Midrash su Genesi 29:20

[Another interpretation (of Gen. 29:31): WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT LEAH WAS HATED]…. BUT RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR), < i.e., > she was the chief (rt.: 'QR) of the house, since Jacob would not have subjugated himself (to Laban) except for her.⁴¹Gen. R. 71:2; PRK 20:2. It is so stated (in Gen. 29:20): SO JACOB SERVED SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL. Where is it shown that she was house chief? Where Leah's children admit it.⁴²Ruth R. 7:13. Boaz and all his court⁴³Gk.: synhedrion. were from the tribe of Judah, < i.e., > from the sons of the sons of Leah. And what is written (in Ruth 4:11)? THEN ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE GATE AND THE ELDERS SAID: < WE ARE > WITNESSES. MAY THE LORD MAKE THE WOMAN WHO IS COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE LIKE RACHEL AND LEAH,⁴⁴The fact that Leah’s descendants mention Rachel before Leah, even though Leah is the elder, is seen as their admission that Rachel was favored over Leah. BOTH OF WHOM BUILT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. SO PROSPER IN EPHRATHAH AND BECOME RENOWNED IN BETHLEHEM. Hence Rachel is the chief (rt.: 'QR) of the house, since it is stated (in Gen. 29:31): but RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR). R. Berekhyah [Berabbi] the Priest said: She had no foundation (rt.: 'QR), < i.e., > metra,⁴⁵The Greek work means “womb.” since it is stated (in Gen. 29:31): BUT RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR)… nevertheless, she and her children are the foundation of the world, since no one maintains Israel in the world but the children of Rachel.⁴⁶Gen. R. 71:2 and PRK 20:2 add that Israel is referred to as Rachel’s children in Jer. 31:15, 20; Amos 5:15. See also Matthew 2:16-18.