<b>And God remembered Rachel (Gen. 30:22).</b> Scripture states elsewhere: <i>He executeth justice for the oppressed</i> (Ps. 146:7). This verse alludes to Israel. R. Phinehas the priest, the son of Hama, explained: This teaches us that there were seventy nations in Egypt, but only Israel was treated unjustly. Who dealt justly with them? <i>He who executeth justice for the oppressed</i>.
Another comment on <i>He executeth justice for the oppressed</i>: This alludes to the righteous Joseph, whose mistress wronged him, when she said: <i>The Hebrew servant came in unto me</i> (Gen. 39:17). “I will sever your pay if you do not hearken to me,” she told him, and he replied: <i>He who giveth bread to the hungry</i> (Ps. 146:7) will feed me. “I will put you in chains,” she shouted, and he retorted: <i>The Lord looseth those that are bound up</i> (ibid.). “I will blind your pretty eyes,” she cried; and he answered: <i>The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind</i> (ibid., v. 8). Finally, she said to him: “I will have you banished,” and he retorted: <i>The Lord preserveth strangers</i> (ibid., v. 9).
Another explanation of <i>He executeth justice for the oppressed</i>: This refers to Rachel, who was oppressed when her father should have sat her in the bridal litter. He placed Leah in it instead, extinguished the candles, and then led Rachel out by the hand. Is there any oppression greater than this? Who dealt justly with her? <i>He who giveth bread to the hungry</i>. When was that? When she hungered for children. <i>The Lord looseth those that are bound up</i> (ibid.), as it is said: <i>And God remembered Rachel</i>. Why were the matriarchs barren (for so many years)? R. Huna said in the name of R. Hiyya the son of Abba: In order that they might spend many years of their lives free of burdensome responsibilities.