Naphtali

1Rachel saw that she had no children for Jacob. She was jealous of her sister Leah. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

NoteLong ago, having children was the most important thing for a family. A woman with no children often felt very sad and ashamed.

2Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said, "Am I in God's place? He is the one who has kept you from having children."

And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

NoteJacob means that he is not God. Only God can decide when a baby is born.

3Rachel said, "Here is my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She will give birth on my knees. Then I can have children through her too."

And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

NoteHolding a new baby on your knees was a sign. It meant, "This baby counts as mine."

4So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah to be his wife. Jacob slept with her.

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

NoteIn those days a man could have more than one wife. Bilhah was Rachel's servant, so her baby would count as Rachel's baby.

5Bilhah was going to have a baby. She had a son for Jacob.

And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6Rachel said, "God has judged for me. He heard me and gave me a son." So she named him Dan.

And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

NoteIn Hebrew, the old language of this story, "Dan" sounds like the word for "he judged." Judged here means God gave Rachel what was fair.

7Bilhah, Rachel's servant, was going to have another baby. She had a second son for Jacob.

And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8Rachel said, "I have fought hard with my sister, and I have won." She named him Naphtali.

And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Note"Naphtali" sounds like the Hebrew word for "my fight." People often picked names that sounded like something that had happened.

21"Naphtali is a deer let loose. He says lovely words."

Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

NoteThe old word here is hind, which means a mother deer. A deer running free is fast and lovely to watch.

23About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali, you have all of God's kindness. You are full of the LORD's blessing. Take the land to the west and the south."

And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.

NoteNaphtali was another son of Jacob. His land lay in the north, near a big lake.

12Jesus heard that John had been put in prison. So he went away to the region called Galilee.

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

NoteThis is John the Baptist. He told people that Jesus was coming. A ruler named Herod had him locked up.

13He left the town of Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum. That town sits by the lake, in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali.

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

NoteCapernaum was a busy fishing town beside the lake. Zebulun and Naphtali were sons of Jacob long ago. Their families had lived in that land, and people still used the old names.

14This happened so that the words of Isaiah would come true. Isaiah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

NoteIsaiah lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born. His words were kept in a book.

15Isaiah said, "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, on the far side of the Jordan River, Galilee where many people are not Jewish.

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

NoteThe road by the sea was a big trading road. Traders and armies used it for hundreds of years. The Jordan was the main river of that land.

16The people who lived in the dark have seen a great light. A light has come up for those who lived where death's shadow lay."

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

NoteSitting in the dark is a word picture. It means people felt lost and sad. The light means good news finally coming.