Daily Chumash & Rashi Revi’i Vayeitzei – Rachel trades her night with Yaakov in exchange for Reuvein’s flowers

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Revi’i

  • Rachel trades her night with Yaakov in exchange for Reuvein’s flowers: Reuvein went out in the days of the wheat harvest and found Dudaim [jasmine] in the field. He gave them to his mother Leah. Rachel asked Leah to give her some of the flowers of her son. Leah replied “Is it not enough that you have taken my husband that now you want to take my sons flowers!” In response, Rachel told Leah that in exchange for the flowers, Leah could sleep with Yaakov that night. That night upon Yaakov’s arrival from the field, Leah came to greet him, telling him that she bought off Rachel with the Dudaim flowers of her son. Yaakov slept with her that night.
  • Leah gives birth to Yissachar, Zevulun, and Dina: Hashem hearkened to Leah and she became pregnant and gave birth to a fifth son who she named Yissachar, in commemoration of the fact that “Hashem has rewarded me for having given my maidservant to my husband.” She again became pregnant and had a sixth son for Yaakov who she named Zevulun, in commemoration of the fact that “Hashem has merited me with a good endowment, as I have borne my husband six sons and now he will make his permanent home with me.” Afterwards Leah had a daughter who she named Dina.
  • Rachel gives birth to Yosef: Hashem remembered Rachel and hearkened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and had a son who she called Yosef in commemoration of the fact that “Hashem has gathered [and concealed] my disgrace” and as a future prayer that “Hashem should add on for me another son.”

 

  1. Yaakov asks to leave:
  • After Rachel gave birth to Yosef, Yaakov asked Lavan to let him go back to his home and take his wives and children with him, as he worked for them in exchange. Lavan replied that he does not want Yaakov to leave as he has the belief that he was blessed by G-d due to his presence.

Bereshit 30 – Q&A Study Guide (Rashi)

 Reuven and the Jasmine

  1. Why does the Torah mention “during the season of the wheat harvest”?

To praise Reuven: despite it being harvest time, he did not steal grain but took only ownerless plants (mandrakes).

 

  1. What are “דודאים” according to Rashi?

They are siglei (violets), called “yasmin” in Arabic.

 

  1. Why did Leah respond sharply to Rachel?

She felt Rachel had already taken her husband and now wanted her son’s mandrakes too.

 

  1. What was Rachel’s proposal in return for the mandrakes?

That Yaakov would sleep with Leah that night in exchange for the mandrakes.

 

Leah’s Additional Children

  1. What does “שָׂכֹר שְׂכַרְתִּיךָ” mean?

“I have hired you”—Leah told Yaakov she had paid Rachel’s price for that night.

 

  1. Why does the Torah say “בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא”?

It hints that God assisted in this union, resulting in Issachar’s birth.

 

  1. Why was Issachar named so?

Leah said, “God has granted me my reward for giving my maidservant to my husband.”

 

  1. Why was Zebulun named so?

Leah said, “God has given me a good portion; now my husband will dwell with me,” as she had borne six sons.

 

  1. Why was Dinah given her name?

Leah judged herself (דנה) and prayed that the child be female so Rachel would not be shamed.

 

Rachel’s Merit and Joseph’s Birth

  1. Why does the Torah say “God remembered Rachel”?

He remembered her merit—giving the secret signs to Leah and her distress over possibly falling to Esav.

 

  1. What does “אָסַף אֱלֹהִים אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִי” mean?

“God has gathered my disgrace”—her shame of barrenness was removed.

 

  1. Why was Joseph named so?

Rachel prayed, “May God add another son for me,” knowing prophetically that Yaakov would father twelve tribes.

 

Yaakov’s Request to Leave

  1. Why did Yaakov ask to return home after Joseph’s birth?

Joseph’s birth signaled strength against Esav, as “the House of Joseph will be a flame.”

 

  1. Why did Lavan plead for Yaakov to stay?

He learned through divination that his blessings came because of Yaakov.

 

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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