to his mother in a basket.
00:22:30
Speaker 7: You there, boy, come here, what do you have there?
00:22:34
Speaker 2: Mandrakes for my mother?
00:22:36
Speaker 7: Give some to me.
00:22:38
Speaker 2: I don't think I should.
00:22:43
Speaker 7: Come now. I'm your dear aunt, give me some of
00:22:47
Speaker 7: your man drakes.
00:22:48
Speaker 4: Stop harassing my son.
00:22:50
Speaker 1: Leah approached with the tenacity of a mother.
00:22:53
Speaker 7: Bear, give me some of your son's mandrakes.
00:22:57
Speaker 4: Huh. Not only have you taken my husband away for me,
00:23:00
Speaker 4: but now you want my son's mandrakes.
00:23:03
Speaker 7: Enough of that nonsense about me stealing your husband. It's childish. Besides,
00:23:09
Speaker 7: I need those mandrakes more than you do.
00:23:11
Speaker 4: Yet they're mine to give or keep as I please.
00:23:14
Speaker 7: Come, Reuben, I'll I'll let you lie with Jacob if
00:23:19
Speaker 7: you give me those mandrakes.
00:23:23
Speaker 1: Lea's ears perked up. Jacob had been denying Lea ever
00:23:27
Speaker 1: since she stopped bearing him children. An arrogant smile flashed
00:23:31
Speaker 1: across Rachel's face. Leah claimed that Jacob was her husband,
00:23:36
Speaker 1: yet here Rachel was a gatekeeper for his bed. She
00:23:40
Speaker 1: had the real power. Lea's mind went back to the
00:23:43
Speaker 1: beginning of this mess, when she was but a girl.
00:23:46
Speaker 1: Desperate for Jacob's affection. She longed to be close to
00:23:50
Speaker 1: him again. She drew a deep breath, nodded to Reuben,
00:23:54
Speaker 1: and said, give her.
00:23:56
Speaker 4: The man drakes.
00:23:59
Speaker 7: You say I stole your husband, fine, but he's mine
00:24:03
Speaker 7: to give now, don't forget it.
00:24:07
Speaker 1: Through the agreement struck with roots, Leah conceived two more sons,
00:24:12
Speaker 1: Hissakhah and Zebulen. She also bore him a daughter.
00:24:17
Speaker 4: Dinah, God has given me what's fair, since I've been generous.
00:24:22
Speaker 4: Now my husband has no choice but to honor me,
00:24:25
Speaker 4: since I've given him six sons.
00:24:27
Speaker 2: And a daughter.
00:24:29
Speaker 1: Even so, after years of struggle and turmoil, God saw
00:24:33
Speaker 1: fit to open Rachael's womb. She and Jacob conceived out
00:24:38
Speaker 1: of love, and thus the grand spiral of love, favoritism,
00:24:43
Speaker 1: and hatred continued. The grassy plains of Canaan were glowing
00:24:49
Speaker 1: under the radiance of the stars. The heavens stretched out,
00:24:53
Speaker 1: bending like a bow across the wilds. Each star was
00:24:57
Speaker 1: a twinkling witness to Rachel's struggle. Her labored breaths rose
00:25:01
Speaker 1: with the fire warming her tenth.
00:25:07
Speaker 7: I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I never
00:25:14
Speaker 7: imagined this was possible. I thought God had forgotten me.
00:25:19
Speaker 1: Oh oh.
00:25:23
Speaker 2: Ah, what's taking so long? What's wrong?
00:25:28
Speaker 1: Jacob was outside, forming a circle in the dirt with
00:25:31
Speaker 1: his constant pacing. Rachel lay there, looking up at the
00:25:36
Speaker 1: canvas above. Sweat beat down her brow and back. Jacob
00:25:41
Speaker 1: Jacob ran close to the canvas wall and placed his
00:25:44
Speaker 1: face beside it.
00:25:46
Speaker 2: I'm here, my love.
00:25:49
Speaker 1: Rachel closed her eyes and smiled. Having Jacob close helped.
