Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 30 (Parashat Vayetzei)

Bereshit 30:1

וַתֵּרֶא רָחֵל כִּי לֹא יָלְדָה לְיַעֲקֹב וַתְּקַנֵּא רָחֵל בַּאֲחֹתָהּ וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל-יַעֲקֹב הָבָה-לִּי בָנִים וְאִם-אַיִן מֵתָה אָנֹכִי

. . . .

And when Rachel saw that she had not borne to Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to him: 'Grant me a child, or else I am dead.'

Bereshit 30:2

וַיִּחַר-אַף יַעֲקֹב בְּרָחֵל וַיֹּאמֶר הֲתַחַת אֱלֹהִים אָנֹכִי אֲשֶׁר-מָנַע מִמֵּךְ פְּרִי-בָטֶן

. . .

And his anger flared against her; and he said: 'Am I in place of God, who has held back the fruit of the womb from you?'

Bereshit 30:3

וַתֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה אֲמָתִי בִלְהָה בֹּא אֵלֶיהָ וְתֵלֵד עַל-בִּרְכַּי וְאִבָּנֶה גַם-אָנֹכִי מִמֶּנָּה

. . .

She said: 'Behold my maidservant Bilhah; come to her — let her bear upon my knees, and let my house also be built up from her.'

Bereshit 30:4

וַתִּתֶּן-לוֹ אֶת-בִּלְהָה שִׁפְחָתָהּ לְאִשָּׁה וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ יַעֲקֹב

.

And she gave him Bilhah her maidservant for a wife; and Jacob came in to her.

Bereshit 30:5

וַתַּהַר בִּלְהָה וַתֵּלֶד לְיַעֲקֹב בֵּן

.

And Bilhah conceived, and bore him a son.

Bereshit 30:6

וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל דָּנַנִּי אֱלֹהִים וְגַם שָׁמַע בְּקֹלִי וַיִּתֶּן-לִי בֵּן עַל-כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ דָּן

. . . .

And Rachel said: 'God has judged in my favor; and He has also heard my voice, and granted me a son.' Therefore she named him Dan.

Bereshit 30:7

וַתַּהַר עוֹד--וַתֵּלֶד בִּלְהָה שִׁפְחַת רָחֵל בֵּן שֵׁנִי לְיַעֲקֹב

. .

And Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob.

Bereshit 30:8

וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי עִם-אֲחֹתִי--גַּם-יָכֹלְתִּי וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ נַפְתָּלִי

. . .

And Rachel said: 'A turning from God — I have turned with my sister, and I have prevailed.' And she named him Naphtali.

Bereshit 30:9

וַתֵּרֶא לֵאָה כִּי עָמְדָה מִלֶּדֶת וַתִּקַּח אֶת-זִלְפָּה שִׁפְחָתָהּ וַתִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ לְיַעֲקֹב לְאִשָּׁה

. . .

And when Leah saw that she had ceased from bearing, she took Zilpah her maidservant, and gave her to Jacob for a wife.

Bereshit 30:10

וַתֵּלֶד זִלְפָּה שִׁפְחַת לֵאָה--לְיַעֲקֹב בֵּן

And Zilpah bore him a son.

Bereshit 30:11

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה בגד (בָּא גָד) וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ גָּד

.

And she said: 'The news has come true!' And she named him Gad.

Bereshit 30:12

וַתֵּלֶד זִלְפָּה שִׁפְחַת לֵאָה בֵּן שֵׁנִי לְיַעֲקֹב

. .

And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Jacob a second son.

Bereshit 30:13

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה--בְּאָשְׁרִי כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ אָשֵׁר

. . .

And Leah said: 'From my description — that the women shall describe me.' And she named him Asher.

Bereshit 30:14

וַיֵּלֶךְ רְאוּבֵן בִּימֵי קְצִיר-חִטִּים וַיִּמְצָא דוּדָאִים בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּבֵא אֹתָם אֶל-לֵאָה אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל אֶל-לֵאָה תְּנִי-נָא לִי מִדּוּדָאֵי בְּנֵךְ

. . . . .

Then Reuben went out, in the days of the wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the wilderness; and he brought them to Leah his mother. And Rachel said to her: 'Give me some of them.'

Bereshit 30:15

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמְעַט קַחְתֵּךְ אֶת-אִישִׁי וְלָקַחַת גַּם אֶת-דּוּדָאֵי בְּנִי וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל לָכֵן יִשְׁכַּב עִמָּךְ הַלַּיְלָה תַּחַת דּוּדָאֵי בְנֵךְ

. . . . .

She said to her: 'Was it not enough that you took my husband, that you would also take my son's mandrakes?' Rachel said: 'Then he shall lie with you tonight, in exchange for that.'

