The Birth of Dan: Genesis 30:6

Hi Rabbi and God bless, I was wondering if you'd so kind as to help me (a Protestant) understand something in the Bible. Thanks! In advance… I'm trying to better understand the Jewish concept of "judgment" and/or "justice" and I'm looking at the birth of Dan, in the OT/Torah. So Rachel says "God has judged me!" and is happy that even known she did not birth a child, it's as if she did. This is of imense interest personally to me, because I feel it's a sort of "vicarious atonement" (which is important in Protestant theology). So my question is, why does Rachel say "God judged me!" when the meaning seems to be that He "vindicated" her? What does the Hebrew verb there mean?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

This is the primary Midrashic passage that deals with the birth of Dan. It is from Bereishit Rabba  71:7.

“Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel; he said: Am I in place of G-d, who withheld from you fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:2).
“She said: Here is my maidservant Bilha, consort with her and she shall bear upon my knees, and I shall be built through her” (Genesis 30:3).

“Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel” – the Rabbis of the South said in the name of Rabbi Alexandri in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: “Should the wise answer with empty counsel” (Job 15:2) – this is Abraham: “Abram heeded Sarah’s voice” (Genesis 16:2). “And have the east wind fill his belly” (Job 15:2) – this is Jacob: “Jacob’s wrath was enflamed at Rachel; he said…” The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Is that the way one answers the distressed? As you live, your sons are destined to stand before her son.’

“Am I in place of G-d, who withheld from you fruit of the womb?” – He has withheld from you, He has not withheld from me. She said to him: ‘Did your father do thus to your mother? Did he not gird his loins opposite her?’ He said to her: ‘My father had no children, but I have children.’ She said to him: ‘But your grandfather did not have children, and he girded his loins opposite her.’ He said to her: ‘You can do just as she did for my grandfather.’ She said to him: ‘What did she do?’ He said to her: ‘She introduced her rival wife into her household.’ She said to him: ‘If that is the matter that is preventing it: “Here is my maidservant Bilha, consort with her”’ – just as that one was built through her rival wife, this one too was built through her rival wife.

“Rachel said: G-d judged me, and also heard my voice, and gave me a son; therefore, she called his name Dan” (Genesis 30:6).

“Rachel said: G-d judged me” – He judged me and convicted me; He judged me and exonerated me. He judged me and convicted me, as it is stated: “And Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). He judged me and exonerated me – “He gave me a son.” “Therefore [ al ken ], she called his name Dan” – everywhere that al ken is stated, it is a large population.