## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 30

###### Sforno on Genesis 30:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:1:1)

**מֵתָה אָנֹכִי.** כְּעִנְיַן "הֵן אֲנִי עֵץ יָבֵשׁ" (ישעיהו נו:ג).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מתה אנכי, a figure of speech, meaning the same as הן אני עץ יבש, “here I am a dried out tree,” in Isaiah 56,3.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:2:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:2:1)

**וַיִּחַר.** עַל אָמְרָהּ **הָבָה לִי**, כְּאִלּוּ הָיָה בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת זֶה, וְכָעַס בְּקִנְאָתוֹ לִכְבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, וְלֹא הִבִּיט לְאַהֲבָתוֹ אוֹתָהּ בָּזֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויחר, because she had said: הבה לי!. This sounded as if Rachel’s having children was something within the power of her husband. His anger was on behalf of his Creator, G’d, Who had been insulted by Rachel’s words. He had to ignore his love and commiseration for Rachel’s plight seeing she had been guilty of such a fauz pas.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:2:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:2:2)

**אֲשֶׁר מָנַע מִמֵּךְ.** שֶׁיָּצַר אוֹתָךְ עֲקָרָה שֶׁהִכִּיר בָּהּ סִימָנֵי אַיְלוֹנִית.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אשר מנע ממך, Yaakov had detected clear physiological symptoms indicating that Rachel was incapable of conceiving.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:3:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:3:1)

**בּוֹא אֵלֶיהָ.** וּבָזֶה אָמַרְתִּי **הָבָה לִי**, לֹא שֶׁחָשַׁבְתִּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בְּיָדְךָ רְפוּאָה שֶׁל עֲקָרָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בוא אליה, this was Rachel’s answer to her husband’s accusation. She had not meant that it was within Yaakov’s power to make her pregnant, but she wanted to nurse a child by the next best method, that of becoming foster mother to her handmaid’s child.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:3:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:3:2)

**וְאִבָּנֶה גַּם אָנֹכִי.** כְּמוֹ אֲחוֹתִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואבנה גם אנכי ממנה, so that I will have a share in posterity just as has my sister through her children.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:3:3
[Sforno on Genesis 30:3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:3:3)

**מִמֶּנָּה.** שֶׁבְּקִנְאַת חֲבֶרְתִּי יִתְעוֹרֵר טֶבַע כְּלֵי הַזֶּרַע לִפְעוּלוֹתָם (מגילה יג.).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ממנה, a recipe found in Megillah 13 for barren women to be jealous of other women who have no problem conceiving in order for their own organs to respond in a manner that helps them conceive.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:6:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:6:1)

**דָּנַנִּי אֱלֹהִים.** צַדִּיק הוּא בְּדִינוֹ שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן לִי הֵרָיוֹן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
דנני אלוקים, G’d was just and fair in not granting me children.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:6:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:6:2)

**וְגַם שָׁמַע בְּקוֹלִי.** וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן קִבֵּל תְּפִלָּתִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וגם שמע בקולי, but even so He did accept my prayer.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:6:3
[Sforno on Genesis 30:6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:6:3)

