Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/277

Rh Jacob and Laban part 'of their

father's

flocks,

l)y

259 that

the iniph'cation

this

portion of

the return for Jacob's services should have been given to them.

V. final

For the practice

19.

XXV. Among many

marriage

of

between

cousins

cf.

the

note to

V.

26.

may

peoples in various parts of the world, the

l)e given in marriage before her older sister. This was probably an actual practice in Laban's tribe, and not merely a plausible excuse invented by him for the occasion, and in order to dispose of both his daughters for a good price and at one stroke.

3'ounger daughter

not

marriage festivities, as in this instance, an entire week. Jacob is not to repudiate Leah, but is to complete the marriage festivities with her during this week. Then next week Rachel shall be given to him, and in return for lier he shall serve a further term of seven years. Leah was given to him at the end of the 'first period of seven years, and Rachel one V.

In

27.

generally

the

continue

Orient for

According to at the beginning of the second period. Joseph was born to Rachel at the end of the second period of seven years in other words she had been barren for six years. V. 3L Children are considered in the Orient as a gift of the Deity; cf. XXX, 2. Numerous offspring therefore imply particular divine favor; cf. I Samuel I and II, 21 and Psalm CXXVII, 3-5. V. Z2. In ancient Israel it was the mother's privilege to name her children; cf. IV, 1 and 25; I Samuel I, 20. Later this privilege

week

XXX,

later, 25,.



passed to the father;

cf.

V, 3;

XVI,

15.

Names

given to children

were generally descriptive of some thought or incident attendant upon their birth cf I Samuel IV, 19-22. Sons are more desired than daughters, and a woman who has borne a son can reasonably expect belter treatment and greater afifection on

.

the part of her husband.

XXX,

With Rachel's desire Samuel 1. 1-20).

1.

Hannah

of

liable

to

be

treated

in

divorced.

The

desire,

home,

well

as

as

for offspring

the

time

with

therefore,

Oriental

may

In the Orient

(I

little

to

regard,

safeguard

woman's

be compared that

a

childless

wife

and may even her

natural

position

and

in

is

bei

the

unrepressed

longing for offspring, make her eagerly desirous of a large family. 3. Cf. the note to XVI. The child born to a handmaid, when upon her mistress' knees, was regarded as formally adopted by the latter, and as actually her child. Vv. 14ff. It is a common superstition in many parts of the earth that mandrakes possess magical properties, conducive to the promo-

V.

laid

tion of childbirth; cf. Hartland, Primitive Paternity,

I.

44-47. \n