Illustration created for this project.
Leah
Elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob; mother of six of the tribal patriarchs, including Levi and Judah.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Family & lineage
Death & legacy
Utilisateur:Djampa - User:Djampa — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyJacob records that he buried Leah in the cave of Machpelah at Hebron — the only one of his wives laid there. The site is marked today by a massive stone enclosure raised by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC — the oldest such structure still in use — venerated as the Tomb of the Patriarchs ever since.
Cave/Tomb of the Patriarchs (Machpelah), Hebron; Herodian enclosure (Haram el-Khalil), architecture studied by L.-H. Vincent, E. J. H. Mackay & F.-M. Abel, 'Hébron: Le Haram el-Khalil, sépulture des patriarches' (Paris: Leroux, 1923); cf. Genesis 49:31.
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Hebron
Where in scripture
GenesisRuth
Genesis 29:16Genesis 29:23Genesis 29:35Genesis 31:4Genesis 31:14Genesis 31:33Genesis 33:1Genesis 33:2Genesis 33:7Genesis 34:1Genesis 35:23Genesis 35:26Genesis 46:15Genesis 46:18Genesis 49:31Ruth 4:11
Family
In their own words — 7 recorded sayings
“And Leah was with child, and gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name Reuben: for she said, The Lord has seen my sorrow; now my husband will have love for me. Then she became with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Because it has come to the Lord's ears that I am not loved, he has given me this son in addition: and she gave him the name Simeon. And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Now at last my husband will be united to me, because I have given him three sons: so he was named Levi. And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son: and she…” — Genesis 29:32-35
“And Leah said, It has gone well for me: and she gave him the name Gad.” — Genesis 30:11
“And Leah said, Happy am I! and all women will give witness to my joy: and she gave him the name Asher.” — Genesis 30:13
“But Leah said to her, Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband from me? and now would you take my son's love-fruits? Then Rachel said, You may have him tonight in exchange for your son's love-fruits.” — Genesis 30:15
“In the evening, when Jacob came in from the field, Leah went out to him and said, Tonight you are to come to me, for I have given my son's love-fruits as a price for you. And he went in to her that night.” — Genesis 30:16
“Then Leah said, God has made payment to me for giving my servant-girl to my husband: so she gave her son the name Issachar.” — Genesis 30:18
“And she said, God has given me a good bride-price; now at last will I have my husband living with me, for I have given him six sons: and she gave him the name Zebulun.” — Genesis 30:20
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
