Sastra Bait Kedua Kejadian 29:35: On Dreams & Allegorical Interpretation

[38] To say that she “stood still from bearing” (Gen. 29:35) differs not at all from saying that the servants of Isaac found no water in the fourth well (Gen. 26:32), since what is brought out by each of the figures is that all things are athirst for God, through Whom the birth of things, and their food when born, is watered into fruitfulness.

[80] Judah and Issachar seem to be these. For the man who exercises himself in the practical wisdom of God, makes thankful acknowledgement to Him who bestowed good without stint; while the representative of the other aspect is furthermore engaged in noble and worthy works. Now of the man who makes confession of thankfulness Judah is the symbol, with whose birth Leah leaves off bearing (Gen. 29:35); but of him who is engaged in noble deeds Issachar is the figure, “for he submitted his shoulder to labour and became a tiller of the soil” (Gen. 49:15). In his case, as Moses says, when he has been sown and planted in the soul “there is a reward” (Gen. 30:18), that is to say his labour is not in vain, but crowned by God and awarded a recompense.

[146] Hence it comes that when Leah’s sons, the good things of the soul, had been born before Jacob’s other sons, and had ceased with Judah, who is “praise” (Gen. 29:35), God, being about to create representatives of the forward striving of the body as well, causes Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, to bear children even before her mistress. Now Bilhah is “swallowing.” For the prophet knew that no part or organ of the body can subsist without “swallowing” and the belly, but this holds sway and sovereignty over all the body and over all the material frame whose concern is with mere living.