Desperation
In a whirlwind of passion, envy, and divine intervention, Jacob’s household is embroiled in a fierce rivalry between Rachel and Leah as they vie for his love and the blessing of children. Rachel, devastated by her barrenness, offers her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob, igniting a cascade of births that further intensifies the tension. Leah, not to be outdone, counters by giving her maid Zilpah to Jacob, sparking a dramatic battle of wills between the sisters. As the struggle for children continues, mandrakes are exchanged for nights with Jacob, and prayers to God bring forth sons, culminating in the long-awaited birth of Joseph, Rachel’s cherished son.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
Watch an explainer video for the Desperation chapter:
Genesis
60%
Jasher
16%
Jubilees
24%
Exposition
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2200
Jacob marries Rachel who is given Bilhah as a handmaid
Genesis 29:28-30
Jasher 31:13
Jubilees 28:9-10
Rising Action
Rachel complains to Jacob about not having children
Genesis 30:1-2
Jasher 31:16b
Jubilees 28:16
Jacob marries Bilhah
Genesis 30:3-4
Jubilees 28:17
Year: 2201
Month: 7
Day: 5
Naphtali born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:7-8
Jubilees 28:19
Jacob marries Zilpah
Genesis 30:9
Jasher 31:17a
Jubilees 28:20a
Year: 2202
Month: 8
Day: 12
Gad born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:10-11
Jasher 31:17b
Jubilees 28:20b
Climax
Leah trades mandrakes with Rachel
Genesis 30:14-16
Falling Action
Year: 2203
Month: 5
Day: 4
Issachar born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:17-18
Jubilees 28:22
Jubilees 28:20b
Year: 2204
Month: 11
Day: 2
Asher born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:12-13
Jubilees 28:21
Rachel prays to YHWH to open her womb
Jasher 31:19-20
Resolution
Year: 2205
Month: 4
Day: 1
Joseph born to Jacob and Rachel
Genesis 30:22-24
Jasher 31:21
Jubilees 28:24
Month: 7
Day: 7
Zebulan and Dinah born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:19-21
Jubilees 28:23
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2200
Jacob marries Rachel who is given Bilhah as a handmaid
Genesis 29:28-30
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Jasher 31:13
13 And Jacob did so, and he also took Rachel for a wife, and he served Laban seven years more, and Jacob also came to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and Laban gave her his maid Bilhah for a handmaid.
Jubilees 28:9-10
9 And on the day when the seven days of the feast of Leah had passed, Laban gave Rachel to Jacob, that he might serve him another seven years, and he gave to Rachel Bilhah, the sister of Zilpah, as a handmaid.
10 And he served yet other seven years for Rachel, for Leah had been given to him for nothing.
Rachel complains to Jacob about not having children
Genesis 30:1-2
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Jasher 31:16a
16a And at that time Rachel was barren, and she had no offspring, and Rachel envied her sister Leah
Jubilees 28:16
16 And on account of all this Rachel envied Leah, for she did not bear, and she said to Jacob: ‘Give me children’; and Jacob said: ‘Have I withheld from thee the fruits of thy womb? Have I forsaken thee?’
Jacob marries Bilhah
Genesis 30:3-4
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
Jubilees 28:17
17 And when Rachel saw that Leah had borne four sons to Jacob, Reuben and Simeon and Levi and Judah, she said unto him: ‘Go in unto Bilhah my handmaid, and she will conceive, and bear a son unto me.’ (And she gave (him) Bilhah her handmaid to wife).
Year: 2201
Month: 7
Day: 5
Naphtali born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:7-8
7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Jubilees 28:19
19 And Jacob went in again unto Bilhah a second time, and she conceived, and bare Jacob another son, and Rachel called his name Napthali, on the fifth of the seventh month, in the second year of the fourth week. [2130 A.M.]
Jacob marries Zilpah
Genesis 30:9
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
Jasher 31:17a
17a And when Leah saw that she had left bearing, she also took her handmaid Zilpah, and she gave her to Jacob for a wife,
Jubilees 28:20a
20a And when Leah saw that she had become sterile and did not bear, she envied Rachel, and she also gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob to wife,
Year: 2202
Month: 8
Day: 12
Gad born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:10-11
10 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.
11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
Jasher 31:17b
17b and Jacob also came to Zilpah, and she also bare Jacob two sons, Gad and Asher.
Jubilees 28:20b
20b and she conceived, and bare a son, and Leah called his name Gad, on the twelfth of the eighth month, in the third year of the fourth week. [2131 A.M.]
Leah trades mandrakes with Rachel
Genesis 30:14-16
14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.
15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou 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.
16 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.
Year: 2203
Month: 5
Day: 4
Issachar born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:17-18
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
Jasher 31:18
18 And Leah again conceived and bare Jacob in those days two sons and one daughter, and these are their names, Issachar, Zebulon, and their sister Dinah.
Jubilees 28:22
22 And Jacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Issachar, on the fourth of the fifth month, in the fourth year of the fourth week,[2132 A.M.] and she gave him to a nurse.
Year: 2204
Month: 11
Day: 2
Asher born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:12-13
12 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.
