Am I Under God's Supervision?

 

Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "Am I in God's place (hataḥat [literally "under"] Elohim), Who has withheld children from you?"                                                 Genesis 30:2

            The translation conveys the simple meaning of the verse, and follows the exposition of Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra (c. 1090 - 1165).

            Shel"a (Rabbi Yeshaya haLevi Horowitz, 1558 - 1630) offers a more literal translation of Jacob's words: "Am I under God's supervision?" In Shel"a's words "'Am I under God?' We are not within the portion of God, which is the Land of Israel."

            Our Sages taught that God entrusted the supervision of all lands to His ministering angels, while maintaining for Himself direct supervision over the Holy Land. [Zohar, Breishit 108b] Based upon this, Shel"a explains the exchange between Jacob and his beloved wife. Rachel requested that Jacob pray that she be blessed with children, knowing that God desires the prayers of the righteous, and for this reason the Matriarchs were barren. [Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 64a] Jacob's response was "Am I under God's place?," - I am outside the Land, under the influence of the ministering angel of Aram, not under direct Divine supervision, and under such conditions God does not desire the prayers of the righteous. (It should be noted that the Sages' comment in Yevamot refers specifically to Isaac praying for Rebecca within the Land of Israel.)

            Based upon this approach, Shel"a explains the continuity of Jacob's words to Rachel, "Who has withheld children from you" to mean since God does not desire the prayers of the righteous outside the Holy Land, the reason for your fertility problem cannot be His desire for my prayers, but (for some other reason, which has to do with you) He has withheld children from you.