00:25:54
Speaker 1: She had longed to give him a child since the
00:25:56
Speaker 1: first time they met. Now, after nearly a life together,
00:26:01
Speaker 1: here she was only moments away from her dream. She
00:26:05
Speaker 1: propped her head up and nodded to the midwife. She
00:26:08
Speaker 1: curled forward and pushed.
00:26:09
Speaker 2: With all her might. He was coming.
00:26:12
Speaker 1: She did it again with a high scream. Closer a
00:26:17
Speaker 1: third time, she clenched her fists and pushed. Her screams
00:26:21
Speaker 1: were suddenly replaced by the soft cries of a newborn child,
00:26:26
Speaker 1: a son, a pined after, precious miracle. The minute Jacob
00:26:31
Speaker 1: heard those cries from the other side of the tent,
00:26:34
Speaker 1: he ran in His son cried in Rachel's arms. He
00:26:38
Speaker 1: was the most beautiful thing Jacob had ever seen. Finally
00:26:42
Speaker 1: he had a child born from love. All other blessings
00:26:46
Speaker 1: in his life seemed to fade into the background as
00:26:49
Speaker 1: he gazed upon his miracle child. He held him in
00:26:53
Speaker 1: his arms. His beaming smile revealed his old and cracked face.
00:26:59
Speaker 2: My son, my son, I shall name you Joseph.
00:27:04
Speaker 1: He kissed his son's cheek and laid him in the
00:27:07
Speaker 1: arms of his mother. Out of all of his brothers,
00:27:10
Speaker 1: Joseph carried the favor of his father. The boy would
00:27:14
Speaker 1: grow up under the attentive wing of his parents and
00:27:16
Speaker 1: increase in knowledge, skill, and pride. Great would be his
00:27:22
Speaker 1: rise in his family, and great would be his fall.
00:27:27
Speaker 1: Jacob expanded his lineage larger than his forefathers could ever imagine,
00:27:32
Speaker 1: eleven sons to bear the promise given to Abraham and Isaac.
00:27:36
Speaker 1: Yet the house of Jacob had a foundation built on pettiness, favoritism,
00:27:41
Speaker 1: and jealousy. Jacob did nothing to thwart the coiling weeds
00:27:46
Speaker 1: of discord, choking out the life of his wives and children.
00:27:54
Speaker 6: Jealousy in insidious whisper. That's so is discord and discontent.
00:28:00
Speaker 6: It lurks in the shadows of Leah and Rachel's story,
00:28:04
Speaker 6: two sisters, each longing for the love and approval that
00:28:08
Speaker 6: they see in the other. Competition, fears, and unrelenting the
00:28:13
Speaker 6: ache of unmet needs drives them to desperate measures. Rachel
00:28:18
Speaker 6: barren and beautiful, Leah fruitful but unloved, And amid all
00:28:24
Speaker 6: of this messy human strife, there's God he sees, he remembers.
00:28:32
Speaker 6: In the mess of their lives, God's mercy actually shines through.
00:28:38
Speaker 6: He opens wombs, blesses children, and hears the cries of
00:28:42
Speaker 6: the overlooked and the forgotten. What strikes me most is
00:28:47
Speaker 6: the humanity of it all. The Bible doesn't sugarcoat these stories.
00:28:52
Speaker 6: It presents them in all of their messiness, in their jealousy, competition,
00:28:57
Speaker 6: and pain. Leah and race Till are relatable. Their story
00:29:05
Speaker 6: is our story, flawed, fractured, and still filled with moments
00:29:10
Speaker 6: of divine intervention. God steps right into the middle of
00:29:15
Speaker 6: our mess, bringing us blessings and hope even when we
00:29:19
Speaker 6: don't realize it. So as I reflect on Leah and Rachel,
00:29:24
Speaker 6: I'm reminded of the beauty that can arise from our
00:29:28
Speaker 6: deepest wounds. I'm reminded of God's blessings in the darkness,
00:29:33
Speaker 6: and I'm thankful for them. When I was young, I,
00:29:37
Speaker 6: like most girls, dreamed of the day that I would
00:29:39
Speaker 6: hold my own children. But bringing life into this world
00:29:43
Speaker 6: is not a given. I had friends whose hearts ached
00:29:47
Speaker 6: with the burden of infertility, and friends who endured the
00:29:51
Speaker 6: silent sorrow of miscarriages. So when my husband and I
00:29:55
Speaker 6: were blessed with our first child, a healthy baby girl.
