Why Zilpah Was Young and Given to Leah Through Laban's Deceit

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 29:24

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Zilpah his maidservant" (Genesis 29:24). She was young, and she was fit for Rachel, yet she was given to Leah through his [Laban's] deceit, in order to show Jacob that this was the maidservant of Rachel. And from where do we learn that she was young? For it is written concerning her "and she bore" (Genesis 30:10), and it is not written "and she conceived" as with Bilhah. But concerning Bilhah it is written "and she conceived" (Genesis 30:4), for she was a grown maiden and the pregnancy was not noticeable in her; therefore, unmarked, she is young. Another interpretation: "and she conceived" (va-tahar) — what is "and she conceived"? It is like a mountain (har); for when a woman is pregnant she appears like a mountain.

Themes

GadMatriarchsPatriarchsJacobAsher

Biblical References

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