A faint wail fills the room. As the women place her new son upon her chest, Leah smiles. She looks exhausted, covered in sweat, but glows with happiness. “His name is Rueben because the Lord has seen my affliction.. for now my husband shall love me.”

Jacob hears her from the doorway by which he anxiously sits – waiting for news about his child. His faced flushes with shame at the mixture of joy and pain in her voice. Inside him begins the eternal struggle of guilt and blame regarding the state of his relationship with his wives. Quietly, he gets up and leaves the room.