Midrash su Genesi 30:24

(Gen. 25:1:) THEN ABRAHAM TOOK AN ADDITIONAL³⁹Again the translation of the verse has been changed to fit the midrashic context. WIFE. This text is related (to Job 8:7): THOUGH YOUR BEGINNING WAS TRIFLING, YOUR END SHALL GREATLY FLOURISH. R. Simeon ben Laqish said in the name of R. Eleazar: You learn from here that an addition of the Holy One is more than the original.⁴⁰Below, 7:20; see Gen. R. 61:4. Abraham had previously sired no one but Isaac. When the Holy One made an addition for him, he made his addition < even > more, as stated (in Gen. 25:2): AND SHE BORE HIM < ZIMRAN, JOKSHAN, MEDAN, MIDIAN, ISHBAK, AND SHUAH >. Thus you find in the case of the first Adam that when < Eve > gave birth, she bore Cain (Gen. 4:1). Then afterwards (in Gen. 4:2): AND IN ADDITION SHE BORE < HIS BROTHER ABEL >. And so you find in the case of Rachel that she bore Joseph and said (in Gen. 30:24): MAY THE LORD ADD ANOTHER SON FOR ME. He added Benjamin for her and his twin sister. Where is it shown to be so? Here (in Gen. 35:17), < where > "This is a son for you" is not written, but FOR THIS ALSO IS A SON FOR YOU. And so you find in the case of King Hezekiah, all the days of his reign were fourteen years; but when the Holy One made an addition for him, he added fifteen years. (Is. 38:5; cf. II Kings 20:6:) SEE, I AM ADDING [FIFTEEN YEARS] TO YOUR LIFE. Now when the prophets saw that an addition of the Holy One was more than the original, they began to bless Israel with an addition. Moses said (in Deut. 1:11): MAY THE LORD [GOD OF YOUR ANCESTORS] ADD TO YOUR NUMBERS A THOUSAND TIMES [MORE THAN YOU ARE]…. David said (in Ps. 115:14): MAY THE LORD ADD TO YOUR NUMBERS. Also in the world to come the Holy One has procured an addition (rt.: YSP) for his people, as stated (in Is. 11:11): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THE LORD WILL EXTEND (rt.: YSP) HIS HAND A SECOND TIME < TO PROCURE THE REST OF HIS PEOPLE >.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 30:23): GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY < MY SHAME >.⁶¹See above, 7:12, and the note there. In the hour that Rebekah gave birth to Jacob and Esau, two daughters were born to Laban. They sent letters to each other, saying: You have given birth to two daughters; and I, to two sons. Let us give them to each other. When Leah heard about Esau's conduct, she would cry; but, when Rachel heard about Jacob's conduct she would be happy. [Where is it shown that Leah cried? Where it is stated] (in Gen. 29:17): AND LEAH'S EYES WERE WEAK. The interpreter of R. Jose interpreted < the verse as follows > :⁶²Cf. Gen. R. 70:16. What is the meaning of WEAK? Bleary {i.e., circular}.⁶³I.e., Leah had dark circles under her eyes. R. Johanan said to him: You did not interpret well. Then what is the meaning of WEAK (rakkot)? Long (arukkot), because all that the Holy One gave her (through her children) was long < -lasting > : high priesthood, kingship, and anointing oil. Then, when Leah gave birth for Jacob, Rachel was depressed, saying: Perhaps Esau will take her,⁶⁴The text should probably be emended from “her” to “me” in agreement with Rashi’s interpretation of Gen. 30:22. According to Rashi, Rachel feared that Esau might take her if Jacob divorced her for being childless. since I have not given birth to a child. But when she had given birth to Joseph, she said (in Gen. 30:23): GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY MY SHAME. Now there is no shame but foreskin, as stated (concerning foreskin in Gen. 34:14): FOR THAT IS SHAME TO US. (Gen. 30:24:) SO SHE CALLED HIS NAME JOSEPH (Yosef), SAYING: MAY THE LORD ADD (yosef) ANOTHER SON FOR ME. The Holy Spirit foresaw < here > that she would only bear one other son.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 30:24): MAY THE LORD ADD (yosef) [ANOTHER SON FOR ME. Resh Laqish said:] The addition of the Holy One is greater than the original < gift >.⁶⁵Above, 5:10; see Gen. R. 61:4. From whom do you learn this? From Hezekiah, whose reign was fourteen years; but, when the Holy One made an addition for him, he added fifteen years. Thus it is stated (in II Kings 20:6): AND I WILL ADD FIFTEEN YEARS TO YOUR LIFE. Ergo, the addition is greater than the original. And so you find in the case of Benjamin, when his mother said to him (in Gen. 30:24): MAY THE LORD ADD (yosef) ANOTHER SON FOR ME, the Holy One also added for her ten tribes from him and two tribes from Joseph.⁶⁶Thus the addition (Benjamin) was five times greater than the original (Joseph). Gen. R. 61:4 cites the list of Benjamin’s ten sons in Gen. 46:21. R. Samuel bar Nahman said: The Holy One raised up twelve tribes from Rachel, ten from Benjamin and two from Joseph. And where is it shown that < the ten > were sons of Benjamin? Where it is written (in I Sam. 9:21): THEN SAUL ANSWERED AND SAID: AM I NOT A BENJAMINITE, FROM THE SMALLEST OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, [AND MY CLAN THE SMALLEST OF THE CLANS OF THE TRIBES OF BENJAMIN]? And another verse says (in Jud. 20:12): AND {SAUL} [THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL] SENT [PEOPLE] AMONG ALL THE TRIBES OF BENJAMIN, SAYING. When the prophets saw that the addition was greater than the original, they began to bless Israel with the addition (rt.: YSP). Moses our Master said (in Deut. 1:11): MAY THE LORD GOD OF YOUR ANCESTORS ADD (rt.: YSP) TO YOUR NUMBERS < A THOUSAND TIMES > MORE THAN YOU ARE. David also said (in Ps. 115:14): MAY THE LORD ADD (rt.: YSP) TO YOUR NUMBERS, YOURS AND YOUR CHILDREN'S ALSO. In the world to come as well the Holy One will gather the exiles of Israel by means of this word (with the Hebrew root YSP). Thus it is stated (in Is. 11:11): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THE LORD WILL EXTEND (rt.: YSP) HIS HAND A SECOND TIME TO PROCURE THE REST OF HIS PEOPLE.