The opening of this verse speaks of The children … within her but has not informed the reader that Rebekah became pregnant with twins. Therefore Good News Translation supplies this information. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “The twins fought each other….” Children translates the word for “sons.” The word used in translation should be suitable for speaking of offspring that are as yet unborn. Struggled together translates the reflexive form of a verb meaning to crush or oppress, but in this context it refers to the rivalry or opposition between the two unborn infants, a subject that will develop as they grow to maturity. Struggled together may be translated as “pushed against each other” or “struck each other.” Revised English Bible says “pressed on each other,” New International Version “jostled each other,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “bumped against each other.” Within her is literally “inside her womb.”
Rebekah’s reaction in Revised Standard Version is expressed as a rhetorical question: If it is thus, why do I live? As Revised Standard Version‘s footnote shows, that wording follows the Syriac translation because the Hebrew is said to be obscure. The Hebrew text says “Why this [am] I?” to which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an {A} rating and translates “Why is this happening to me?” This rendering is nearly equivalent to Good News Translation and is recommended to translators.
In order to obtain an answer to her question, she went to inquire of the LORD. The Hebrew verb translated inquire means to “consult” or “ask.” The expression inquire of God also occurs, for example, in 1 Sam 9.9, in which the person inquires of the LORD through a prophet or wise man (seer). In 1 Kgs 22.5 the expression is “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” At this later period it was the prophet or seer who had the task of making God’s wishes known to the people; the inquiring was done at a sanctuary or holy place. In many languages it will be possible to translate as Good News Translation, or to say something like “ask the LORD about what was happening to her.” In other languages, however, it will be more natural to use the term “pray.” In one translation, for example, this whole expression is rendered “She wanted to know the reason for this, so she went and prayed to the LORD.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .