Jacob’s second wife

Leah did not give up in her quest to get Jacob. (Genesis 29:32-34) Even after tricking him on his “wedding day”, she still continued to complain. After giving birth to Reuben, her firstborn son that she named, she said, “Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction, now therefore my husband will love me.”   Then after giving birth to her second son, she said, “Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also…” Again, with the birth of her third son, she said, “Now this time will my husband be joined unto me.” She gave birth to one more son and decided to stop bearing children for a while…until…Reuben, her firstborn son found mandrakes growing in the field, which were believed to cure fertility problems, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel said unto Leah, “Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes. And she (Leah) said unto her,  Is it a small matter that though hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said Thou must come in unto me, for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.” (Genesis 30:14-16)

It is obvious in closely examining Abraham and Jacob’s second families, that it is best for a man to have only one wife and definitely not his second wife exclusively. Jacob had planned for it to be that way. If Jacob had given Leah what she wanted, Jacob would have had to eliminate Rachel. Jacob was a wise man because he never let it happen. He did not let his family be broken.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 (This is written out of love for our husband’s and fathers), “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Adultery is extremely damaging to our families. Save the first family!