00:29:59
Speaker 6: My heart overflowed with gratitude. It was a miracle in
00:30:04
Speaker 6: every sense of the word, one that we didn't take
00:30:07
Speaker 6: for granted, because we understood that life is a gift,
00:30:12
Speaker 6: it's not a given. In this week's Biblical drama, we
00:30:16
Speaker 6: encounter Leah who gives birth to her fourth son and
00:30:20
Speaker 6: she names him Judah. In Hebrew, his name is Yehudah,
00:30:26
Speaker 6: and Yehudah means thankfulness. The Jewish sage is suggest that
00:30:31
Speaker 6: one of the qualities of the Chosen people is that
00:30:34
Speaker 6: of thankfulness. In fact, in Hebrew, the Jewish people are
00:30:38
Speaker 6: called Yehudeem, from the same root as Yehudah. We are
00:30:43
Speaker 6: called the people of Judah. Time and time again. The
00:30:49
Speaker 6: Bible teaches us how important it is to be thankful
00:30:51
Speaker 6: to God for everything that he gives us, and how
00:30:55
Speaker 6: important it is to be thankful when others help us,
00:30:59
Speaker 6: and so Leah's seemingly simple naming of her child Yehuda
00:31:05
Speaker 6: or Judah in English, has served as a reminder to
00:31:09
Speaker 6: generations of God's chosen people to always be thankful to Him,
00:31:15
Speaker 6: to always be thankful to our human beings, that even
00:31:19
Speaker 6: during hard times and darkness, we still need to hold
00:31:23
Speaker 6: on to even something little that we can.
00:31:26
Speaker 2: Be grateful for.
00:31:27
Speaker 6: But before Leah names her fourth son, Judah, the Bible
00:31:30
Speaker 6: tells us that she says something else. Leah gives birth
00:31:34
Speaker 6: to her son and declares, quote, this time, I will
00:31:38
Speaker 6: praise the Lord end quote. With this proclamation, Leiah became
00:31:45
Speaker 6: the first human to ever truly praise God.
00:31:50
Speaker 7: But how can that be?
00:31:52
Speaker 6: Hadn't one of these holy figures we've read about so
00:31:55
Speaker 6: far in the Bible already praised God. You'd think that Noah,
00:31:59
Speaker 6: who witness the flood and the Covenant of the Rainbow,
00:32:01
Speaker 6: would have praised God for those magnificent miracles, or that Abraham,
00:32:06
Speaker 6: given a son in his old age, would have praised
00:32:08
Speaker 6: God for that blessing. While others had indeed praised God,
00:32:13
Speaker 6: they'd done so in response to extraordinary, miraculous events, Leah's
00:32:19
Speaker 6: praise was different. She praised God for the every day miracles,
00:32:26
Speaker 6: the wonders that she and generations before her, maybe even
00:32:31
Speaker 6: us today, often overlook. She gave birth to a healthy child,
00:32:38
Speaker 6: and she recognized God's hand at work. It's easy to
00:32:43
Speaker 6: overlook his everyday miracles.
00:32:46
Speaker 2: Isn't it.
00:32:47
Speaker 6: We might miss the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary. The
00:32:52
Speaker 6: glory of a sunrise, the brilliance of stars that shine
00:32:58
Speaker 6: in the night sky, the joy of speaking to a
00:33:02
Speaker 6: close friend, the satisfaction of eating a home cooked meal.
00:33:09
Speaker 6: I have to tell you, my friends, these are miracles,
00:33:13
Speaker 6: and sometimes all of us take them for granted. What
00:33:17
Speaker 6: I learn from Leah is that when we open up
00:33:20
Speaker 6: our eyes in our hearts, we will see God's everyday
00:33:24
Speaker 6: miracles all around us. Jealousy, competition, thankfulness. Through it all,
00:33:33
Speaker 6: God's promise to Abraham weaves through this tangled narrative. The
00:33:38
Speaker 6: birth of the Twelve Tribes is not a fairy tale.