Bereshit 30:16

וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב וַתֵּצֵא לֵאָה לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלַי תָּבוֹא כִּי שָׂכֹר שְׂכַרְתִּיךָ בְּדוּדָאֵי בְּנִי וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִמָּהּ בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא

. . . .

And when Jacob came from the wilderness in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said: 'Come in to me — for I have rightfully purchased you with my son's mandrakes.' And he lay with her that night.

Bereshit 30:17

וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶל-לֵאָה וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד לְיַעֲקֹב בֵּן חֲמִישִׁי

. .

And God heard her; and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.

Bereshit 30:18

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה נָתַן אֱלֹהִים שְׂכָרִי אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי לְאִישִׁי וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יִשָּׂשכָר

. . .

And she said: 'God has given me my wage — because I gave my maidservant to my husband.' And she named him Issachar.

Bereshit 30:19

וַתַּהַר עוֹד לֵאָה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן-שִׁשִּׁי לְיַעֲקֹב

.

And Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.

Bereshit 30:20

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה זְבָדַנִי אֱלֹהִים אֹתִי זֵבֶד טוֹב--הַפַּעַם יִזְבְּלֵנִי אִישִׁי כִּי-יָלַדְתִּי לוֹ שִׁשָּׁה בָנִים וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ זְבֻלוּן

. . . .

She said: 'God has endowed me with a goodly endowment; this time my husband shall dwell with me, for I have borne him six sons.' And she named him Zebulun.

Bereshit 30:21

וְאַחַר יָלְדָה בַּת וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמָהּ דִּינָה

.

And after that she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.

Bereshit 30:22

וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת-רָחֵל וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת-רַחְמָהּ

. .

Then God remembered Rachel; and He heard her, and granted her a child.

Bereshit 30:23

וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתֹּאמֶר אָסַף אֱלֹהִים אֶת-חֶרְפָּתִי

. .

And she conceived, and bore a son; and she said: 'God has taken away my reproach.'

Bereshit 30:24

וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר יֹסֵף יְהוָה לִי בֵּן אַחֵר

And she named him Joseph, saying: 'God shall add to me another son.'

Bereshit 30:25

וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה רָחֵל אֶת-יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-לָבָן שַׁלְּחֵנִי וְאֵלְכָה אֶל-מְקוֹמִי וּלְאַרְצִי

. . .

And when Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban: 'Send me away, that I may go to my place and to my land.

Bereshit 30:26

תְּנָה אֶת-נָשַׁי וְאֶת-יְלָדַי אֲשֶׁר עָבַדְתִּי אֹתְךָ בָּהֵן--וְאֵלֵכָה כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת-עֲבֹדָתִי אֲשֶׁר עֲבַדְתִּיךָ

. . .

Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, that I may go; for you know my service which I have served you.'

Bereshit 30:27

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לָבָן אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ נִחַשְׁתִּי וַיְבָרְכֵנִי יְהוָה בִּגְלָלֶךָ

. . . .

And Laban said to him: 'If I have found favor with you — for I have tested, and God has blessed me on your account.'

Bereshit 30:28

וַיֹּאמַר נָקְבָה שְׂכָרְךָ עָלַי וְאֶתֵּנָה

.

And he said: 'Specify to me your wage, that I may give it.'

Bereshit 30:29

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו--אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲבַדְתִּיךָ וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה מִקְנְךָ אִתִּי

. . .

And he said to him: 'You know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me.

Bereshit 30:30

כִּי מְעַט אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה לְךָ לְפָנַי וַיִּפְרֹץ לָרֹב וַיְבָרֶךְ יְהוָה אֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי וְעַתָּה מָתַי אֶעֱשֶׂה גַם-אָנֹכִי--לְבֵיתִי

. . .

For it was little that you had before me, and it has spread out into much; and God has blessed you on my account. And now — when shall I, too, do for my own house?'

Bereshit 30:31

וַיֹּאמֶר מָה אֶתֶּן-לָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לֹא-תִתֶּן-לִי מְאוּמָה--אִם-תַּעֲשֶׂה-לִּי הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אָשׁוּבָה אֶרְעֶה צֹאנְךָ אֶשְׁמֹר

. . .

He said: 'What shall I give you?' Jacob said: 'You shall give me nothing — but if you do for me this thing, I shall return to pasture your flock, and to keep it:

Bereshit 30:32

אֶעֱבֹר בְּכָל-צֹאנְךָ הַיּוֹם הָסֵר מִשָּׁם כָּל-שֶׂה נָקֹד וְטָלוּא וְכָל-שֶׂה-חוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים וְטָלוּא וְנָקֹד בָּעִזִּים וְהָיָה שְׂכָרִי

. . . . .

