Genesis 30 is the chapter where ten of Jacob’s twelve sons are born - and Rachel’s desperate cry to her husband marks one of the most emotionally raw moments in the entire patriarchal narrative. God opens and withholds the womb; human bargaining cannot override his purposes.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children Rachel envied her sister She said to Jacob give me children or else I will die Jacob’s anger burnt against Rachel and he said
Am I in God’s place who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? She said behold my maid Bilhah Go in to her that she may bear on my knees And I also may obtain children by her Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son
Rachel said God has judged me and has heard my voice And has given me a son Therefore she called his name Dan I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings and have prevailed She named him Naphtali
When Leah saw that she had finished bearing She took Zilpah her servant and gave her to Jacob as a wife Zilpah bore Jacob a son Leah said how fortunate She named him Gad Happy am I for the daughters will call me happy She named him Asher
Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes Rachel said to Leah please give me some of your son’s mandrakes Leah said is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband?
Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also? Rachel said therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes God listened to Leah and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son
Leah said God has given me my hire because I gave my servant to my husband She named him Issachar Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob She said God has endowed me with a good dowry Now my husband will live with me because I have borne him six sons She named him Zebulun
Afterwards she bore a daughter and named her Dinah God remembered Rachel and God listened to her And opened her womb She conceived and bore a son and said God has taken away my reproach
She named him Joseph saying May the LORD add another son to me When Rachel had borne Joseph Jacob said to Laban Send me away that I may go to my own place and to my country
Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you
Listen
Genesis 30 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.