Required fields are marked *. When Rachel failed to have children, Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob like a wife to bear him children. Im about to head out the door. I first became fans of Zilpah and Bilhah when I was assigned them for a presentation in a graduate class on women in the Book of Genesis. All the Bilhahs and the Zilpahs who still selflessly give of themselves to bring children to women who are unable to have them any other way and all the Rachels and the Leahs who will never be able to repay the gift.Questions To Think About: I am a scripture loving, book writing, baby snuggling, garden growing, faith-centered disciple, wife, mother, daughter, and sister. And Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said. How is this ancient form of adoption similar or different from todays form? Most havent. They are never presented as subjects with a voice, agency, or power. Who Were Bilhah and Zilpah? - Chabad.org This suggests that at this time, Jacob only had Labans two daughters as his legal, covenantal wives. . Daughter of Laban the Aramean and NN ., Concubine During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her." The blessings of Dan and Naphtali as tribes of Israel can be found in Genesis 49:16-17, and 21. 1. Rachel and Leah | Encyclopedia.com Rachel in turn gives Bilhah to Jacob as a wife when Rachel is found to be barren. How are engines numbered on Starship and Super Heavy? Leah stops conceiving after the birth of her fourth son, at which point [4] Rachel, who had not yet borne children, offers her handmaid, Bilhah, to Jacob like a wife in order to have children through her. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Through the wombs of Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah, Israel's people were birthed by choice and by force. Matriarchs: A Liturgical and Theological Category, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. However, Hagar is termed mother at the end of her story when she becomes free (Gen 21:21).7Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 164166. Required fields are marked *. This piece was written as part of JWAs Rising Voices Fellowship. Though her reaction is not recorded, Bilhah gives birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who are named by Rachel but referred to as the sons of Bilhah. Later in her life, Bilhah would have sex with Reuben, Jacobs eldest son. There's a place in Tiberias that is supposed to be the common gravesite of several prominent women from Tanach; a sign there lists Bilhah, Zilpah, Yocheved, Tzipporah, Elisheva, and Avigayil. Bilhah is given by Laban to Rachel as a gift when she marries Jacob. Zilpah . (-1670 - d.) - Genealogy While Zilpah is a considered a minor Bible character, she was a vessel used to usher in two of the tribes of Israel. Rachel plans to have children through her (as Sarah did with Hagar) by having Bilhah give birth upon my [Rachels] knees, probably a phrase that comes from adoption ritual. Bilhah and Zilpah, women in the Bible Rachel, who was Jacob's favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. The entire tribe of Israel as we have established were akin to the Egyptian in color and looks. The text says nothing to suggest that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of Bilhah and Zilpah. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Can you direct me to anything about their lineage? Bilhah and Zilpah's Birth Stories: The Old Testament's Form of Adoption Share Bilhah and Zilpah were the handmaidens (servants) of the patriarch Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Women in Scripture. [5] On the other hand, the early rabbinical commentary Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer and other rabbinic sources (Midrash Rabba and elsewhere) state that Bilhah and Zilpah were also Laban's daughters, through his concubines, which would make them half-sisters to Rachel and Leah.[6][7][8]. Its possible this difference of reaction is partially attributable to the support of fellow women. I contend that these two women are relatable and worthy of emulation for different reasons than the more well-known Matriarchs are. . What did it take for them to share their husband with two other women? In Jewish tradition, Zilpah is believed to be buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias. Folder's list view has different sized fonts in different folders. In their historical and cultural context, the mistress had full procreative rights over the maid-slave, including control of access and consent regarding her sexual behavior.3Jacobs, Gender, Power and Persuasion, 159160, 168. Tammi J. Schneider notes that a shiphchah or a female slave differs from male slaves by also carrying out sexual and procreative functions, as legislated in Leviticus 19:20, raising the question as to whether these same functions are inherent in the type of slavery this term conveys in the current context. For me, synagogue was always the place where everyone was truly equal, because my community made such an effort to be inclusive and accepting. 31 December 1999. So following the example of her sister Leah gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife so that she could have more children. How well do you know your Biblical stories? And this is why the children are mentioned sans mothers, because the difference in status was no more for any involved, mothers or children. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Possibly because of this complexity and their inherent lowly slave status for much of their lives, Zilpah and Bilhah do not get equal status as Matriarchs along with Leah and Rachel, their contemporaries (and owners). "[10] As a result of this adultery, he lost the respect of his father, who said: "Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer; For when you mounted your fathers bed, You brought disgracemy couch he mounted! Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. After Bilhah bore Rachel two sons Leah found that even though she already had four sons she was no longer able to have children. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. I found this article concerning surrocacy with a mother and daughter: "A mother's love takes many forms. I have issued a standing challenge for all my readers The Women in the Scripture Challenge are you super brave and daring enough to take the challenge? Jacob of course only wanted to marry Rachel, and worked for 7 years to do so, only to be tricked by his uncle, Laban. Bilhah . (deceased) - Genealogy Bilhah and Zilpah were slaves, not wives of a patriarch, but their descendants eventually became the Jewish people. (Gen 29), Jacob did not buy Zilpah and Bilhah to be his legitimate wives. They made a deal over the mandrakes "love fruit"remember that in the scriptures? 10 Vayeitzei in a Nutshell I will use the term maid-slave to capture their feminine and slavish status. For instance, Reuben speaks and acts to dissuade the brothers from killing Joseph (Gen 37:22), Simeon and Levi speak and act after the rape of their sister Dinah (Gen 34:30), Judah speaks and acts on behalf of Benjamin over a stolen cup (Gen 44:18), Joseph speaks and acts by telling his brothers of his dreams of greatness (Gen 37:6), and Benjamin acts to weep with Joseph upon being reunited (Gen 45:14). New Living Translation These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. Any children born of the union were considered to be legally the children of the mistress wife. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. This may have been what Rachel meant when she said that Bilhah shall bear upon my knees. Alternatively she may have just been referring to the way in which ancient women commonly gave birth. (Viewed on May 1, 2023)
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