**In the year** 7 of Yaakov's dwelling in Haran [(which was Year 2192)], Yaakov's service ended, and Yaakov said to Lavan, "Give me my wife." Lavan gave to Yaakov Leah and Rachel, who were twins [(see Year 2165)], and Yaakov was 84 years old [(Bereishit Rabbah and Rashi on Vayetzei, in the section "Give me my wife")]. The daughters were 22 years old when they were married to Yaakov [(Yalkut, Parashat Vayishlach, section 135).

Thus according to this they were born in Year 2170, and Rachel died 14 years after her marriage as mentioned below, so Rachel's lifespan was 36 years. According to Sefer HaYashar, Leah and Rachel were born in Year 2165 (see there), so they were 28 years old when married to Yaakov. Rachel lived afterwards 14 years, so Rachel's lifespan was 42 years. According to the Bachya, Rachel was 5 years old when Yaakov came to Haran and said "I will serve you for Rachel for seven years" so that she would be 12 years old and fit to conceive.

Thus she was born in Year 2180, and Rachel lived afterwards 14 years, so Rachel's lifespan was 26 years. In Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer, Rachel his daughter came when she was 14 years old, and she died 14 years after the marriages, so Rachel's lifespan was 28 years. In Sefer HaYashar, Parashat Vayishlach, Rachel died at 45 years old, and she died in Year 2206, 14 years after the marriages.

Thus at the time of the marriages she was 31 years old and was born before Year 2160. And this is difficult, for Sefer HaYashar states that Rachel and Leah were born in Year 2165. In the Midrash Vayishlach mentioned above, Rachel lived 36 years and Leah 45 years. And so in the Zohar, thus Leah died 8 years after Rachel.

She was 22 years old when married to Yaakov, and Yosef was born 7 years after Rachel's marriage as explicit in Scripture.

Thus Yosef was 15 years old when Leah died, so she died before the sale of Yosef, for he was sold at 17. This contradicts what is stated in the Midrash (see Year 2216) that Yosef was sold during Leah's lifetime. In Sefer HaYashar, section Vayeshev (see Year 2216), Leah's lifespan was 51 years, so she was born in Year 2162. In Seder HaDorot and Midrash Rabbah, Parashat Vayechi, in the name of Masa DeVayshesan, Rachel was 22 when married to Yaakov and died at 36 years old; Leah's lifespan was 45 years (see Year 2216).

In Sefer Kehelat Yaakov, printed in Lasha, Parashat Vayishlach, it is written that Rachel's lifespan was 40 years. In the Midrash, Parashat Lech Lecha section 78, and Tanna d'Vei Eliyahu chapter 18, Rachel was barren 14 years from her two children. The Zohar writes that initially she was barren 7 years until Yosef was born, and afterwards 7 years until Binyamin was born.

Thus it is concluded].

**Bilhah** and Zilpah were half-sisters, daughters of Lavan [(from his concubine, Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer chapter 36, and Rashi end of Vayetzei)]. The Avishag the Shunamite and the Shunamite [(see Year 2942)] - our Sages said that they were half-sisters, two were from Leah's side and two from Rachel's side, and all four were very beautiful. The Avishag who erred in cohabitation was the one who said "a deficiency in her owner's garment." The Shunamite was the one who recognized Elisha's piety, who said she never saw a seminal emission on his sheets or a fly (Bereishit Rabbah).

From Marah was reincarnated within Rachel and was born [with the collective count] Marah (Yalkut Re'uveni on reincarnations, and Yalkut Re'uveni section Vayera in the name of Bereishit Rabbah). Avigail was the secret and reincarnation of Leah (see Year 2882). Naomi was from Leah's side and Ruth from Rachel's side, and Oved whom Ruth bore was a descendant of Leah (see Year 2787)].

**The sons of** Leah: Reuven the firstborn, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah, Yissachar, Zevulun, and Dinah. The sons of Rachel: Yosef and Binyamin. The sons of Zilpah, handmaid of Leah: Gad and Asher. The sons of Bilhah, handmaid of Rachel: Dan and Naftali.

**Behold** [the births of the tribes - the chroniclers of generations did not record at what time and how long they lived. Therefore we shall examine them through reasoning and evidence from other places, and there are contradictions to some of their statements].