THIS PARTICULAR PARASHAH - where we see endless jealousy and wrangling going on between Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) two wives - provides a perfect example revealing that God never intended men to have more than one wife! (And YES, I am directing these comments to the cruel and nonsensical “Gawd condones, and wants men to multiple wives” crowd in the Hebrew Roots arena!)
Just take a look at the anguish this caused the two sisters, Rachel and Leah:
Genesis 30: 1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Ya'akov, she envied her sister and said to Ya'akov, "Give me children, or I will die!" 2 This made Ya'akov angry at Rachel; he answered, "Am I in God's place? He's the one who is denying you children." 3 She said, "Here is my maid Bilhah. Go, sleep with her, and let her give birth to a child that will be laid on my knees, so that through her I too can build a family." 4 So she gave him Bilhah her slave-girl as his wife, and Ya'akov went in and slept with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and bore Ya'akov a son. 6 Rachel said, "God has judged in my favor; indeed he has heard me and given me a son." Therefore she called him Dan [he judged].
7 Bilhah Rachel's slave-girl conceived again and bore Ya'akov a second son. 8 Rachel said, "I have wrestled mightily with my sister and won," and called him Naftali [my wrestling]. 9 When Le'ah saw that she had stopped having children, she took Zilpah her slave-girl and gave her to Ya'akov as his wife. 10 Zilpah Le'ah's slave-girl bore Ya'akov a son; 11 and Le'ah said, "Good fortune has come," calling him Gad [good fortune]. 12 Zilpah Le'ah's slave-girl bore Ya'akov a second son; 13 and Le'ah said, "How happy I am! Women will say I am happy!" and called him Asher [happy].
14 During the wheat harvest season Re'uven went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Le'ah. Rachel said to Le'ah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes [so that I can be fertile]." 15 She answered, "Isn't it enough that you have taken away my husband? Do you have to take my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "Very well; in exchange for your son's mandrakes, sleep with him tonight."
16 When Ya'akov came in from the field in the evening, Le'ah went out to meet him and said, "You have to come and sleep with me, because I've hired you with my son's mandrakes." So Ya'akov slept with her that night. 17 God listened to Le'ah, and she conceived and bore Ya'akov a fifth son. 18 Le'ah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my slave-girl to my husband." So she called him Yissakhar [hire, reward].
19 Le'ah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Ya'akov. 20 Le'ah said, "God has given me a wonderful gift. Now at last my husband will live with me, since I have borne him six sons." And she called him Z'vulun [living together]. 21 After this, she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah [controversy over rights]. 22 Then God took note of Rachel, heeded her prayer and made her fertile. 23 She conceived, had a son and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." 24 She called him Yosef [may he add], saying, "May ADONAI add to me another son."
The only "Tribe" missing is Binyamin, whom we meet when he is born, in next week's parashah (Genesis 35:18). Note that, while we see a daughter (Dinah) born to Leah, only the sons became known as the "Tribes" of Israel.
IN CLOSING, the above is just ONE example of the destructive “multiple wives” myth being perpetuated in the Hebrew Roots/Messianic circles. Jealousy is NOT a godly virtue (1 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 5:26 ) but it absolutely cannot be avoided when husbands are sleeping with other women! (The same goes for women who commit adultery.) Relationships like that never end well. Not to mention, you cannot be “one flesh” with lots of people (Genesis 2:24).
End of story!
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