Midrash and Aggadah

Gen. 30:1 states: “When Rachel saw that she had borne Jacob no children, she became envious of her sister,” leading the Rabbis to apply to Rachel the verse Cant. 8:6: “Passion [kinah, literally, jealousy] is mighty as Sheol”—this was Rachel’s jealousy of her sister (Tanhuma [ed. Buber], Vayeshev 19). In another tradition, Rachel envied Leah’s good deeds. Rachel said: “If Leah were not righteous, would she have given birth?” (Gen. Rabbah 71:6). In this midrash, Rachel has the insight that the birth of children is a reward from God. Rachel feared that her deeds were not favorable in the eyes of God, which resulted in her barrenness.