LEAH, the Wife of Jacob, and Laban’s eldest Daughter. Her Father introduced her into Jacob’s Chamber, and put her to Bed with him upon the Wedding Night; Jacob took her to be Rachel, whom he had really married1. When he complained of this Cheat, Laban answered him, that it was not the Custom of that Countrey to marry the youngest Daughters before the eldest were provided for. Wherefore it was necessary that Jacob should engage to serve Laban seven Years longer, in Order to have Rachel. The Lord observing him to have more Inclination for Rachel than for Leah, gave the latter the Blessing of Fertility, and made her the Mother of six Sons and one Daughter, viz. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah; not to mention Gad and Asher,2 whom Zilpah her Servant produced to Jacob, and Leah adopted. We know not the Year of Leah’s Death; but we know that she died in the Land of Canaan, and that she was buried in the Cave where Sarah, Abraham, and Isaac Gen xlix. 31. Ex. xii. 15, 19. שארΖύμη. Fermentum. Ex. xii. 15, 19. Lev. ii. 11.had been buried before her.
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