Who
Rachel’s maid, given her by Laban, and given by Rachel to Jacob so that she might have children through her (Genesis 30:3). She bore Dan and Naphtali, whom Rachel named as her own. After Rachel’s death Reuben lay with her, “and Israel heard of it” (Genesis 35:22); for this Reuben lost the firstborn’s place. Her two sons became tribes of Israel, and she went down with Jacob’s household into Egypt (Genesis 46:25).
Key verses
- Genesis 30:4
She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
- Genesis 30:6
Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
- Genesis 35:22
While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
- Genesis 35:25
The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.
Where the Bible names her
Family
- Husband
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name her.
- Aphrahat, Select Demonstrations Demonstration 3
Of Monks. 1. Expedient is the word that I speak and worthy of acceptance:—Let us now awake from our sleep, and lift up both our hearts and hands to God towards heaven; lest suddenly the Lord of the house come, that…
- Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies I.18
Passages from Moses, which the heretics pervert to the support of their hypothesis. 1. And while they affirm such things as these concerning the creation, every one of them generates something new, day by day,…