“Zilpa, Leah’s maidservant, bore Jacob a son” (Genesis 30:10). “Zilpa, Leah’s maidservant, bore” – regarding all of them, “she conceived” is written, but here, “bore.” It is that she was a young woman, and her pregnancy was not conspicuous. “Leah said: Fortune has come; she called his name Gad” (Genesis 30:11).
“Leah said: Fortune [gad] has come” – the fortune of the house has come; the fortune of the world has come; the one who is destined to come and cut down the foundation of the idol worshippers. Who is it? It is Elijah. From whom did Elijah descend?
Rabbi Eliezer said: From Benjamin, as it is written: “Yaareshya, Eliya, and Zikhri were the sons of Yeroḥam…all these are the children of Benjamin” (I Chronicles 8:27, 40). Rabbi Nehorai said: He descended from Gad. That is what is written: “Elijah the Tishbite, of the residents of Gilad” (I Kings 17:1). Rabbi Pilipi bar Nehorai said:39The proper reading is: Rabbi Pilipi said to Rabbi Nehorai.
What40The proper reading is: Mai – what, not man – who. did you see that led you to say so? He said to him: It is as it is written: “Their41The previous verse states: “Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families” (Joshua 13:24). border was Yazer, and all the cities of the Gilad” (Joshua 13:25). How does Rabbi Eliezer understand the verse of Rabbi Nehorai: “From the residents of Gilad”?
It is from those who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone.42It was in the Temple – a memorial [gal ve’ed] for the nations of the world (Shir HaShirim Rabba 4:4). How does Rabbi Nehorai realize the verse of Rabbi Eliezer: “Yaareshya, Eliya”? These are to be expounded as midrash. When the Holy One blessed be He would cause His world to quake [leharish], he43Elijah [Eliya]. would mention the merit of the patriarchs. ”The sons of Yeroḥam” – the Holy One blessed be He would become filled with mercy upon His world.
One time, our Rabbis disputed regarding the matter: These say: 'Descended from Gad, and these say: Descended from Benjamin. He came and stood before them. He said to them: ‘Our Rabbis, why are you disputing in my regard? I am from the children of the children of Rachel.’