Leah (Hebrew origin: Weary)
(Genesis 29:16). 18th century b.c.e.
Leah was the eldest daughter of Laban, Jacob's uncle. She was not as pretty as her younger sister Rachel. Her cousin Jacob, who had recently come to Haran and was staying with them, fell in love with Rachel and agreed to serve Laban during seven years for her. After the seven years were over, on the day of the wedding, Laban made a great feast; but instead of Rachel, he sent Leah in her place disguised behind a veil. After the wedding night, Jacob woke up to find that the woman next to him was not Rachel but her older sister, Leah. Laban explained that it was the custom of the land that the elder daughter be married before the younger, but that he would allow Rachel to marry Jacob a week later, with the condition that Jacob work another seven years for Laban.
Jacob agreed. He married Rachel a week later and continued working for Laban. Jacob did not hide the fact that he loved Rachel and hated Leah; but it was Leah who gave him sons, while Rachel remained barren. Leah bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. Rachel, still childless, was envious of her sister and gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine. Leah, seeing that she had stopped bearing children, followed her sister's example and gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob as a concubine. Leah later gave birth to Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. Years later, Leah died, and Jacob buried her in the
cave of Machpelah, where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and eventually Jacob himself, were buried. It is ironic that Leah, the unloved wife, rested in the same grave with Jacob, while Rachel was buried in another place.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
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