Keep on plowing
The Verse:
Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuvein, for she said, "Because Hashem has seen my affliction, for now my husband will love me." (Bereishis 29:33)
The Rashi:
And she named him Reuvein — Our Sages explain: She said, “Look at the difference between my son and the son of my father-in-law, who sold the birthright to Yaakov (above 25:33). This
one (Reuvein) did not sell it to Yoseph, and he did not contend against him but even sought to take him out of the pit.”
The Question:
The verse explains the reason for the name Reuvein “for Hashem saw {ra’ah} my sorrow.” Why, then, does Rashi need to offer another reason for the name Reuvein?
The Explanation:
The firstborn children of both Avraham and Yitzchok did not behave appropriately; therefore, Leah merely giving birth to Reuvein did not change the state of “Hashem saw that Leah was
hated.” Therefore “our Sages explain,” meaning, this is an explanation of the reason given in the verse, and a new interpretation. The Sages explain that the name “Reuvein” emphasizes Reuvein virtue, relating to his position as firstborn {“(Reuvein) did not sell it (the birthright) to Yoseph... but even sought to take him out of the pit.”}. Therefore, the birth of Reuvein would cause Yaakov to love Leah, “now my husband will love me”.
The Wine of Torah:
Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov are considered the Patriarchs of the Jewish people because their spiritual qualities exist within every Jew, while the tribes represent individual qualities which are not necessarily relevant to every individual Jew. Therefore, the tribes were named by the mothers, who represent the expansion {into details} of the essential point {the attribute of the Patriarchs}. Seemingly, however, it appears that the names of the tribes do not describe the spiritual qualities of the tribes, but rather, they teach us something of the matriarchs, for example, “for now my husband will love me.” Rashi therefore explains, “Look at the difference between my son,” implying that the names of the tribes also express the qualities of the tribes themselves.
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