**וַיִּתֶּן לִי בֵּן.** חוּטְרָא לִידָא וּמָרָא לִקְבוּרָה (יבמות סה:), כֵּיוָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד עַל בִּרְכַּי. וְהִנֵּה הִסְכִּימוּ הַגְּבִירוֹת בְּדִבְרֵיהֶן אֵלֶּה שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה הַשְּׁפָחוֹת מְשֻׁחְרָרוֹת, וְזֶה בְּאָמְרָן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְּנֵי הַשְּׁפָחוֹת לָהֶן לְבָנִים לֹא לַעֲבָדִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הַדִּין אִם הָיוּ אִמּוֹתָם שְׁפָחוֹת, כְּאָמְרוֹ "הָאִשָּׁה וִילָדֶיהָ תִּהְיֶה לַאדוֹנֶיהָ" (שמות כא:ד). לְפִיכָךְ לֹא שִׁעְבְּדוּ בָּהֶן כְּמוֹ שֶׁשִּׁעְבְּדָה שָׂרָה אֶת הָגָר בְּהַסְכָּמַת אִישָׁהּ, כְּאָמְרוֹ "הִנֵּה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ בְּיָדֵךְ" (בראשית טז:ו). וּבְכֵן הָיוּ כֻּלָּם בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב לְיָרְשׁוֹ, וְהָיוּ כֻּלָּם רְצוּיִים לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי ה' בָּאֵפוֹד וּבַחֹשֶׁן, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם נֶחְשָׁב לְיַעֲקֹב זַרְעוֹ הַמְיֻחָס אַחֲרָיו. וְהֵפֶךְ זֶה הָיָה בְּיִשְׁמָעֵאל, כְּאָמְרוֹ "כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע" (בראשית כא:יב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויתן לי בן, someone who will look after me in my old age., seeing he has been born on my knees, i.e. will be raised by me. When Yaakov’s senior wives, Rachel and Leah made such statements, they thereby signaled their agreement to freeing their handmaids who had possessed slave status up until then. They did this by referring to the sons of the handmaids as בנים, children, rather than as עבדים, slaves. If their mothers had been slaves, the children would have to be viewed and treated as slaves. We have proof of this from Exodus 21,4 האשה וילדיה תהיה לאדוניה, “the woman and her children will belong to her master.” This is the reason why these matriarchs did no longer have the mothers of the handmaids’ sons perform menial tasks for them as they did before these women were given to Yaakov to have children with. This was quite different from when Avraham had said to Sarah that Hagar, mother of Ishmael was “in your hand, do to her what you like,” i.e. she continued in her status as slave. They are always listed as בני יעקב, and participate fully in the inheritance, as opposed to a slave who cannot inherit as anything given to him automatically belongs to his master. In the case of Ishmael, the Torah had made sure by saying כי ביצחק יקרא לך זרע “for your (Avraham’s) seed will be perpetuated through Yitzchok, that we would understand that Ishmael was not Avraham’s heir. (21,12)


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:8:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:8:1)

**נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי.** מִלְּשׁוֹן "צָמִיד פָּתִיל" (במדבר יט:טו), חִבּוּרִים אֱלֹהִים וְשֶׁל קְדֻשָּׁה הִתְחַבַּרְתִּי לְבַעֲלִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נפתלי אלוהים נפתלתי, the word נפתולי is a variant of the word פתיל as in צמיד פתיל, a tightly fitted lid (Numbers 19,15) Rachel meant that her cleaving to her husband was an attachment containing spiritual, religious dimensions, making the bond between them immeasurably stronger.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:8:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:8:2)

**עִם אֲחוֹתִי.** וְזֶה עָשִׂיתִי יַחְדָּיו עִם אֲחוֹתִי, שֶׁהִכְנַסְנוּ אֶת צָרוֹתֵינוּ לְבָתֵּינוּ יַחְדָּיו לְהַעֲמִיד שְׁבָטִים. כִּי אָמְנָם הִכְנִיסָה לֵאָה אֶת זִלְפָּה לְיַעֲקֹב בְּהֶכְרֵחַ קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּוָּלֵד נַפְתָּלִי, כִּי בְּשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים נוֹלְדוּ שְׁמוֹנָה שְׁבָטִים: שִׁשָּׁה בְּנֵי לֵאָה וּשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה. וּכְשֶׁנַּחְשׁוֹב תִּשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים לְכָל עִבּוּר, הֵם שִׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם חֳדָשִׁים שֶׁהֵם שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, מִלְּבַד תִּשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים עִבּוּר דָּן שֶׁקָּדְמוּ לְכָל עִבּוּרֵי הַשְּׁמוֹנָה שְׁבָטִים. וּמִכָּל זֶה יִתְחַיֵּב שֶׁמָּסְרָה לֵאָה אֶת זִלְפָּה לְיַעֲקֹב קוֹדֶם לֵידַת נַפְתָּלִי, כִּי בְּאוֹפֶן אַחֵר לֹא יַסְפִּיק זְמַן הַשֶּׁבַע שָׁנִים לְעִבּוּרֵי כֻּלָּם, אִם לֹא נֹאמַר שֶׁנּוֹלְדוּ כֻּלָּם לְשִׁבְעָה חֳדָשִׁים וְשֶׁתֵּכֶף שֶׁיָּלְדוּ נִתְעַבְּרוּ וְלֹא שָׁמְרוּ שׁוּם טֻמְאַת לֵידָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
עם אחותי, I did this jointly with my sister, both of us having liberated our respective handmaids in order to enable them to become mothers of the founding fathers of the Jewish people. This is what they meant when considering the sons of these former handmaids as בנים instead of as עבדים. Accordingly, Leah had already liberated her handmaid Zilpah before Bilhah had given birth to Naftali. How else could 8 of the 12 tribes have been born within 7 years of Yaakov’s getting married? 6 of these sons were Leah’s and 2 were Zilpah’s. Assuming each pregnancy lasted 9 months, and further assuming that none of these pregnancies occurred simultaneously, 8 times 9 months amounts to 72 months, i.e. 6 years. Unless Leah had given her handmaid to Yaakov before Naftali was born there would not have been enough time for Joseph to have been born at the end of the second 7 years of Yaakov’s service. At that time, after Joseph’s birth, Yaakov requested permission to go home to his parents.(3,26). The only alternative to our calculation would be that all the children were born after only 7 months pregnancy, and that none of the mothers observed even basic days of ritual impurity before again sleeping with their husbands.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:8:3
[Sforno on Genesis 30:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:8:3)