I shall pass through all your flock today, and remove from it every speckled and piebald lamb, and every brown head among the sheep, and every piebald and speckled one among the goats. And that shall be my wage.

Bereshit 30:33

וְעָנְתָה-בִּי צִדְקָתִי בְּיוֹם מָחָר כִּי-תָבוֹא עַל-שְׂכָרִי לְפָנֶיךָ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-אֵינֶנּוּ נָקֹד וְטָלוּא בָּעִזִּים וְחוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים--גָּנוּב הוּא אִתִּי

. . . .

And my honesty shall witness for me tomorrow, when I come to claim my wage before you: every one which is not speckled or piebald among the goats, or brown among the sheep — it shall be reckoned stolen by me.'

Bereshit 30:34

וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן הֵן לוּ יְהִי כִדְבָרֶךָ

.

Laban said: 'Yes — would that it be as you have said.'

Bereshit 30:35

וַיָּסַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-הַתְּיָשִׁים הָעֲקֻדִּים וְהַטְּלֻאִים וְאֵת כָּל-הָעִזִּים הַנְּקֻדּוֹת וְהַטְּלֻאֹת כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-לָבָן בּוֹ וְכָל-חוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים וַיִּתֵּן בְּיַד-בָּנָיו

. . . .

But on that day he removed the striped and speckled male goats, and all the speckled and piebald she-goats — every one that had any white in it — and every brown one among the sheep; and he gave them into the hand of his sons.

Bereshit 30:36

וַיָּשֶׂם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין יַעֲקֹב וְיַעֲקֹב רֹעֶה אֶת-צֹאן לָבָן--הַנּוֹתָרֹת

. .

And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob; and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock.

Bereshit 30:37

וַיִּקַּח-לוֹ יַעֲקֹב מַקַּל לִבְנֶה לַח--וְלוּז וְעַרְמוֹן וַיְפַצֵּל בָּהֵן פְּצָלוֹת לְבָנוֹת--מַחְשֹׂף הַלָּבָן אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַמַּקְלוֹת

. . .

Then Jacob took fresh poplar rods, and almond, and plane-tree; and he peeled white peelings on them — until he exposed the white that was on them.

Bereshit 30:38

וַיַּצֵּג אֶת-הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים בְּשִׁקְתוֹת הַמָּיִם--אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאןָ הַצֹּאן לִשְׁתּוֹת לְנֹכַח הַצֹּאן וַיֵּחַמְנָה בְּבֹאָן לִשְׁתּוֹת

. . .

And he set the rods which he had peeled in the troughs, in the watering channels — so that the sheep, when they came to drink, would be facing them, and would conceive at that time.

Bereshit 30:39

וַיֶּחֱמוּ הַצֹּאן אֶל-הַמַּקְלוֹת וַתֵּלַדְןָ הַצֹּאן עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים וּטְלֻאִים

. .

And the flocks conceived by the rods; and they bore striped and speckled and piebald.

Bereshit 30:40

וְהַכְּשָׂבִים הִפְרִיד יַעֲקֹב וַיִּתֵּן פְּנֵי הַצֹּאן אֶל-עָקֹד וְכָל-חוּם בְּצֹאן לָבָן וַיָּשֶׁת-לוֹ עֲדָרִים לְבַדּוֹ וְלֹא שָׁתָם עַל-צֹאן לָבָן

. . . .

And Jacob set the sheep apart; and he set at the head of the flock every striped one, and every brown one in Laban's flock; and he set for himself flocks alone, and did not put them together with Laban's flock.

Bereshit 30:41

וְהָיָה בְּכָל-יַחֵם הַצֹּאן הַמְקֻשָּׁרוֹת וְשָׂם יַעֲקֹב אֶת-הַמַּקְלוֹת לְעֵינֵי הַצֹּאן בָּרְהָטִים--לְיַחְמֵנָּה בַּמַּקְלוֹת

. . .

And in every time when the early-spring flocks were in heat, Jacob would set the rods opposite them in the troughs, that they should conceive by them.

Bereshit 30:42

וּבְהַעֲטִיף הַצֹּאן לֹא יָשִׂים וְהָיָה הָעֲטֻפִים לְלָבָן וְהַקְּשֻׁרִים לְיַעֲקֹב

. .

And when the autumn ones came — he would not set them; and the autumn-born became Laban's, and the spring-born Jacob's.

Bereshit 30:43

וַיִּפְרֹץ הָאִישׁ מְאֹד מְאֹד וַיְהִי-לוֹ צֹאן רַבּוֹת וּשְׁפָחוֹת וַעֲבָדִים וּגְמַלִּים וַחֲמֹרִים

. . .

And the man grew exceedingly rich; and he had many sheep, and maidservants and slaves, and camels and donkeys.