參考版本 AFV  A  Faithful Version 的希臘文 2009版本              

耶和華的事，不謀利沒有版權

1. Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. And she said to Jacob, “Give me sons, or else I will die.”

2. And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel. And he said, “Am I in God’s stead Who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3. And she said, “Behold my handmaid Bilhah; go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees, and yea, that I may also have children by her.”

4. So she gave him her handmaid Bilhah as a wife. And Jacob went in to her.

5. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

6. And Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore, she called his name Dan.

7. Then Rachel’s handmaid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

8. And Rachel said, “With the wrestlings of God I have wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.” And she called his name Naphtali.

9. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing, she took her handmaid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

10. And Leah’s handmaid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

11. And Leah said, “With good fortune.” And she called his name Gad.

12. Then Leah’s handmaid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.

 (A Faithful Version)

1. 事到如今，拉結見自未能生育，就起嫉妒，對雅各說：給我生個孩子，不然死給你看。

2. 雅各帶著怒氣卻溫柔地：妳以為我是耶和華，有那可以使你不能生育能力？

3. 拉結便說：我讓婢女闢拉給你同房，就必有兒在膝，成為我的孩子。

4. 拉結把婢女闢拉給了雅各為妻，行夫妻之禮。

5. 闢拉懷孕，生了一子。

6. 拉結說：耶和華是公平的，聽了我禱告，賜我一兒子，給兒子起名叫但。

7. 拉結又再懷孕，生了第二個兒子。

8. 拉結說：是耶和華給我能力與我姊摔跤，且得了勝，給兒子起名拿弗他利。

9. 利亞見自已不能生育，於是把她的使女悉帕給雅各為妻。

10. 利亞的使女悉帕為雅各生了一子。

11. 利亞感恩說：蒙福了，給兒子起名迦得。

12. 悉帕又為雅各再生了一個兒子。

這二位婦女之間發生的事，有沒有耶和華參與？ 摩西的記述是純粹記事，還是想表達什麼？

先談利亞之所以能懷孕生子，摩西的理解是因為有耶和華介入，在人犯錯時，這無辜的人被牽連進去。耶和華是公義，不讓無辜人受壓迫。摩西寫書，是按他真實的經歷，曾與耶和華相遇，這是他對耶和華處事的理解。

女性在那個年代，是社會現實，今日可嘗不是？開放程度開明世界快一點，是社會某些人結合環境因表做成，男主外女主內，有生理的因素在。女性的地位在乎生有男丁，若是頭貽，這婦女就享有更多權利，有更高的地位。對女性這種利益，是從人定的規矩產生出來，例如有子有地位。

這兩姊妹去爭的是什麼？不可以相讓？一談生存，人處理的方式是你死，我就活。歷史不論東西都是同一個處理方式，也不在女更在男，該隱年代，耶和華在他而言，就是權力的象徵。不就是這樣？

利亞曾經歷過一段耶和華的愛護，有四子，她自己明白當時由不受關愛，到愛護周全，是親身經歷四子的改變而來，相信地位是由此提高不少。

拉結這位妹妹，自己未能生育，有許多因素影響。在舊約婦女不育，似乎都在反映一個事實，不育的人那個生活，權力會被削弱，因為受寵的地位不再重要，地位流失是非常嚴肅的問題。這些婦女通常在制度或規條的方式下，爭寵方式處理，是情有可原，那是看來是唯一的方法。生活制度，就是用來維繫群體和諧，須要有序的規範。只是，在有信的人，她生活在這規範當中，卻可以不用人既定的方法，她有一種超越人所定的規範限制的方式，它不但不會破壞共有的守則，更可以不留遺憾：向耶和華求，讓耶和華代為解決。耶和華能作通盤的考慮，用一個對人有利又不破壞社會規範，和諧的方式處理。拉結不似撒拉，懂得向耶和華訴苦求助。

當那個年代，女性沒有更多自己作主的空間，遇到不公平的事，一是忍，或是自己設計去爭取。產生什麼樣的後果，會隨後到來，這方式處理的結局都不好。另一是懂的去尋求耶和華的幫助，一般是須要等待。它在應許之內，耶和華必保護周全，就是要等。忍耐不是藝術，是相信。

這種要等待去讓應許實現的方式，對你來說是可以學習的話，那就多多去分享。

以下是這些兒子出生後，如何反映出耶和華的應許，可以從這些資料中，看個究竟：

Dan ：was the fifth son of the patriarch Jacob and his concubine Bilhah, serving as the founder of the  Tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.   His name, meaning “judgment” or “he judged,” reflected his mother Rachel’s belief that God had vindicated her after years of barrenness. 

