Thematic Bible: Domestic unhappiness


Thematic Bible



So lay he by Rachel also, and loved Rachel more than Lea, and served him yet seven years more. When the LORD saw that Lea was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rachel was barren. And Lea conceived and bare a son, and called his name Reuben, for she said, "The LORD hath looked upon my tribulation. And now my husband will love me." read more.
And she conceived again and bare a son, and said, "The LORD hath heard that I am despised, and hath therefore given me this son also." And she called him Simeon. And she conceived yet, and bare a son, and said, "Now this once will my husband keep me company, because I have borne him three sons." And therefore she called his name Levi.

When Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, she envied her sister and said unto Jacob, "Give me children, or else I am but dead." Then was Jacob wroth with Rachel saying, "Am I in God's stead which keepeth from thee the fruit of thy womb?" Then she said, "Here is my maid, Bilhah: go in unto her, that she may bear upon my lap, that I may be increased by her." read more.
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife. And Jacob went in unto her: And Bilhah conceived and bare Jacob a son. Then said Rachel, "God hath given sentence on my side, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." Therefore called she him Dan. And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again; and bare Jacob another son. And Rachel said, "God is turned, and I have made a change with my sister, and have gotten the upper hand." And she called his name Naphtali. When Lea saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Lea's maid bare Jacob a son. Then said Lea, "Good luck," and called his name Gad. And Zilpah, Lea's maid, bare Jacob another son. Then said Lea, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed." And called his name Asher. And Reuben went out in the wheat harvest and found mandragoras in the fields, and brought them unto his mother Lea. Then said Rachel to Lea, "Give me of thy son's mandragoras." And Lea answered, "Is it not enough, that thou hast taken away my husband, but wouldest take away my son's mandragoras also?" Then said Rachel, "Well, let him sleep with thee this night, for thy son's mandragoras." And when Jacob came from the fields at even, Lea went out to meet him, and said, "Come in to me, for I have bought thee with my son's mandragoras." And he slept with her that night. And God heard Lea, that she conceived and bare unto Jacob the fifth son. Then said Lea, "God hath given me my reward, because I gave my maiden to my husband." And she called him Issachar. And Lea conceived yet again and bare Jacob the sixth son. Then said she, "God hath endued me with a good dowry. Now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons." And called his name Zebulon. After that she bare a daughter, and called her Dina. And God remembered Rachel, heard her, and made her fruitful: so that she conceived and bare a son, and said, "God hath taken away my rebuke."


Sara saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, a mocking. Then she said unto Abraham, "Put away this bondmaid and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." But the word seemed very grievous in Abraham's sight, because of his son. read more.
Then the LORD said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous unto thee, because of the lad and of thy bondmaid: But in all that Sara hath said unto thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Moreover of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed." And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle with water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulders with the lad also, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered up and down in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was spent that was in the bottle, she cast the lad under a bush and went and sat her out of sight a great way; as it were a bowshot off. For she said, "I will not see the lad die." And she sat down out of sight, and lift up her voice and wept.


And it fell on a day, as Elkanah had offered, that he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters portions. But unto Hannah he gave a portion with a heavy cheer, for he loved her; nevertheless the LORD had made her barren. And thereto her enemy Peninnah vexed her a good in casting her in the teeth how the LORD had made her barren. read more.
And so did she year by year, as oft as she went up to the house of the LORD. And so chafed her: wherefore Hannah wept and ate not.