**גַּם יָכֹלְתִּי.** הִשַּׂגְתִּי מַה שֶּׁרָצִיתִי בְּעִנְיַן מְסִירַת שִׁפְחָתִי לְבַעֲלִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
גם יכולתי, I have achieved what I had planned by giving my maidservant to Yaakov.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:11:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:11:1)

**בָּא גָּד.** זֶה בָּא בְּמִקְרֶה, כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה כַּוָּנָתִי לְהָבִיא זֶה לָעוֹלָם לוּלֵי שֶׁעָמַדְתִּי מִלֶּדֶת. וְנִכְתַּב בָּגָד מִלָּה אַחַת, כִּי הָיָה הַהֵרָיוֹן לָהּ בּוֹגֵד כְּמוֹ אַכְזָב שֶׁפָּסַק הַהֵרָיוֹן מִמֶּנָּה אַחַר שֶׁהִתְחִיל, כְּעִנְיַן "אַחַי בָּגְדוּ כְמוֹ נָחַל" (איוב ו:טו):

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בא גד, this one came coincidentally, for I had not planned to bring him into the world, seeing that I had stopped giving birth. The reason why the word is spelled as a single word with the letter א missing, is to indicate that the conception and pregnancy was not planned but occurred gratuitously. Her pregnancy had somehow become terminated after it had begun. We find a similar construction of the word בגד in Job 6,15: אחי בגדו כמו נחל, “my comrades are fickle like a wadi.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:13:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:13:1)

**בְּאָשְׁרִי.** זֶה הַבֵּן הוּא נִכְלָל בָּאוֹשֶׁר שֶׁלִּי כִּי גַּם זֶה לִי בֵּן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
באשרי, this son is part of my bliss, my happiness, because he is also a son for me.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:14:1)

**וַיֵּלֶךְ רְאוּבֵן.** כְּשֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאִמּוֹ מִצְטַעֶרֶת עַל שֶׁעָמְדָה מִלֶּדֶת:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וילך ראובן, when he saw that his mother was unhappy that she was no longer having children,


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:14:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:14:2)

