Bilhah

Bilhah also Bilhah is a figure from the Bible and a daughter of Laban and one of the maids in his household. She had a colleague and half-sister named Zilpah. She became famous when she bore Jacob two sons.

The importance of Bilhah

Laban gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid, when Rachel Jacob married. ( 1 month 29,29 EU) But Rachel got no male offspring, which at that time constituted the importance of a woman. After an argument with her husband about Rachel said, Behold my maid Bilhah; go to her, that she may bear on my lap and I still come to children by them. The description with bear on my lap means that Jacob associate with her ​​to get her pregnant.

It is further stated in Genesis, Chapter 30: So she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. This child was named Dan. But the relationship went on and it says: But Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived and gave birth to her second son Jacob. Rachel said: Over all dimensions I have wrestled with my sister, and I have triumphed. This child was given the name Naphtali.

Since Jacob was but together with Rachel's sister Leah, this also came up with the idea after she was no longer pregnant, turn to ask Jacob her handmaid available. This was Bilhah, Zilpah colleague. In the Bible passage reads: When Leah saw that she had no more children, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. Silpa also brings two sons to the world, one after the other Gad ( fortune ) and Asher ( child of fortune ).

All four women ( Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah ) are considered matriarchs of the tribes of Israel.