“Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel; he said: Am I in place of God, who withheld from you fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:2). “She said: Here is my maidservant Bilha, consort with her and she shall bear upon my knees, and I shall be built through her” (Genesis 30:3). “Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel” – the Rabbis of the South said in the name of Rabbi Alexandri in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: “Should the wise answer with empty counsel” (Job 15:2) – this is Abraham: “Abram heeded Sarah’s voice” (Genesis 16:2).34Abraham did not conclude from Sarah's request that he should pray on her behalf, as she intended.

Rather, he took her literally, and took Hagar for a wife (Etz Yosef). “And have the east wind35The east wind can refer to a strong wind. Anger is being compared to a wind. fill his belly” (Job 15:2) – this is Jacob: “Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel; he said…” The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Is that the way one answers the distressed? As you live, your sons are destined to stand before her son.’36Joseph.

“Am I in place of God, who withheld from you fruit of the womb?” – He has withheld from you, He has not withheld from me. She said to him: ‘Did your father do thus to your mother? Did he not gird his loins opposite her?’37Did he not pray for her to bear a child? He said to her: ‘My father had no children, but I have children.’

She said to him: ‘But your grandfather did not have children, and he girded his loins opposite her.’ He said to her: ‘You can do just as she did for my grandfather.’ She said to him: ‘What did she do?’ He said to her: ‘She introduced her rival wife into her household.’

She said to him: ‘If that is the matter that is preventing it: “Here is my maidservant Bilha, consort with her”’ – just as that one was built through her rival wife, this one too was built through her rival wife. “Rachel said: God judged me, and also heard my voice, and gave me a son; therefore, she called his name Dan” (Genesis 30:6). “Rachel said: God judged me” – He judged me and convicted me; He judged me and exonerated me.

He judged me and convicted me, as it is stated: “And Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). He judged me and exonerated me – “He gave me a son.” “Therefore [al ken], she called his name Dan” – everywhere that al ken is stated, it is a large population.