**וַיִּמְצָא דוּדָאִים.** מִין עֵשֶׂב טוֹב הָרֵיחַ וּמֵכִין כְּלֵי הַזֶּרַע אֶל הַתּוֹלָדָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה עַל הַשּׁוּם (בבא קמא פב.) וְשֶׁלְּכָךְ הָיוּ אוֹכְלִים אוֹתוֹ בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, וְכֵן הָיָה מִין הַדּוּדָאִים אוֹ טוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ עִם הוֹסִיפָם אַהֲבַת הַזִּוּוּג, כְּאָמְרוֹ (שיר השירים ז:יג-יד) "שָׁם אֶתֵּן אֶת דּוֹדַי לָךְ, הַדּוּדָאִים נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ". וּבָזֶה הוֹדִיעָנוּ צִדְקַת רְאוּבֵן וְחָכְמָתוֹ עִם הֱיוֹתוֹ אָז בֶּן אַרְבַּע אוֹ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים לְמַרְבֶּה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וימצא דודאים, a pleasant smelling herb, the fragrance stimulating the human organs related to conceiving and giving birth. Our sages (Baba Kamma 82) said garlic has a similar effect on people and that this is the reason why one eats garlic on Friday nights when the husbands cohabit with their wives. The Dudaim appear to have been known as producing a similar effect. It is possible that the Dudaim had an even better effect in stimulating the feelings of love between a man and his wife. This idea is based on Song of Songs 7,13-14 שם אתן את דודי לך, הדודאים נתנו ריח, “there I will give my love to you, the mandrakes yield their fragrance.” Our verse would testify both to Reuven’s righteousness and his intelligence. especially considering that at that time he could hardly have been older than 4 or five years old.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:15:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:15:1)

**הַמְעַט קַחְתֵּךְ אֶת אִישִׁי.** שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָךְ לְהַסְכִּים שֶׁתִּהְיִי אַתְּ צָרָתִי, כְּאָמְרוֹ "וְאִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֹתָהּ לֹא תִקַּח לִצְרוֹר" (ויקרא יח:יח):

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Isn’t it enough that you took.** You should not have agreed to become my co-wife in the first place, since the Torah disapproves of marrying sisters.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:15:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:15:2)

**וְלָקַחַת גַּם אֶת דּוּדָאֵי בְּנִי.** לְהוֹסִיף אַהֲבָתְךָ וְשִׂנְאָתוֹ אוֹתִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Would you also take.** Do you now wish to increase Yaakov’s love for you and his hatred for me?


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:15:3
[Sforno on Genesis 30:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:15:3)

**לָכֵן יִשְׁכַּב עִמָּךְ הַלַּיְלָה.** שֶׁתִּקְדַּם פְּעֻלַּת הַדּוּדָאִים וּסְגֻלָּתָם בָּךְ לִפְעֻלָּתָם בִּי, וְלֹא יַגִּיעֵךְ נֶזֶק בְּמַה שֶׁתִּתְּנִי לִי מֵהֶם עַתָּה, כִּי לֹא יֶחְדַּל מִי שֶׁיִּמְצָא מֵהֶם בַּעֲדִי אַחֲרֵי כֵן, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בִּהְיוֹתָם הֶפְקֵר כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה עב:ב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לכן ישכב עמך הלילה. In order that the effect of your sleeping with him will become effective before I can use the effect of the mandrakes. You will therefore not suffer any damage if you give me some of the mandrakes now. This is all the more so if, as our sages contend, these mandrakes were ownerless and had never belonged to anyone specifically. (Bereshit Rabbah,72,2)


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:16:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:16:1)

**אֵלַי תָּבוֹא כִּי שָׂכֹר שְׂכַרְתִּיךָ.** וְלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה עָוֶל בָּזֶה לְבַטֵּל עוֹנַת אֲחוֹתִי, בִּהְיוֹת זֶה מִדַּעְתָּהּ וּבְהַסְכָּמָתָהּ. וּבָזֶה הַסִּפּוּר הַנִּרְאֶה מְגֻנֶּה אֵצֶל מְגַלֵּי פָּנִים בַּתּוֹרָה, הוֹדִיעֵנוּ אָמְנָם שֶׁהָיָה עִנְיַן הַתּוֹלָדָה אֵצֶל הָאָבוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה עִנְיָנוֹ אֵצֶל אָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ קוֹדֶם חֶטְאָם, כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה כַּוָּנָתָם בּוֹ לַהֲנָאַת עַצְמָם כְּלָל, אֲבָל הָיָה לְהָקִים זֶרַע בִּלְבַד לִכְבוֹד קוֹנָם וְלַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ. וְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁכְּהִיוֹת כַּוָּנַת הָאִמָּהוֹת רְצוּיָה לִפְנֵי הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתָן בְּהַכְנָסַת הַצָּרוֹת וְעִנְיַן הַדּוּדָאִים, נִשְׁמְעָה תְּפִלָּתָן עַל זֶה, כִּי רָאוּי לַצַּדִּיק שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת הַטִּבְעִי הָאֶפְשָׁר אֶצְלוֹ לְהַשִּׂיג חֶפְצוֹ, וְעִם זֶה יִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיַּשִּׂיג הַתַּכְלִית, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (יְבָמוֹת נד:) שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְאַוֶּה לִתְפִלָּתָם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**You will come to me.** This will entail no injustice since Rochel agreed. Like Adam before the sin, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs related to reproduction as nothing other than a way to produce more servants for Hashem.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:16:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:16:2)

**וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִמָּהּ בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא.** מִדַּעְתּוֹ, בִּרְאוֹתוֹ זְרִיזוּת לֵאָה וְטוֹב כַּוָּנָתָהּ בָּזֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישכב עמה בלילה הוא, willingly, not reluctantly. He appreciated her urgent desire to have more children fathered by him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:17:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:17:1)

**וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶל לֵאָה.** שֶׁהִקְדִּימָה הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתָהּ בָּזֶה עִם תְּפִלָּתָהּ, בְּאָמְרָהּ **נָתַן אֱלֹהִים שְׂכָרִי אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי לְאִישִׁי**, וְזֶה הָיָה הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת הָרִאשׁוֹן כְּשֶׁהִכְנִיסָה צָרָתָהּ לְבֵיתָהּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישמע אלוקים אל לאה, because she had used both natural means, and then, failing to succeed, relied on prayer. She herself is on record as confirming this when she said נתן אלוקים שכרי אשר נתתי שפחתי לאישי, “G’d has given me my reward for having offered my handmaid to my husband. Giving Zilpah to Yaakov was considered by her as a way of relying on natural means of having more children, seeing she had come to the conclusion that she could not have any more from her own womb.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:20:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:20:1)

**זְבָדַנִי אֱלֹהִים אוֹתִי.** נָתַן לִי חֵלֶק וְגָמוּל עַל הַשְׁתַּדְּלוּת הַשְּׁנִי בַּדּוּדָאִים, שֶׁשְּׂכַר מִצְוָה מִצְוָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Elokim has given.** Hashem gave her Yissachar in reward for her first effort in giving Yaakov her maidservant and He gave her Zevulun in reward for her second effort in trading the jasmine flowers for an additional night with him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:20:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:20:2)

**אוֹתִי זֵבֶד טוֹב.** כִּי הָיָה עִמִּי חֵלֶק טוֹב שֶׁלֹּא הִתְכַּוַּנְתִּי לְשׁוּם תַּעֲנוּג אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**A goodly portion.** She was deserving of reward because her only intention was to increase Hashem’s honor.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:22:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:22:1)

**וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת רָחֵל.** שֶׁהִשְׁתַּדְּלָה לְהוֹלִיד בְּהַכְנִיסָה צָרָתָהּ לְבֵיתָהּ וּבְעִנְיַן הַדּוּדָאִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Elokim remembered Rochel.** He remembered the efforts she made to produce offspring for Yaakov by giving him her maidservant and acquiring the jasmine flowers.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:22:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:22:2)

**וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ אֱלֹהִים.** שֶׁהִתְפַּלְלָה אַחַר שֶׁעָשְׂתָה שְׁנֵי מִינֵי הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**And Elokim perceived (literally, “heard”).** After she made the two efforts mentioned above, she then prayed to Him and He heard her prayers.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:23:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:23:1)

**אֶת חֶרְפָּתִי.** שֶׁקִּבֵּל תְּפִלַּת אֲחוֹתִי וְלֹא הָיָה מְקַבֵּל תְּפִלָּתִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
את חרפתי, that G’d had consistently accepted my sister’s prayers while seemingly ignoring mine.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:24:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:24:1)

