Women in the Bible

Rachel

Genesis 29-31; 33; 35:16-21, 24-25; 46:19, 22, 25; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:11-21; Matthew 2:18

• Genesis 29: 16-18 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel, so he said [to Laban], “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

• Ruth 4:11 Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem;

• Matthew 2:18 A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.

List of Reading & Resources:

Articles

• “Leah’s Improbably Optimism” by Annie Norman-Schiff

• "Rachel: Bible" by Tikva Frymer-Kensky

• “Leah’s Prayers: A Feminist Reading” by Noam Zion

• "Rachel" by Amanda Mbuvi

• "Barrenness" by Cynthia R. Chapman

• "Bride-Price: The Story of Jacob’s Marriage to Rachel and Leah" by Dr. Kristine Henriksen Garroway

• "How Is It Possible that Jacob Mistakes Leah for Rachel?" by Dr. Rabbi Zev Farber

• "Rachel’s Teraphim: A Critique of the Northern Kingdom" by Prof. Erin D. Darby

• "Love Triangle: Leah, Rachel and Jacob" by Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.

• “Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah” by Tamar Kadari in Jewish Women’s Archive

• "Rachel" by Amanda Mbuvi

Books

• “Rachel and Leah’s Shared Anger” by Wendy Zierler on My Jewish Learning, Reprinted from The Torah: A Women’s Commentary (2008)

• "Genesis" by Susan Niditch in Women’s Bible Commentary, edited by Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. RInge (2012)

• "Gospel of Matthew" by Amy-Jill Levine in Women's Bible Commentary, edited by Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley (2012)

Podcasts

• “Loved and Unloved Wives” podcast from Parsha in Progress