1)

What did Rachel mean when she called Bilhah's second son Naftali because, "Naftulei Elokim Niftalti..."?

1.

Rashi and Rashbam: Based on the word 'Pasil,' she meant that she was joined with her sister 1 to merit children.

2.

Seforno: She meant that she was intimately joined with her husband with a Divine and holy union, because, together with her sister, they gave their maidservants to their husband in order to bear the tribes of Yisrael. 2

3.

Targum Onkelos: She beseeched Hashem in prayer, and He answered her, and gave her a child, like her sister.

4.

Da'as Zekenim: She suffered great pain.

5.

Tosfos ha'Shalem (5): I strove to overcome her, and I succeeded.

6.

Tosfos ha'Shalem (9): I was crooked with Simanim (like 'ha'Chosemes and Pesilim' (38:25) were Simanim) with my sister [to help her fool Yaakov], and succeeded. A Midrash says that when Yaakov married Leah, Rachel was under the bed, and when Yaakov called "Rachel," she answered.

7.

Naftulei means covered, like "Tzamid Pasil" (Bamidbar 19:15). There are Divine secrets covered from people why Leah gave birth and I did not.


1

Da'as Zekenim, Hadar Zekenim: She joined her regarding skilled descendants. Ohali'av from Dan helped Betzalel [from Yehudah] to build the Mishkan, and Chiram from Naftoli helped Shlomo [from Yehudah] to build Bayis Rishon (Melachim I 7:13-14).

2

Seforno: Leah must have given Zilpah to Yaakov before the birth of Naftali (See Seforno).

2)

What did Rachel mean when she added, "Gam Yacholti"?

1.

Seforno: She meant that, with the birth of Bilhah's children, she had achieved what she set out to do by giving Bilhah to Yaakov.

2.

Da'as Zekenim, Moshav Zekenim, Rosh: This implies that she exceeded Leah! One Chacham builder will come from Leah (Betzalel), and two from Bilhah - Ohali'av from Dan, and Chiram (who finished Bayis Rishon) from Naftali (Melachim I 7:13-14).

3.

Malbim: I was able to bear [b'Simchah that Leah gave birth and I did not, for I know that Hashem is Tzadik in all His ways].

4.

Ha'amek Davar: Also I can [be the cause of many sons, like Leah, for she ceased having children, and Bilhah can bear many].

3)

Leah has four sons and she has not even one!How can she say "Niftalti Im Achosi, Gam Yacholti!"?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: Rachel figured that, since Leah had stopped giving birth, and Bilhah already had two sons, Bilhah would give birth to another two sons - four like Leah. Leaving her to produce the remaining four, 1 thereby giving her the edge over Leah.


1

Oznayim la'Torah: Since the Imahos knew that Yaakov would father twelve sons. Refer also to 29:34:151:1.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
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