**יוֹסֵף ה' לִי בֵּן אַחֵר.** עַל הַהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת הַשֵּׁנִי כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲחוֹתִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
יוסף ה' לי בן אחר. On account of having given my handmaid to my husband a second time. G’d has granted my sister also another son on account of that.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:25:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:25:1)

**שַׁלְּחֵנִי וְאֵלֵכָה.** שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה אָז בְּיָדוֹ מִקְנֶה, כִּי בְמַקְלוֹ עָבַר, אָמְנָם הָיָה בְּיָדוֹ דֵּי לִחְיוֹת עִם נָשָׁיו וּבָנָיו, לְפָחוֹת דֵּי לִקְנוֹת לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה וּמָזוֹן לַדֶּרֶךְ, כִּי בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר לֹא הָיָה רָאוּי לְצַדִּיק וְחָכָם שֶׁיַּחְפֹּץ לָלֶכֶת לָמוּת וּלְהָמִית בָּרָעָב, וְלֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל לֵב שֶׁיַּסְכִּים עַל יָדוֹ לָבָן שֶׁהָיָה עָשִׁיר וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים בְּעִירוֹ, וִישַׁלְּחֵהוּ עִם בְּנוֹתָיו וּבְנֵי בְנוֹתָיו לְהָמִית אֶת כָּל הַקָּהָל בָּרָעָב וּבַצָּמָא וּבְעֵרוֹם בְּדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה. וְהִנֵּה לָבָן הִתְחַנֵּן לוֹ שֶׁיֵּשֵׁב עִמּוֹ לְתוֹעַלְתּוֹ כְּאָמְרוֹ **וַיְבָרְכֵנִי ה' בִּגְלָלֶךָ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
שלחני ואלכה, even though Yaakov did not own any livestock at that time, seeing he had crossed the Yabbok with only his walking staff, he did have enough provisions and cash for himself and his extensive family. Had he not possessed these, it would have been irresponsible in the highest degree to undertake this kind of a journey relying on G’d’s miracles to sustain him. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that Lavan a wealthy and respected individual in his town, would consent to let Yaakov take his wives and children, Lavan’s own family, on a journey in which they would face death from starvation. Lavan’s objection to Yaakov’s departing at this time was based on self-interest. He pleaded with him, seeing he knew that his wealth had been due to Yaakov’s presence and he did not want to lose the source of his financial success.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:27:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:27:1)

**אִם נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ.** אִם אוֹתִי אָהַבְתָּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁרָאוּי מִצַּד הַקּוּרְבָה, אֵין רָאוּי שֶׁתַּעַזְבֵנִי, וְזֶה כִּי נִחַשְׁתִּי שֶׁבָּאָה בְּבֵיתִי בְּרָכָה לְרַגְלֶיךָ בִּרְבוֹת הַמִּקְנֶה וּבִשְׁאָר נְכָסִים, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות מב.) תֵּכֶף לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם בְּרָכָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך, if you love me at all, as would be appropriate for people of the same flesh and blood. It is not proper for you to abandon me at this stage. Why would he term Yaakov’s leaving for his own home as abandoning Lavan? נחשתי, I am absolutely convinced that my good fortune during the last 14 years commenced with your arrival at my doorstep. As the Talmud Berachot 42 puts it:תכף לתלמיד חכם ברכה, attaching oneself to a Torah scholar and playing host to him results in the host receiving Divine blessings. [the Talmud quotes our verse as its source. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:27:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:27:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:27:2)

**וַיְבָרְכֵנִי ה' בִּגְלָלֶךָ.** וְגַם רָאִיתִי שֶׁהוֹצֵאתִי מִן הַמִּקְנֶה דָּמִים מְרֻבִּים וְעֹשֶׁר יוֹתֵר מִן הַמֻּרְגָּל, וְיָדַעְתִּי שֶׁזֶּה הָיָה בִּגְלָלֶךָ, וְאוּלַי הַתְּרָפִים דִּבְּרוּ זֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Ad-noy has blessed you with my coming.** Lavan attributed his prosperity to Yaakov’s fortune whereas Yaakov insisted it was due to his effort. But one way or another, it was true that Hashem had blessed Lavan with his coming.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:29:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:29:1)

**אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲבַדְתִּיךָ.** לֹא תְיַחֵס תּוֹסֶפֶת הַמִּקְנֶה אֶל הַנַּחַשׁ הַנִּמְשָׁךְ אַחַר הַמַּזָּל, אֲבָל תְּיַחֵס לִשְׁלֵמוּת עֲבוֹדָתִי שֶׁהָיְתָה עִם בְּקִיאוּת וְהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת רַב בִּמְלֶאכֶת מִרְעֵה הַצֹּאן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אתה ידעת את אשר עבדתיך, do not attribute your sudden wealth to the power of your teraphim, i.e. to influences connected with your horoscope, but attribute it to the faithful manner in which I tended your flocks, and to my expertise as well as my dedication in maximising the potential connected with the craft of being an expert shepherd.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:29:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:29:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:29:2)

**וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר הָיָה מִקְנְךָ אִתִּי.** שֶׁהָיוּ בּוֹ נִשְׁבָּרוֹת וְחוֹלוֹת, וְחָבַשְׁתִּי אֶת הַנִּשְׁבֶּרֶת וְרִפֵּאתִי לַחוֹלָה, כָּרָאוּי לְרוֹעֵי הַבָּקָר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואת אשר היה מקנך אתי, the herds had contained defective animals, maimed ones, etc.; I cured those using my expert knowledge in raising sheep, and cattle.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:30:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:30:1)

**וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אוֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי.** אָמְנָם בְּמַה שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ שֶׁבֵּרַךְ ה' אוֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי הוּא אֱמֶת בְּלִי סָפֵק.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויברך ה' אותך לרגלי, still, when you said that the Lord blessed you during my presence here, this is true beyond a doubt;


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:30:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:30:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:30:2)

**וְעַתָּה.** מֵאַחַר שֶׁהָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בֵּרַךְ אוֹתְךָ בִּשְׁבִילִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**When will I also do.** When will I have the opportunity to bring blessing to my own house the way you have brought it to yours through my presence


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:30:3
[Sforno on Genesis 30:30:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:30:3)

**מָתַי אֶעֱשֶׂה גַם אָנֹכִי.** אֵיזֶה מַעֲשֶׂה מְבֹרָךְ מֵאִתּוֹ לְבֵיתִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ אַתָּה בִּגְלָלִי לְבֵיתְךָ, וְלֹא יַסְפִּיק לָזֶה הַשָּׂכָר הַמֻּרְגָּל לָרוֹעִים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מתי אעשה גם אנכי when will it be my turn to do something blessed by the Lord for my own household? The kind of wages paid to shepherds are not adequate to enable me to accumulate some wealth for my family as you have succeeded in doing for your family.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:31:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:31:1)

**מָה אֶתֶּן לָךְ.** שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לְךָ תְּמוּרַת מַה שֶׁאַתָּה מְצַפֶּה לְהַשִּׂיג?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
?מה אתן לך, so that you will achieve what you hope to achieve?


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:31:2
[Sforno on Genesis 30:31:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:31:2)

**לֹא תִתֶּן לִי מְאוּמָה.** שֶׁאִם הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ יִתֵּן חֵן בַּעֲדִי, לֹא יַמְעִיט אֶת הַמּוּכָן לְךָ, כְּאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: "אֵין אָדָם נוֹגֵעַ בַּמּוּכָן לַחֲבֵרוֹ" (יומא לח.).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא תתן לי מאומה, if the Lord will see fit to bless me, He will certainly not deny you what you are entitled to. Our sages have a rule that a person cannot negatively influence what his fellow human is entitled to. (Yuma 38)


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:32:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:32:1)

**הָסֵר מִשָּׁם כָּל שֶׂה.** הַקְּטַנִּים וְלֹא הַגְּדוֹלִים, לְמַעַן יוֹלִידוּ קְצָתָם בְּדוֹמֶה וְיִפְּלוּ לְחֶלְקִי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הסר משם כל שה, the young ones, not the adult ones; so that some of them would give birth to young ones with the same skin patterns as the younger ones and will be part of my share.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:33:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:33:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:33:1)

