Bilhah (1)
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Bilhah (1) in the Bible?
Bilhah was a slave given to Rachel by her father Laban, whom Rachel subsequently gave to Jacob as a concubine; she bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali, and is recorded in Genesis as having slept with Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Bilhah's role clarifies the legal and social mechanisms of ancient Near Eastern fertility practices, where a handmaid's children were legally attributed to the barren wife, thereby explaining the tribal lineage and inheritance rights of Dan and Naphtali within the broader narrative of the twelve tribes.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.