Leah

Leah was the oldest daughter of Laban. He deceitfully gave her to Jacob in marriage instead of Rachel. The Lord blessed Leah and Jacob with six sons named Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. They had a daughter named Dinah. Leah was less favored of the two wives of Jacob, but it was Leah who gave birth to Judah, through whose line Jesus was eventually born. Leah probably died in the land of Canaan before the migration to Egypt and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron with other family members.

Lessons from the life of Leah:

• God often blesses those who are unloved.
• God even blesses those who have part in deceit as they faithfully fulfill their responsibilities later in life.
  

Leah's story is told in Genesis 29:16-35; 30:16-24; 33:1-3; 46:15, 18; 49:31; and Ruth 4:11.

REFERENCES
	Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Ronald F. Youngblood, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995, Nashville/Atlanta/London/Vancouver Who's Who in the Bible Joan Comay and Ronald Brownrigg, Wings Books, 1993, New York/Avenel/New Jersey Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996, Wheaton, Illinois