Parashat Vayeitzei (and he went out) Genesis 28:10-32:3

בס”ד

Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-14:10

Jacob’s life reveals a great deal about spiritual growth. Early on in the book of Genesis one reads that, it is not good for man to be alone, therefore G-d supplied Adam a wife (Genesis 2:18). In this week’s parashah the time arrives for Jacob to take a wife. Although it is not expressly stated in the text that the time arrived for Jacob to marry, it is clear in the first section of the Torah portion that Jacob received a call from HaShem.

“Behold, I am with you and I will guard you in all which you go and I will return you to this land; for I will not leave you until that I have done the thing which I have spoken to you.” Genesis 28:15

It is immediately after hearing this call that Jacob came to a well where he met Rachel. Wells in the Bible are related to marriage. The fact that Jacob had just received a call from HaShem and then meets Rachel, are related. It serves to remind the reader that a wife is a necessary part of G-d’s plan for man. In the New Covenant, Yeshua taught on marriage and He quoted the Torah, saying that the two shall become one flesh. Although the Bible reveals that there were some G-d fearing men who had more than one wife, it is most evident from the Scriptures that one woman for one man is the Biblical standard. If so, then why in this week’s Torah portion does the reader learn that Jacob actually had four wives?

It is important to remember that events occur in the Bible for a variety of reasons. Some events offer the reader counsel on how to behave, while other events reveal prophetic and theological truth. It is clear that Jacob having four wives is not being upheld as the recommended family structure. Quite the contrary, because of the number of wives there was conflict, jealously, and improper behavior. So why did Jacob have four wives?

Remember that numbers are important in the Scriptures. The number four appears numerous times and in several different situations. However if one examines the context, he can see that the number four relates to the world. In other words, when the number four appears in the Scriptures it has a global significance. How does this view relate to our passage?

HaShem wanted to convey to the reader that Jacob and his wives have a global significance. The twelve sons that would be born from them would impact the entire world. The Children of Jacob became the Children of Israel and hence Israel came into existence because of the world. It is through Israel that Messiah became a Man and brought about redemption. It will be because of Israel that the world will be transformed and become the Kingdom of G-d, for when Israel finally cries out for Messiah, Yeshua will return and establish His Kingdom. This is one of the implications of why HaShem told Abraham, “…in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed”.

At the time of writing this article, Israel is under pressure to stop defending herself against Hamas and other terrorist groups who are firing rockets into Israel. Many nations who acknowledged Israel’s right to defend herself and end the rocket attacks publically are behind closed doors demanding Israel stop its military action against the terrorists. My advice to Israel’s Prime Minister who will ultimately make the decision on what Israel will do is found in the verse that opened up this article,

Shabbat Shalom