Woman living at the time of the Patriarchs
Leah
Laban’s elder daughter, whose eyes were weak, while her younger sister Rachel was beautiful (Genesis 29:16–17). Laban gave her to Jacob on the wedding night in place of Rachel (Genesis 29:21–25). Jacob loved Rachel more, but “Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb” (Genesis 29:31). She bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah, and her servant Zilpah bore Gad and Asher (Genesis 29:31–35; 30:9–21).
Through Judah and Levi she is the ancestor of the royal line of David and of Jesus, and of Israel’s priests. She was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:31). The elders of Bethlehem later prayed that a bride would be like Rachel and Leah, “which both built the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11).
Family
- Father
- Laban
- Husband
- Jacob
- Children
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah