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QuizBowlNerd
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I have seen the biblical Rachel referred to in multiple places as St. Rachel the Matriarch. However, nowhere have I ever seen this or any similar title afforded to Leah. Is there a particular reason for this?
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Mintaka
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No particular reason. Rachel’s just more popular than Leah, so one hears more about her.
Leah from the Bible is regarded as a saint, and obviously she is one of the matriarchs of Israel. She is mentioned in the Book of Ruth in a wedding blessing, which names both her and Rachel as women who built up Israel. Jewish tradition regards Leah (as well as Rachel) as having been a prophetess, because the names she gave her children were prophetic and were revealed to her by God.
In medieval times, she and Rachel were regarded as an OT version of Ss. Martha and Mary. Leah and Martha represented the “active life,” while Rachel and Mary of Bethany represented the “contemplative life.”
If you want to read about Leah in older sources, you will find her name being spelled Lia (the spelling in Latin Bibles). Her name means “cow” in Hebrew (possibly descended from a word for “antelope”), just as “Rachel” means “ewe.” She was buried in Machpelah, the same place as Abraham and Sarah (and other patriarchs and matriarchs).
It looks like there was no definite day for St. Rachel or St. Leah that was in force everywhere. Some places went with the 30th of September (“pridie Kalendis Octobris” is the old Latin way to write the date – it just means “the day before the first day of October”) for St. Rachel. Others went with November 1 (Kalendis Novembris) for both Leah and Rachel. (Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day, so obviously it is every saint’s day!)
(Just FYI, St. Abraham was on October 9, and St. Sarah was usually celebrated on the same day, or on August 19th. I can’t find St. Jacob’s Day off the top of my head, but he had one too.)
Leah from the Bible is regarded as a saint, and obviously she is one of the matriarchs of Israel. She is mentioned in the Book of Ruth in a wedding blessing, which names both her and Rachel as women who built up Israel. Jewish tradition regards Leah (as well as Rachel) as having been a prophetess, because the names she gave her children were prophetic and were revealed to her by God.
In medieval times, she and Rachel were regarded as an OT version of Ss. Martha and Mary. Leah and Martha represented the “active life,” while Rachel and Mary of Bethany represented the “contemplative life.”
If you want to read about Leah in older sources, you will find her name being spelled Lia (the spelling in Latin Bibles). Her name means “cow” in Hebrew (possibly descended from a word for “antelope”), just as “Rachel” means “ewe.” She was buried in Machpelah, the same place as Abraham and Sarah (and other patriarchs and matriarchs).
It looks like there was no definite day for St. Rachel or St. Leah that was in force everywhere. Some places went with the 30th of September (“pridie Kalendis Octobris” is the old Latin way to write the date – it just means “the day before the first day of October”) for St. Rachel. Others went with November 1 (Kalendis Novembris) for both Leah and Rachel. (Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day, so obviously it is every saint’s day!)
(Just FYI, St. Abraham was on October 9, and St. Sarah was usually celebrated on the same day, or on August 19th. I can’t find St. Jacob’s Day off the top of my head, but he had one too.)
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Mintaka
Guest
Oh, and I ran into an old Jewish tradition while researching this reply. They say that Leah and Rachel were fraternal twins, just like Esau and Jacob. (Possible, if twins ran in the tribe/family.)
But more importantly, they say that Esau was supposed to have gotten his butt over to Laban’s place to marry Leah as his part of the tribal family duty; but he never did. And that’s why Uncle Laban insisted that Jacob marry both Cousin Leah and Cousin Rachel.
It makes a lot of sense, from a tribal custom POV. It would also intensify the “mirroring” of deception and competition in the story, where Jacob tricks Esau and his dad, and then gets tricked by Laban, and then Rachel tricks Laban in her turn, and then Leah and Rachel compete with each other, and so do their kids.
So the moral of the story is: Be nice to your siblings and honest with your parents, kids!
But more importantly, they say that Esau was supposed to have gotten his butt over to Laban’s place to marry Leah as his part of the tribal family duty; but he never did. And that’s why Uncle Laban insisted that Jacob marry both Cousin Leah and Cousin Rachel.
It makes a lot of sense, from a tribal custom POV. It would also intensify the “mirroring” of deception and competition in the story, where Jacob tricks Esau and his dad, and then gets tricked by Laban, and then Rachel tricks Laban in her turn, and then Leah and Rachel compete with each other, and so do their kids.
So the moral of the story is: Be nice to your siblings and honest with your parents, kids!
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii
Guest
I always liked poor Leah—she really got the fuzzy end of the lollipop .
I find her way more relatable than popular-girl Rachel.
Of course, in Heaven, all our tears are wiped away and our imperfections cleansed!
I find her way more relatable than popular-girl Rachel.
Of course, in Heaven, all our tears are wiped away and our imperfections cleansed!
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mythbuster1
Guest
Well, even from the time Rebekkah was a virgin, Laban was greedy for Abraham’s property. That he then attempts to swindle Jacob is thus no surprise.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Yeah, Rachel was a bit of a queen bee I thought.I always liked poor Leah—she really got the fuzzy end of the lollipop .
I find her way more relatable than popular-girl Rachel.
Leah got the last laugh though, she produced Judah who was the ancestor of the entire Davidic line.
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