Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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to love; and, as an early instance of her dominion over the children born in her apartment, she takes a pleasure in giving them names that carry in them nothing but marks of emulation with her sister, as if she had overcome her,
(1.) At law. She calls the first son of her handmaid Dan (judgement), saying, "God hath judged me" (Ge 30:6), that is, "given sentence in my favour."
(2.) In battle. She calls the next Naphtali (wrestlings), saying, I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed (Ge 30:8); as if all Jacob's sons must be born men of contention. See what roots of bitterness envy and strife are, and what mischief they make among relations.
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in
unto her.
5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my
voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan [judging].
7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second
son.
8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my
sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali [my wrestling].
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her
maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
At the persuasion of Leah, he took Zilpah her handmaid to wife also, Ge 30:9. Rachel had done that absurd and preposterous thing of giving her maid to her husband, in emulation with Leah; and now Leah (because she missed one year in bearing children) does the same, to be even with her, or rather to keep before her. See the power of jealousy and rivalship, and admire the wisdom of the divine appointment, which unites one man and one woman only; for God hath called us to peace and purity, 1Co 7:15. Two sons Zilpah bore to Jacob, whom Leah looked upon herself as entitled to, in token of which she called one Gad (Ge 30:11), promising