Another matter, “when a woman conceives” – that is what is written: “Who dammed the sea with doors when it burst out and emerged from the womb” (Job 38:8). Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Eliezer says: Just as there are doors to a house, so there are doors to a woman. That is what is written: “For it did not shut the doors of my belly” (Job 3:10). Rabbi Yehoshua says: Just as there are keys [mafteḥot] to a house, the same is true of a woman.
That is what is written: “God remembered Rachel, and God heeded her, and He opened [vayiftaḥ] her womb” (Genesis 30:22). Rabbi Akiva says: Just as there are hinges [tzirim] for a house, so there are hinges foe a woman. That is what is written: “She crouched and gave birth, as her pangs of labor [tzireha] overcame her” (I Samuel 4:19). “When it burst out and emerged from the womb” – it is because it arrogantly seeks to emerge.
“When I placed a cloud as its garment” (Job 38:9), this is the fetal sac. “And fog as its swaddling” (Job 38:9), this is the placenta. “I imposed My limitations upon it” (Job 38:10), these are the first three months. “And I set a bar and doors” (Job 38:10), these are the three middle months.
“I said: You shall come this far and not continue” (Job 38:11), these are the final three months. “And here the foam of your waves [bigeon galekha] will be set” (Job 38:11), Rabbi Aivu said: Due to your ordure [beon gelalekha],14Several commentaries write that the text should state “Your ordure is the object of pride [bigeon gelalekha]" (Rabbi David Luria; Etz Yosef). as when this fetus emerges, it emerges covered with ordure and all kinds of fetid substances, yet everyone hugs it and kisses it, especially if it is male.
That is what is written: “When a woman conceives and bears a male child.”15The point here is that one should contemplate and thank God for the entire process that begins at conception and continues until birth.