The  Tribe of Dan was historically significant as a major military force and is best known for producing the biblical judge  Samson.   Due to pressure from the Philistines in their original coastal territory, a portion of the tribe migrated north, conquered the city of Laish, and renamed it  Dan, which subsequently became the northern most boundary of the Israelite homeland (referenced in the phrase “from Dan to Beersheba”). 

In Jewish tradition and later Christian theology, the tribe has a complex legacy:

• Rabbinical View: Dan is sometimes viewed negatively as the “black sheep” of Jacob’s house due to the tribe’s involvement in idolatry (the golden calf at Dan) and Samson’s failure to maintain his Nazirite vows. 
• Lost Tribe Claims: Some groups, such as the   Beta Israel   (Ethiopian Jews), claim descent from the Tribe of Dan, a view supported by former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.   Other historical claims link the tribe to the Danes or Nordic populations, though these are not accepted in mainstream Jewish genealogy.
• Apocalyptic Tradition: In the Book of Revelation, the tribe of Dan is notably omitted from the list of the 144,000 sealed, leading some early Church Fathers to speculate that the Antichrist would arise from this tribe. 

Naphtali ：(Hebrew: Naftali) was the sixth son of Jacob and the founder of the  Tribe of Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.  His name means “my struggle” or “my wrestling,” reflecting his mother Rachel’s declaration that she had “wrestled with mighty wrestlings” against her sister Leah (Genesis 30:8). 

In Jewish tradition and the Hebrew Bible, the tribe is characterized by several key aspects:

• Lineage and Status: Naphtali was the second son born to Jacob through   Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid.   He and his elder brother Dan are often mentioned together in scripture.
• Symbolism and Traits: Jacob’s blessing described Naphtali as a “doe let loose” (Genesis 49:21), symbolizing s wiftness, agility, and eloquence.   Rabbinic traditions (such as the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan) further depict him as a phenomenally  fast runner. 
• Territory:  The tribe inhabited the fertile  Galilee region west of the Sea of Galilee, an area described by Josephus as an “earthly paradise.” Their territory included significant cities like  Hazor  and  Kedesh  (a city of refuge). 
• Historical Role: The tribe provided key military leadership, including  Barak  (Judges 4), who led the victory against Sisera alongside the prophetess Deborah.   They also supported King David and contributed to the construction of Solomon’s Temple through artisans like Huram-abi.
• Messianic Significance: The land of Naphtali is prophetically linked to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:1  and  Matthew 4:15–16, where Jesus’ ministry in Galilee fulfilled the prophecy that a”the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” 

Gad：In Jewish tradition,  Gad  refers to two distinct entities: the eponymous patriarch of one of the  Twelve Tribes of Israel and a prophet known as  “David’s seer.” 

The Tribe of Gad

Gad was the seventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of  Zilpah, Leah’s  handmaid. His name means  “luck”  or  “fortune”  (from the Hebrew mazal), though some interpretations suggest it means  “troop”  or  “warrior.” 

• Warrior Identity:  The tribe was renowned for its military prowess and bravery, often described as fierce warriors who protected Israel’s borders. Their tribal symbol was a military tent. 
• Territory: The tribe settled east of the Jordan River in the region of Gilead. They were known for their large herds of livestock and initially requested this land for grazing but pledged to fight alongside the other tribes to conquer Canaan first. 
• Blessing:  Jacob prophesied that Gad would be attacked by bandits but would ultimately triumph over them. Moses later likened the tribe to a lion, emphasizing their strength. 
• Exile:  The tribes of Gad and Reuben were the first to be exiled by the Assyrians (around 732 BCE) and are considered part of the “Ten Lost Tribes.” 

Gad the Prophet

Separately, Gad was a prophet and seer  during the reign of King David. 

• Advisor:  He advised David to flee Saul and later offered David a choice of three punishments after David’s census. 
• Historian:  Gad is credited with writing a book on the acts of King David and assisting in organizing the Levitical musical services in the Temple. 

有趣的是，這二姊妹在爭取自身利益的時候，人的意志為本身利息作決定，是常態。相信耶和華的人在這類情況下，有反常態的表達方式，那就須要在認識耶和華如何落實祂的應許有更深的體會才可。

你願意以信心和耐性去驗證耶和華的應許，就多多分享。