Jacob Summons Rachel and Leah to the Open Field

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 130:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

(Genesis 31:4) "And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock." Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: For three things I love the people of Media (Persia): they do not bite and eat but cut and eat; they do not kiss except on the hand; and they take counsel only in the field, where there is open space. This is what is written: "And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock." (Genesis 31:8) "If he said thus: the speckled shall be your wages." The Holy One, blessed be He, foresaw what Laban was destined to do to our father Jacob, and He was forming the form accordingly. It is not written here "if he said thus" [in the past], but "if he shall say thus" [as a recurring threat]. It is not written "all that Laban did to you," but "is doing to you" [continually]. (Genesis 31:9-12) "And the angel of God said to me in a dream, Jacob." To him and to the generations: there is no generation that does not contain one like Abraham, none without one like Jacob, none without one like Moses. "Lift up now your eyes and see all the rams that go up [ha-olim]." It is not written "that went up" but "that go up" -- they were going up of their own accord. "And God took away the cattle" -- like one who rescues from what is lost. (Genesis 31:14) "And Rachel and Leah answered and said to him." Why did Rachel die first? Rabbi Yehuda said: because she spoke before her older sister. Rabbi Yose said to him: Have you ever in your life seen a man call out "Reuben" and Simeon answer him? Did he not call Rachel, and Rachel answered? According to Rabbi Yehuda it works; according to Rabbi Yose she died only from the curse of the old man, Jacob, who said (verse 32), "With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live" -- and it became (compare Ecclesiastes 10:5) "like an error that proceeds from before the ruler." (Genesis 31:15) "Are we not counted by him as foreigners?" They said: had he seen a better match, he would have taken it for himself; a better deal, he would have taken it. (Genesis 31:17) "And Jacob arose and lifted up his sons and his wives upon the camels." (Ecclesiastes 10:2) "A wise man's heart is at his right hand" -- this is Jacob; "and a fool's heart at his left" -- this is Esau, of whom it says "And Esau took his wives" and only afterward "his sons and his daughters." (Genesis 31:19) "And Laban went to shear his sheep." Wherever shearing is mentioned, it leaves a mark. "And Rachel stole the teraphim." Her intention was only for the sake of Heaven; she said, "How can I go off and leave this old man in his corruption?" Therefore "Rachel stole the teraphim." (Genesis 31:22-23) "And it was told to Laban on the third day." Rabbi Abahu said: what took our father Jacob three days to travel, Laban traveled in one day. Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba said: what took Jacob seven days, Laban traveled in one. Whichever way you wish: it is already written (Genesis 30:36) "he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob," and it is written "it was told to Laban on the third day" -- the third day of the flight, as it says "and he pursued after him seven days' journey." (Genesis 31:24) "And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night: Take heed that you speak not to Jacob from good to bad." Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai: even the good of the wicked is bad for the righteous. Why forbid the good as well? Because here it might cause him to mention the name of an idol; and elsewhere, because he injects defilement -- for Rabbi Yochanan said: when the serpent came upon Eve he cast defilement into her; Israel who stood at Mount Sinai, their defilement ceased; those who did not stand at Sinai, their defilement did not cease. (Genesis 31:27-29) "Why did you flee secretly?" He said: perhaps you mean to retract and not leave me to kiss my sons and daughters. "It is in the power of my hand to do you harm." (Genesis 31:30) "Why did you steal my gods?" When the tribes heard this they said: We are ashamed of you, Laban, our mother's father, that in your old age you say, "Why did you steal my gods?" (Genesis 31:33) "And he came into Rachel's tent" -- for she was the attentive servant of his needs. (Genesis 31:34-35) "And Rachel had taken the teraphim and put them in the camel's saddle-cushion." And she said to her father... Rabbi Yochanan said: he did not find the teraphim; he found jugs, and the jugs became teraphim, so as not to shame Rachel.

Themes

PatriarchsWomenDivine Justice

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