Dinah: The Daughter of Jacob and the Tragedy at Shechem. Dinah, the only named daughter of Jacob and Leah, is central to one of the most troubling episodes in Genesis. Her story in Genesis 34 reveals the vulnerability of women in the ancient world, the dangers of compromise with surrounding nations, and the fiery zeal of her brothers Simeon and Levi.

Zilpah: Leah’s Handmaid and Mother of Gad and Asher. Zilpah, though mentioned only briefly in Scripture, played a role in shaping the house of Israel. As Leah’s handmaid, she was given to Jacob to bear children on Leah’s behalf during the rivalry with Rachel. Through her, Jacob fathered Gad and Asher, two of the twelve tribes.

Rachel: The Beloved Wife and Mother of Joseph. Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban and the sister of Leah, was Jacob’s beloved wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her story is filled with love, longing, rivalry, and sorrow, making her one of the most memorable women in Genesis. While Leah bore many sons, Rachel struggled with barrenness until God opened her womb.

Leah: The Unloved Wife and Mother of Judah. Leah, the elder daughter of Laban and the first wife of Jacob, is remembered as the woman Jacob never chose but through whom God chose to bring forth the line of the Messiah. Though she lived in the shadow of her younger sister Rachel, Leah became the mother of six of Jacob’s sons and a daughter, including Judah, from whom David and ultimately Christ descended. Her story is one of pain, endurance, and God’s compassion for the overlo