And God remembered Rachel ,.... In a way of mercy and kindness, whom he seemed to have forgotten, by not giving her children: and God hearkened to her ; to her prayer, which had been made time after time, that she might have children; but hitherto God had delayed to answer, but now gives one: and opened her womb ; gave her conception, and made her fruitful, and she became the mother of a child she so much desired. read more
And she conceived and bare a son ,.... Through the goodness of God unto her, and for which she was greatly thankful: and said, God hath taken away my reproach ; the reproach of barrenness with which she was reproached among her neighbours; and perhaps by her sister Leah, and indeed it was a general reproach in those times; and especially, it was the more grievous to good women in the family of Abraham, because they were not the means of multiplying his seed according to the promise, and... read more
And she called his name Joseph ,.... Which signifies "adding", or rather, "to be added"; or, "God shall add", giving this reason for it: and said, the Lord shall add to me another son : which is expressive of strong faith; that as she had begun to bear children, she should bear another, as she did; though some read the words as a wish or prayer, "may the Lord", or, "and that the Lord would add", &c.; F8 יסף "addat", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ... read more
And God hearkened to her - After the severe reproof which Rachel had received from her husband, Genesis 30:2 , it appears that she sought God by prayer, and that he heard her; so that her prayer and faith obtained what her impatience and unbelief had prevented. read more
She called his name Joseph - יוסף Yoseph , adding, or he who adds; thereby prophetically declaring that God would add unto her another son, which was accomplished in the birth of Benjamin, Genesis 35:18 . read more
Verse 22 22.And God remembered Rachel. Since with God nothing is either before or after, but all things are present, he is subject to no forgetfulness, so that, in the lapse of time, he should need to be reminded of what is past. But the Scripture describes the presence and memory of God from the effect produced upon ourselves, because we conceive him to be such as he appears to be by his acts. Moreover, whether Rachel’s child was born the last of all, cannot with certainty be gathered from the... read more
The story of the mandrakes. I. A YOUNG CHILD 'S INNOCENCE . "Reuben found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother." Nature, with its beautiful sights and harmonious sounds, possesses a wonderful fascination for the infant mind. In proportion as man sinks beneath the power of sin does he fall out of sympathy with God's fair world. Strong and tender is the bond of love which unites a child to its mother. The true depositary for a child's treasures is the mother's lap,... read more
And God remembered Rachel (cf. Genesis 8:1 ; 1 Samuel 1:19 ), and God hearkened to her ,—as to Leah ( Genesis 30:17 )— and opened her womb —as he had previously done to Leah ( Genesis 29:31 ). Rachel's barrenness had not continued so long as either Sarah's or Rebekah's. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach —i.e. of sterility. The mandrakes of Leah having proved inefficacious, Rachel at length realizes that children are God's gift, and... read more
The life of faith and its reward. The Scripture teaches us to put the facts of common life in the light of God's countenance. The true foundation on which family welfare rests is God's faithfulness and favor. The intense desire of the Hebrew women for children, especially sons, a testimony to the Divine covenant; the original promise pervading all the national life. I. The birth of Joseph a REWARD OF FAITH AND ANSWER TO PRAYER . God remembers, though we think he forgets.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:14-24
Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she had, for some time, left off bearing. Jacob, it should seem, associated more with Rachel than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes it a common case that, if a man had two wives, one would be beloved and the other hated, Deut. 21:15. But at length Rachel's strong passions betrayed her into a bargain with Leah that Jacob should return to her apartment. Reuben, a little lad, five or six years old, playing in the field, found mandrakes, dudaim. It is... read more