Rachel starts the chapter with her husband’s love, but no children and envy for her sister’s four boys. She demands Jacob give her a child or she will die. Dramatic much? He gets mad at her and asks, am I God to close your womb? 

Rachel takes her servant Bilhah and makes her sleep with her husband. The servant has a son and Rachel names him Dan meaning “judge.” The servant has a second son with Jacob and Rachel names him Napthali meaning “wrestle,” as in struggling with her sister. 

Leah takes her servant Zilpah and makes her sleep with Jacob. The servant has a son and Leah names him Gad meaning “fortune.” Zilpah has a second son Leah names Asher meaning “happy.”

During the wheat harvest, Leah’s oldest son Rueben finds mandrakes, a plant used for love and fertility, in a field and brings them home to Leah. Rachel wants them, so trades her a night with their shared husband.

When Jacob comes home, Leah tells him to sleep with her because he has been hired. Leah has a son from the union and names him Issachar meaning “wages.” Leah has a sixth son and names him Zebulun meaning “honor.”  She has daughter she names Dinah meaning “vindicated.”

At this point there a ten boys and one girl. Whatever love and trust may have existed between spouses or between sisters has completely been obliterated by this competition. Nevertheless, God remembers Rachel and she has a son. She names him Joseph meaning “add more,” because she still wants another. 

How many of these stories feature sibling rivalry? Despite their weakness of character, they are still blessed by God’s promises of abundance and prosperity. We too jockey for power and position. Sometimes we even obtain the things we strive for. Are we happy and grateful, or do we just want more?