Leah
Elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob; mother of six of the tribal patriarchs, including Levi and Judah.
What we know — and how we know it
Utilisateur:Djampa - User:Djampa — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyJacob records that he buried Leah in the cave of Machpelah at Hebron — the only one of his wives laid there. The site is marked today by a massive stone enclosure raised by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC — the oldest such structure still in use — venerated as the Tomb of the Patriarchs ever since.
Where in scripture
GenesisRuthLaban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Genesis 29:16
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.
Genesis 29:23 — Given to Jacob
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time will I praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Genesis 29:35 — Mother of Judah
Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
Genesis 31:4
Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Genesis 31:14
Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
Genesis 31:33
Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants.
Genesis 33:1
He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
Genesis 33:2
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 7 recorded sayings
“And Leah was with child, and gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name Reuben: for she said, The Lord has seen my sorrow; now my husband will have love for me. Then she became with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Because it has come to the Lord's ears that I am not loved, he has given me this son in addition: and she gave him the name Simeon. And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Now at last my husband will be united to me, because I have given him three sons: so he was named Levi. And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son: and she…” — Genesis 29:32-35
“And Leah said, It has gone well for me: and she gave him the name Gad.” — Genesis 30:11
“And Leah said, Happy am I! and all women will give witness to my joy: and she gave him the name Asher.” — Genesis 30:13
“But Leah said to her, Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband from me? and now would you take my son's love-fruits? Then Rachel said, You may have him tonight in exchange for your son's love-fruits.” — Genesis 30:15
“In the evening, when Jacob came in from the field, Leah went out to him and said, Tonight you are to come to me, for I have given my son's love-fruits as a price for you. And he went in to her that night.” — Genesis 30:16
“Then Leah said, God has made payment to me for giving my servant-girl to my husband: so she gave her son the name Issachar.” — Genesis 30:18
“And she said, God has given me a good bride-price; now at last will I have my husband living with me, for I have given him six sons: and she gave him the name Zebulun.” — Genesis 30:20
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
