The Middle Kingdom of Egypt reestablished prosperity and stability. I have long identified as a feminist and have always been interested in Judaism, but before this, I had never really considered how the two could overlap. Yocheved was born and presumably died in Egypt. May the God of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the God whose covenant is eternal, bless you and make you fruitful. Each takes ownership of the maid-slave, much like Sarah owned Hagar (Gen 16:1) and Rebekah owned her nurse Deborah (Gen 24:61). 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. This was a normal thing for concubines. Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. For me, this was a revelation. 1. Though Jacob could never take any other wives apart from Leah and Rachel according to the pact with Laban, Zilpah and Bilhahs status seems to be elevated after Rachels death. Instead, Zilpah and Bilhahs motherly role comes to the forefront. It only takes a minute to sign up. Nor does Sarah name the child Ishmael. Possible meanings for the Hebrew name Bilhah are "simplicity," "modesty," "timid," or "faltering." Bilhah is also the name of a town in the south of Judah ( 1 Chronicles 4:29 ). Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Zilpah and Bilhah, who are usually named together, had each other, while Hagar was alone. While this parallel relationship gives insight into the newly-gained procreative roles of Zilpah and Bilhah, it also highlights Zilpah and Bilhahs worth. No longer are Zilpah and Bilhahs children given a shared tent (Gen 31:33) or set in the dangerous frontal position of the caravan (Gen 33:2). They are the biblical women we view as relatable and worthy of emulation. What nation/family there were from and why the Torah does not see the importance of telling us about that? xcolor: How to get the complementary color. When and how did the Twelve Apostles die? In the Book of Genesis, Zilpah was Leah's handmaid, whom Leah gave to Jacob "to wife" to bear him children. Yet they did it and through them came the 12 tribes of Israel the covenant family of the whole earth. However, Reuben, Leah's eldest, felt that this move slighted his mother, who was also a primary wife, and so he moved Jacob's bed into his mother's tent and removed or overturned Bilhah's. It makes me wonder what sort of relationship Rachel and Leah had with them. Obviously, at some point, some Jews decided that the matriarchs needed to be acknowledged in prayer. See Schneiders Mothers of Promise: Women in the Book of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 103105.3. Required fields are marked *. The real difference between Hagar on the one hand and Zilpah and Bilhah on the other lies in their reactions to their situation.6Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 117119. Is there such a thing as "right to be heard" by the authorities? She is on the Biblical Timeline Poster between 1754-1704 BC. Either way it is almost certain that Rachel would have been with Bilhah during the births of her two sons. Let's just move on. Come into her and she will bear on my knees so that I too can build [a family] through her5 This is my own translation of the Hebrew text found in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. The story is silent about Bilhahs reaction. Required fields are marked *. Being a skinhead in Tulsa Oklahoma meant regular encounters with the police. Take the Challenge How to force Unity Editor/TestRunner to run at full speed when in background? On the other hand, I know the scriptures don't always give us the whole story and maybe the two servants agreed to this whole thing. Their children were considered Leah's and Rachel's. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. When Rachel failed to have children, Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob like a wife to bear him children. I contend that the reason Zilpah and Bilhah attained this full wifely and motherly status and that their children inherited lies in their quiet humility and cooperative attitude throughout their lives. Zilpah gave birth to two sons, whom Leah claimed as her own and named Gad and Asher. Laban gives Zilpah to Leah and Bilhah to Rachel as a maid-slave as part of their wedding dowry (Gen 29:24, 29). One last question remains. Your email address will not be published. Women in labor were surrounded by female companions who encouraged them to labor upright and dance and sway during contractions (belly dancing is actually an ancient fertility dance that women were taught a young age to help with conception and labor). why not correct the list to include the two maid-slave mothers? They are never presented as subjects with a voice, agency, or power. Bilhah and Zilpah were slaves, not wives of a patriarch, but their descendants eventually became the Jewish people. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 31 December 1999. Bilhah fulfills the procreative, wifely role for barren Rachel and acts as her proxy seed bearer. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. According to some sources, Bilhah and Zilpah were half-sisters of Leah and Rachel. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Zilpah is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:24. What Are The Names of the Thieves Crucified With Christ? Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 117119.7. According to the early rabbinical commentary Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, Zilpah and Bilhah, the handmaids of Leah and Rachel, respectively, were actually younger daughters of Laban. I don't think we know. Yet they did it out of lovelove for Rachel and Leah, knowing that they could given them something they could not get themselves. In Old Testament times this was an acceptable way for a married woman who was barren to gain children. Why do you think it is that both Rachel and Leah go on to have their own children. Leah was the mother of Judah. There are some shenanigans with mandrakes (which also involve Jacob's first-born, Reuben; hold that thought), and Rachel finally gives birth! 