The Wives Of Jesus

Ipse autem est qui praefigurabatur in Jacob Dominus Jesus, duorum vir conjugiorum, hoc est, consors quidam legis et gratiae, qui virginem Rachel ante dilexit, et praedestinatam sibi in conjugium pio amabat affectu. Sed quoniam Lia tanquam lex subintravit, et oculis infirmior obrepsit tanquam Synogoga, quae mentis caecitate Christum videre non potuit, superabundavit gratia sanctae Rachel, quae supra primum illud est expetita conjugium, quae Ecclesiae principatum futurum jam tunc nominis sui in interpretatione signabat. Beata Rachel, quae astulit opprobrium suo partu: beata Rachel, quae abscondit cultus, erroresque gentilium, quae simulacra eorum plena esse immunditiae declaravit. Nemo credat paternae pietatis laesam esse reverentiam, quod stante patre sedit; quoniam scriptum est: Qui plus fecerit patrem aut matrem, quam me, non est me dignus. Ubi causa agebatur religionis, fides debuit sedem habere judicii, et quasi rea stare perfidia. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, De Jacob et Vita Beata, Lib II, Caput V Migne PL 14 624

In Jacob is prefigured the Lord Jesus, a man of two wives, that is, the consort of the law and grace, who first loved the virgin Rachel, and, being predestined for her in marriage, he loved with pious affection. But Leah as the law was first introduced, and had weaker eyes like the Synagogue, which blindness of mind was not able to recognise Christ, while Rachel abounded with grace of sanctity, 1 she who above the first was the desired marriage, she who the preeminent future of the Church already then signified by her name interpreted. Blessed Rachel, who took away shame with her birthing, blessed Rachel, who took away the religion and the errors of the Gentiles, who declared their idols to be unclean. No one thinks that paternal piety is honourable when it does harm, and so with the father standing she sat; for it is written 'He who cares for father or mother rather than me is not worthy of me.' 2 When the court of religion is held, faith should sit in the seat of judgement, and the guilty traitor stands. 3   Saint Ambrose, On Jacob and the Good Life, Book 2, Chap 5 1.Gen 29.17,30 2 Mt 10.37 3 Gen 31