Finding herself in what seemed to her as a loveless marriage, Leah hopes to capture her husband's heart as she delivers to him the baby boys that would ultimately establish his legacy. Indeed the names of Leah's first children chronicle a relationship that, in her perception, slowly grew from hate to begrudging companionship. With her first born, Reuven, she marked that Hashem had seen (ro'oh) her suffering, "and now my husband would love me". Unfortunately with the next baby, Shimon, she speaks pessimistically as she remarks that Hashem has heard (shoma) that she is hated and perhaps, merely as consolation, granted her another son. However with the birth of Levi, Leah is now surprisingly convinced that "now Ya'akov will accompany (yilaveh) me as I have given birth for him three sons".
Why does Levi's birth nurture this renewed optimism? Explains Rashi, that blessed with prophecy Leah foresaw a family of four wives and twelve sons and she figured Ya'akov would do the math. She clearly had been privileged to bear her share and she is quite sure that Ya'akov will finally be fully accepting of her. I remember my Rebbe Harav Shimon Romm tz"l vividly portraying the comment of some Rabbis that is less generous. They suggested that with three infants, Leah's arms, already carrying Reuven and Shimon, will need Ya'akov's help and he will no doubt leave Rachel's side to accompany her.
The precise interpretation of the source of Leah's joy not withstanding, it is clear that the arrival of Levi finally convinces Leah that she will enjoy Ya'akov's support in an unprecedented fashion. It is for this reason, opines Harav Chaim Shmuelevitz tz"l, the rosh yeshiva of the Mir in Yerushalyim till his passing in the seventies, that Levi is destined for eternal distinction. After all, we find that already in Mitzrayim, long before their noted dedication throughout the golden calf episode, that they had been set apart and freed from working. This is often noted as Moshe's ticket to the liberty he enjoyed to come and go. It seems that they were accorded the respect of clergy, a position that they would earn in the years to come. So great is the feat of bringing greater tranquility to a home, even if done inadvertently and effortlessly, that through it Levi merited a unique position in our nation.
Interestingly in our parsha as well, the birth of Yosef is greeted by Rachel with a not so dissimilar reaction to that of Leah at Levi's birth. At first, Rachel, upon absorbing the news of Yosef's birth, comments "Now Hashem has ended my shame". Presumably she felt inadequate for so many years and now she can take her place among Ya'akov's fertile wives. Nevertheless, Rashi quotes a medrash explaining that Rachel was focused on the shame she had felt when she would shoulder the blame for the daily mishaps that are a part of every home. Now finally, when the dishes dropped and the milk spilled there would Yosef by her side and she could point the finger at him!! What a strange response from a women who finally gives birth after suffering infertility for so long in the most trying circumstances. Is it imaginable that after so many years of pining for a child that she would allow the moment for which she had dreamt fizzle into focus on the mundane.
Suggests Harav Shmuelevittz that our surprise is that of those who just don't get it; of a person who does not get how hurtful the small daily barbs really are and they over time can wear down the strongest of mates. Only those who appreciate how important tranquility at home is can understand that with all that must have been going through Rachel's mind, the additional peace at home impressed her most.
Finally, the manner in which the Torah describes the Yaakov-Leah-Rachel triangle reveals an instructive insight into shalom bayis. Clearly Leah felt that she was hated as her remark in naming Shimon indicates. Hashem concurred (29,31), "And Hashem saw that Leah was hated and she opened up her womb." Yet the preceding pasuk does state that Ya'akov loved Rachel more than Leah, inferring that Leah was not number one but she was not at all hated. How do we reconcile these descriptions?
Ramban quoting the Radak points out that marriage differs from other relationships. Whereas other relationships can weather orbits of varying strengths and closeness, marriage is a center or nothing matter. Either spouses are central to each other or they will feel distanced. Would Leah be a friend she certainly would have felt the love Ya'akov poured over her, but as one who aspires to be the mainstay of one's home she deservedly belongs to be the point about which all life revolves.