14 And Reuben goeth in the days of wheat-harvest, and findeth love-apples in the field, and bringeth them in unto Leah, his mother, and Rachel saith unto Leah, 'Give to me, I pray thee, of the love-apples of thy son.' 15 And she saith to her, 'Is thy taking my husband a little thing, that thou hast taken also the love-apples of my son?' and Rachel saith, 'Therefore doth he lie with thee to-night, for thy son's love-apples.' 16 And Jacob cometh in from the field at evening; and Leah goeth to meet him, and saith, 'Unto me dost thou come in, for hiring I have hired thee with my son's love-apples;' and he lieth with her during that night. 17 And God hearkeneth unto Leah, and she conceiveth, and beareth to Jacob a son, a fifth, 18 and Leah saith, 'God hath given my hire, because I have given my maid-servant to my husband;' and she calleth his name Issachar. 19 And conceive again doth Leah, and she beareth a sixth son to Jacob, 20 and Leah saith, 'God hath endowed me—a good dowry; this time doth my husband dwell with me, for I have borne to him six sons;' and she calleth his name Zebulun; 21 and afterwards hath she born a daughter, and calleth her name Dinah. 22 And God remembereth Rachel, and God hearkeneth unto her, and openeth her womb, 23 and she conceiveth and beareth a son, and saith, 'God hath gathered up my reproach;' 24 and she calleth his name Joseph, saying, 'Jehovah is adding to me another son.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 30:14-24
Commentary on Genesis 30:14-24
(Read Genesis 30:14-24)
The desire, good in itself, but often too great and irregular, of being the mother of the promised Seed, with the honour of having many children, and the reproach of being barren, were causes of this unbecoming contest between the sisters. The truth appears to be, that they were influenced by the promises of God to Abraham; whose posterity were promised the richest blessings, and from whom the Messiah was to descend.