**וְעָנְתָה בִּי צִדְקָתִי כִּי תָבֹא עַל שְׂכָרִי לְפָנֶיךָ.** שֶׁכְּשֶׁתָּבֹא צִדְקָתִי לְהֵרָאוֹת הָרָאוּי לְחֶלְקִי בַּנּוֹלָדִים, תָּעִיד לְפָנֶיךָ עַל שְׁלֵמוּת עֲבוֹדָתִי אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׂכָרָהּ יְשַׁנֶּה הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּנּוֹלָדִים אֶת הַחֵלֶק הָרָאוּי לְךָ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שֶׁלִּי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**My righteousness … when it comes before you.** Or, “When my righteousness shall go to show my wage, it will testify before you” — i.e., Hashem will reveal what Yaakov deserves for his faithful service by altering the coloration of the lambs.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:34:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:34:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:34:1)

**לוּ יְהִי כִּדְבָרֶיךָ.** שֶׁתִּתְפַּיֵּס בְּמַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לו יהי כדברך, so that you will be satisfied with the results of your own proposal. [Lavan assumed that Yaakov had shot himself in the leg with his proposal. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:35:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:35:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:35:1)

**וַיָּסַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת הַתְּיָשִׁים.** אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר **יְהִי כִדְבָרֶךָ**, שִׁנָּה טַעְמוֹ וְהֵסִיר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא קְטַנִּים וּגְדוֹלִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויסר ביום ההוא את התישים, after Lavan had agreed to Yaakov’s proposal he removed not only the females with such skin patterns as Yaakov had mentioned, etc., but also the males both young an mature ones. [His objective was to make it almost impossible for Yaakov to prosper by relying on genetic factors. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:38:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:38:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:38:1)

**לְנֹכַח הַצֹּאן.** וְהָיָה מַצִּיג הַמַּקְלוֹת לְעֵינֵי הַצֹּאן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּסְתַּכְּלוּ בְּחִדּוּשׁ פְּעֻלַּת הַמַּצִּיג, וּתְצֻיַּר בְּדִמְיוֹנָם בְּעֵת הַהֵרָיוֹן, כִּי הַצִּיּוּר בְּכֹחַ הַמְדַמֶּה בְּעֵת הֵרָיוֹן יִפְעַל עַל הָרֹב בַּנּוֹלָד דְּמוּת דָּבָר הַמְצֻיָּר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לנכח הצאן, he positioned the staves before the line of vision of the sheep in order to make them look when this work was performed, and this experience would be anchored in their imagination at the time they conceived and were pregnant. Visual impressions formed during such periods are of lasting value and usually produce some effect in the young animals born as a result of that pregnancy.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:40:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:40:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:40:1)

**אֶל עָקֹד וְכָל חוּם בְּצֹאן לָבָן.** אַחַר שֶׁהֶחֱלִיף מַשְׂכֻּרְתּוֹ וְהִשְׁאִיר בְּעֶדְרוֹ עָקֹד וְכָל חוּם:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אל עקוד וכל חום בצאן לבן, this was after Lavan had already reneged and changed the rules of the contract by allocating to Yaakov newly born lambs with different skin patterns than had been agreed to originally.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:42:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:42:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:42:1)

**וּבְהַעֲטִיף הַצֹּאן לֹא יָשִׂים.** כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יַחְשֹׁב לָבָן שֶׁהַדָּבָר בְּמִרְמַת אֵיזוֹ מְלָאכָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ובהעטיף הצאן לא ישים, in order that Lavan should not think that the results which so clearly favoured Yaakov could have been achieved only through deceitful activities on his part.


###### Sforno on Genesis 30:43:1
[Sforno on Genesis 30:43:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/30:43:1)

**וַיִּפְרֹץ הָאִישׁ.** פָּרַץ אֶת גְּבוּל הַהַצְלָחָה הַמֻּרְגֶּלֶת בִּמְלֶאכֶת מִרְעֵה הַצֹּאן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויפרץ האיש, he surpassed all the boundaries of what is considered possible in amassing a tremendous fortune in a short time all through shepherding flocks of sheep and goats.