Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. The second surrogate birth doubles the count — Rachel now has two sons through Bilhah. The competition with Leah is the framework: Leah has four; Rachel now has two via Bilhah. The application: the family that has been reduced to a competition in childbearing is a family whose relational damage is being expressed through the children produced. The children are the currency of a conflict neither sister can win.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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