Yaakov - the birth of the sons

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1. "Mei-Hashem Yatza Ha-davar" Perceiving Providence

   Rabbi Reuven Taragin

   In the context of the story about Yaakov's escape from and return to Canaan, the Torah describes Yaakov's exile. This lesson highlights the links between the different stories in the interim. The links reveal the message of the entire story.

2. There and Back Again:The Exilic Journeys and Sojourns of Vayetze

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Parashat Vayetze is unique in that it consists of a single Masoretic parasha, i.e., one paragraph of 148 uninterrupted consecutive verses. Though Masoretic division of the parashiyot is based on sundry reasons, not all of which are always clear, it sometimes indicates a literary unity. It appears that this is the case with our parasha: Parashat Vayetze is all one long story. What is the significance of this? By dividing the narrative into two parts and exploring each section we can learn important lessons about Yaakov's life in Haran and his relationship with Lavan. 

3. "And He Found Mandrakes in the Field"

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   Reviewing the continuum of the birth of Yaakov's sons, we note that it is interrupted twice. First, after the birth of Leah's first four sons, a difficult and emotional dialogue is recorded between Rachel and Yaakov. In the wake of this dialogue, Rachel gives her maidservant Bilha to Yaakov, and the Torah then continues its listing of the birth of the sons. The second interruption in the narrative occurs after the two maidservants have each borne two sons. At that point, we find the story of the mandrakes.

   The need for the conversation between Yaakov and Rachel (the first interruption) to be recorded is clear: it has a tangible effect on the building of Yaakov's household, for as a result Yaakov takes Bilha, and later also Zilpa, both of whom merit to take part in the establishment of the House of Israel. In contrast, the story of the mandrakes (the second interruption) is rather surprising. We may assume that during the seven years over the course of which Yaakov's children were born, several other incidents took place, but the Torah makes no mention of them because the text is focusing here on the birth of the sons. What is the relevance of the story of the mandrakes in this context? In what way did it influence the establishment of Yaakov's family and the birth of the sons?

   In order to solve this question, let us first analyze this section itself, and then try to identify its significance in the overall context of the story of Yaakov's family.

4. Parshat Vayetze Part 3: The Currency of Jealousy

   Rabbi Gad Dishi | 26 minutes

   Through a close reading of the text describing the birth of Yaakov’s children in perakim 29-30, we can come to a deeper understanding of the relationship between Yaakov and his wives Rachel and Leah. 

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

5. Chronological Riddles in Bereshit

   Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom | Hour and 13 minutes

   Sefer Bereshit seems to be out of order chronologically. When did the events occur? When were Yaakov's sons born? What is the actual timing of the stories? A close analysis of the text leads to an exploration of these questions.

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com