Forefather
Foremother Foremother Leah
ок. 1900–1800 до Р.Х.
Foremother Leah — first wife of the patriarch Jacob, mother of six of the founders of the tribes of Israel, including Judah.
Leah was the elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob, mother of six of the twelve tribal patriarchs of Israel (including Judah, through whose line Christ descended in the flesh) and of a daughter, Dinah; the fourth of the four foremothers of the Hebrew people.
Through her father's deception she was substituted for Rachel on the wedding night, obliging Jacob to serve Laban another seven years for Rachel. Scripture notes Leah's eyes were "weak" and she was less beautiful and less loved than her sister; seeing this, the Lord "opened her womb," while Rachel long remained barren — so for her humility Leah was especially blessed with children.
She bore Jacob six sons — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun — and a daughter, Dinah. Per Jacob's dying instruction (Gen 49:31), she was buried at Machpelah near Hebron alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebecca. Jewish and patristic tradition honors her together with Rachel as the wife who "built the house of Israel."