00:33:42
Speaker 6: It's not usually easy. Actually, it's messy. It's human drama.
00:33:48
Speaker 6: It's a drama that reveels God's plan. The twelve tribes
00:33:53
Speaker 6: of Israel, each one of them, when you look at
00:33:57
Speaker 6: their story, is a testament to God's relentless faithfulness even
00:34:03
Speaker 6: in the hard times. Leah and Rachel's sons become the
00:34:07
Speaker 6: foundation of Israel, the nation through which God's promise to
00:34:11
Speaker 6: Abraham is fulfilled. God's plans aren't thwarted by our flaws. No,
00:34:19
Speaker 6: maybe he even needs our flaws in order to show
00:34:23
Speaker 6: his grace. And remember this, God's covenant isn't dependent on
00:34:30
Speaker 6: our perfection. He didn't create us to be perfect, but
00:34:35
Speaker 6: He did create us to turn our hearts to Him
00:34:39
Speaker 6: during the hard times. And that, my friends, is grace.
00:34:46
Speaker 6: In our daily Jewish prayers, we recite quote we.
00:34:49
Speaker 7: Give thanks to you.
00:34:51
Speaker 6: Your miracles are with us every day, and your wonders
00:34:54
Speaker 6: and your goodness are with us at all times.
00:34:57
Speaker 2: End quote.
00:34:59
Speaker 6: This prayer serves as a constant reminder to reflect on
00:35:02
Speaker 6: the miracles that we experience every day, to acknowledge the
00:35:07
Speaker 6: divine in our lives so that we never take these
00:35:09
Speaker 6: moments for granted. When we recognize God's hands in the
00:35:13
Speaker 6: little things like waking up in the morning, being able
00:35:18
Speaker 6: to speak, being able to breathe, being able to see.
00:35:22
Speaker 6: When we recognize God in those things, we experience his
00:35:27
Speaker 6: presence in the big things. And when we acknowledge God's
00:35:32
Speaker 6: everyday miracles, we open ourselves up to witnessing the greatest
00:35:36
Speaker 6: miracles of all God's revelations. So let's be inspired to
00:35:43
Speaker 6: be like Leah. Let's praise God not just for the
00:35:46
Speaker 6: grand and the extraordinary, but for his miracles that sustain
00:35:50
Speaker 6: us each and every day, because it's in the small
00:35:55
Speaker 6: and the simple that we find the wonder of His
00:35:57
Speaker 6: creation and the depth of his blessings. The blessing that
00:36:01
Speaker 6: I close with is very special to me. It's the
00:36:05
Speaker 6: priestly blessing from number six. And it's a blessing that
00:36:08
Speaker 6: my Abba, my father Rabbei fhil Ekstein of blessed memory,
00:36:12
Speaker 6: gave to me and my sisters. He blessed us with
00:36:17
Speaker 6: this blessing every Friday night an Shabbat, I'm the Sabbath,
00:36:22
Speaker 6: and it's the blessing that I leave you with today.
00:36:26
Speaker 6: Ivare Hashem vishmerechra ya heir hashempanave elera verra ye sa
00:36:34
Speaker 6: hashempanave lehra.
00:36:37
Speaker 2: Shalon.
00:36:38
Speaker 6: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the
00:36:40
Speaker 6: Lord make his face shine upon you. May he be
00:36:43
Speaker 6: gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face towards
00:36:47
Speaker 6: you and give you peace.
00:36:49
Speaker 2: Amen.
00:36:50
Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with you. Isl
00:36:53
Speaker 1: Exstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
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00:37:01
Speaker 1: made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents, Steve Gattina,
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Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
00:37:10
Speaker 1: producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
00:37:14
Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
00:37:19
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
00:37:24
Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
00:37:28
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
00:37:32
Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
00:37:37
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