13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
Jubilees 28:21
21 And he went in again unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a second son, and Leah called his name Asher, on the second of the eleventh month, in the fifth year of the fourth week. [2133 A.M.]
Rachel prays to YHWH to open her womb
Jasher 31:19-20
19 And Rachel was still barren in those days, and Rachel prayed unto the Lord at that time, and she said, O Lord God remember me and visit me, I beseech thee, for now my husband will cast me off, for I have borne him no children.
20 Now O Lord God, hear my supplication before thee, and see my affliction, and give me children like one of the handmaids, that I may no more bear my reproach.
Year: 2205
Month: 4
Day: 1
Joseph born to Jacob and Rachel i
Genesis 30:22-24
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
Jasher 31:21
21 And God heard her and opened her womb, and Rachel conceived and bare a son, and she said, The Lord has taken away my reproach, and she called his name Joseph, saying, May the Lord add to me another son; and Jacob was ninety-one years old when she bare him.
Jubilees 28:24
24 And the Lord was gracious to Rachel, and opened her womb, and she conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Joseph, on the new moon of the fourth month, in the sixth year in this fourth week. [2134 A.M.]
Month: 7
Day: 7
Zebulan and Dinah born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:19-21
19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Jubilees 28:23
23 And Jacob went in again unto her, and she conceived, and bare two (children), a son and a daughter, and she called the name of the son Zabulon, and the name of the daughter Dinah, in the seventh of the seventh month, in the sixth year of the fourth week. [2134 A.M.]
Notes
i
Since Jubilees 28:19-24 keeps up with the year, month, and day of each of Jacob’s son’s births, Jacob is more than likely 96 when Joseph is born, not 91.
Exposition
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2200
Jacob marries Rachel who is given Bilhah as a handmaid
Genesis 29:28-30
Jasher 31:13
Jubilees 28:9-10
Jacob did as he was told and completed Leah’s week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife as well. Laban also gave Rachel his servant Bilhah to be her handmaid. Jacob also slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he stayed and served Laban for another 7 years.
Rising Action
Rachel complains to Jacob about not having children
Genesis 30:1-2
Jasher 31:16b
Jubilees 28:16
When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die.”
Jacob became angry with Rachel and replied, “Am I in God’s place? He’s the one who has kept you from having children.”
Jacob marries Bilhah
Genesis 30:3-4
Jubilees 28:17
Then Rachel said, “Here is my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her, and she will have children on my behalf so I can build a family through her.”
So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob slept with her.
Year: 2201
Month: 7
Day: 5
Naphtali born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:7-8
Jubilees 28:19
Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again and bore Jacob a 2nd son on the 5th day of the 7th month, in the 2nd year of the 4th week. Rachel said, “I have fought hard struggles with my sister, and I’ve won.” So she named him Naphtali.
Jacob marries Zilpah
Genesis 30:9
Jasher 31:17a
Jubilees 28:20a
When Leah saw she had stopped having children, she became jealous of Rachel. So she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
Year: 2202
Month: 8
Day: 12
Gad born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:10-11
Jasher 31:17b
Jubilees 28:20b
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son on the 12th day of the 8th month, in the 3rd year of the 4th week. Leah said, “A troop is coming!” So she named him Gad.
Climax
Leah trades mandrakes with Rachel
Genesis 30:14-16
During the wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrakes. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you’ve taken my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes too?”
Rachel said, “Fine—he can sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
That evening, when Jacob came in from the fields, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must sleep with me tonight. I’ve hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.
Falling Action
Year: 2203
Month: 5
Day: 4
Issachar born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:17-18
Jasher 31:18
Jubilees 28:22
God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave Jacob a 5th son on the 4th day of the 5th month, in the 4th year of the 4th week. Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.
Year: 2204
Month: 11
Day: 2
Asher born to Jacob and Zilpah
Genesis 30:12-13
Jubilees 28:21
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, gave birth to Jacob’s 2nd son on the 2nd day of the 11th month, in the 5th year of the 4th week. Leah said, “How happy I am! Women will call me blessed.” So she named him Asher.
Rachel prays to YHWH to open her womb
Jasher 31:19-20
Rachel was still childless during this time. She prayed to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me and visit me, I beg you. My husband will soon reject me because I haven’t given him any children. Please, Lord God, hear my plea and look upon my suffering. Give me children like one of the servant women so I may no longer carry this shame.”
Resolution
Year: 2205
Month: 4
Day: 1
Joseph born to Jacob and Rachel
Genesis 30:22-24
Jasher 31:21
Jubilees 28:24
God remembered Rachel, heard her prayer, and opened her womb. Jacob was 91 years old when she gave birth. She conceived and had a son on the new moon of the 4th month, in the 6th year of the 4th week. She said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph, saying, “The Lord will add another son to me.”
Month: 7
Day: 7
Zebulan and Dinah born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:19-21
Jubilees 28:23
Leah became pregnant again and bore Jacob a 6th son on the 7th day of the 7th month, in the 6th year of the 4th week. She said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will live with me because I have given him 6 sons.” So she named him Zebulun (Zabulon).
After that, she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.