10 Vayeitzei in a Nutshell Its my job, as a woman and as a feminist, to continue to integrate feminism into Judaism. I do not take women's rights or my Judaism for granted and explore both in my daily life as well. Zilpah is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:24. Most havent. 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. Bilhah bore two sons. I have to say that when I hear of the positive results of agreements between women, for one to bear anothers child and then give that child to her,with love,I can see the love of our Heavenly Father. Also, the scriptural text seems to indicate that the sons Bilhah bore were considered to be Rachels and that she would have raised them as her own. She gives Jacob two more, and then a girl to boot! Meyers, Carol, General Editor. And freakier. So following the example of her sister Leah gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife so that she could have more children. Military and political security, agricultural and mineral wealth, and religion all flourished during this period. In Old Testament times this was an acceptable way for a married woman who was barren to gain children. : Ethel Reynolds Smith, Why Having a December Birthday is NOT a Bummer. How are engines numbered on Starship and Super Heavy? Bilhah is said to be buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? What is the symbol (which looks similar to an equals sign) called? Is "I didn't think it was serious" usually a good defence against "duty to rescue"? Whats less clear, however, is their roles within the forming Israelite tribe, especially compared with the roles of Leah and Rachel. In the Books of Chronicles, Shimei's brothers were said to have lived in a town called Bilhah and surrounding territories prior to the reign of David. Thus, while in Canaan and after Rachels (and probably Leahs) death, Zilpah and Bilhah were possibly able to transition in status to the wives of Jacob. They are called nashim without any qualifier functionan identification never given to Hagar. . "Bilhah: Bible." but doesn't it seem more like two women fighting with each other about who has the most children, forcing their handmaids to lay with their husband, and then claiming their servant's children? Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. The crux of the agreement states that Jacob will not ill-treat Labans daughters or take other wives besides his daughters (Gen 31:50). So when Rachel meant that Bilhah would bear upon her knees she may have been referring to the actual position in which she would give birth. How Long Was Joseph In Potiphars House? Rachel did not have to do this for Jacobs sake, for Jacob already had children to be his heirs by his other wife, Leah; rather, she is said to do this so that Jacob could fulfill her demand to give her children. Zilpah and Bilhah, who are usually named together, had each other, while Hagar was alone. Rachel in turn gives Bilhah to Jacob as a "wife" when Rachel is found to be barren. Let us know. Of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, there are mentioned 2 sons, 11 grandsons, 2-great-grandsons, and 1 daughter (who is reckoned like Dinah, both here and Numbers 26:46, for some special reason, which is not particularly described); in all, 2 + 11 + 2 + 1 equals 16 souls. For Rashi's commentary on this, with English translation, see Rashi's notes on 30:10: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zilpah&oldid=1112462359, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 12:45. Since Josephs story happens after Rachels death (and possibly Leahs death, since we do not know when she died in Canaan), this may indicate a real change of status for the two maid-slaves. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Despite this relationship to Rachel, Dan and Naphtali continue to be considered Bilhahs sons, and that influences their standing in the family. Leah went on to have 3 more children from that. I was thinking about this subject of surrogacy.I recently re-read the record of Jacob and his wives. And that is the mindset at the core of any matriarch. In midrashic texts, Rabbis have long given Zilpah and Bilhah matriarchal status, alongside Leah and Rachel. Rachel and Leah named Bilhah's and Zilpah's boys. Nonetheless Bilhah and Zilpah would have been able to see their sons every day and their sons would have know that they were their birth mothers. Book of Mormon. Bilhah was first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:29. And this is how Laban wanted it to remain. Jacob, of course, is thefather of Joseph and all his siblings, but the thirteen siblings havefour different mothers: Leah and Rachel, who are themselvessisters (the daughters of Laban), and Zilpah and Bilhah, who are themaidservants of Leah and Rachel, respectively. Nevertheless, just as consistently, Zilpah and Bilhah are not traditionally listed among the Matriarchs that include Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachelthe mothers of the higher social class of privilege who speak and act. I came to realize that being a Jewish feminist means elevating women, those from our sacred texts who have been forgotten like Bilhah and Zilpah, and Jewish women today. Bilhah and Zilpah were the handmaidens (servants) of the patriarch Jacobs wives, Leah and Rachel. As Ive thought about these two great women and reflected on their sacrifices I cant help but marvel at what amazing women these two handmaidens must have been. Its a story of the quiet humility of marginalized women whose children have better lives as a result. They never speak in the narrative, interact with God, or are set free, like Hagar, but they also never show contempt for their mistress or run away, like Hagar (Gen 16). Identify blue/translucent jelly-like animal on beach. Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 128.9. She was the first wife, but it seems that history has made her a litte shrewish, maybe less attractive. Zilpah and Bilhahs deaths are never mentioned. In this instance, no functional role is in view. In Jewish tradition, Zilpah is believed to be buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? In her desperation for children Rachel followed the example of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and married her maid Bilhah to her husband so that she could have children through her. . I really do like the way you've likened it to modern day adoption . . The second son Bilhah bore she named Naphtali and said, "With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.". Zilpah is given to Leah as a handmaid by Leah's father, Laban, upon Leah's marriage to Jacob (see Genesis 29:24, 46:18 ). Bilhah is given by Laban to Rachel as a gift when she marries Jacob. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. And for whatever reason, she just could not conceive. 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." Bilhah and Zilpah were the handmaidens (servants) of the patriarch Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. (Gen 30:3). Love for their sons, knowing that they were giving them the best position, name, and quality of life possible in their situation. Neither response is more praiseworthy. According to Bereishit Rabbah 74:13 Bilhah and Zilpah were also daughters of Lavan. The MatriarchsSarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel, the corresponding mother figuresare increasingly being remembered and honored as well, to highlight their important role in forming the twelve tribes of Israel. Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. If she couldn't have the child herself, she came up with the second best option: her handmaiden, Bilhah! Their names are Bilhah and Zilpah, the servants - probably slaves - of the two sisters Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob. The few times the story tells of their actions (bearing sons and bowing before Esau),11Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 128. it is at the behest of others. In contrast, in Hagars case, Sarah does not view the son of the shiphchah Hagar as her own son after conception and soured relations (Gen 16, 21). However, Hagar is termed mother at the end of her story when she becomes free (Gen 21:21).7Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 164166. They are simply Zilpah and Bilhah. And the maids apparently must share a tent, whereas the wives have their own (Gen 31:33). The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. [9], Reuben was Jacob's (Israel) eldest son with Leah. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, Two MacBook Pro with same model number (A1286) but different year. It must have been hard, really hard. The first son Rachel named Dan saying, "God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." Once again we can see Zilpah and Bilhahs worth in this scene. I guess I always felt bad for Bilhah and Zilpah because it didn't really seem like they had any say in the matter. Sister of Bilhah / They fade into the background so easily. 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. Since they were servants it wasn't really like they could say no, right? The Hebrew word sahnay does not mean hate as the term is used today, but rather conveys the idea of loving less. A better translation would be, when the Lord saw that Leah was loved less or was not as favored, he opened her womb. Jewish Women's Archive. Zilpah bore Leah two sons. and Asher . Rachel, who was Jacob's favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. Yet they did it and through them came the 12 tribes of Israel the covenant family of the whole earth. I know they were slaves, therefore deprived of a lot, even though they were the mothers of four of the tribes. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! The only other brothers who are not singled out with specific actions in the narrative are Leahs two sons Issachar and Zebulun. These two handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah, made great sacrifices. History documents that Bilhah and Zilpah's sons eventually migrated to the land of Ethiopia. While Leah, Rachels older sister, had given birth to four sons. Through the wombs of Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah, Israel's people were birthed by choice and by force. How is this ancient form of adoption similar or different from todays form? Subscribe now to receive periodic updates from the CHT. ), So, eight boys in, it's Leah's turn again! If shaimos are buried in the same grave as a person, where should they be placed? Yet they did it and through them came the 12 tribes of Israel the covenant family of the whole earth. Is a downhill scooter lighter than a downhill MTB with same performance? Rachel in turn gives Bilhah to Jacob as a wife when Rachel is found to be barren. Zilpah is given to Leah as a handmaid by Leah's father, Laban, upon Leah's marriage to Jacob (see Genesis 29:24, 46:18). But in having a child, Hagar becomes prideful and disrespects her mistress Sarah. She calls him Naphtali, which means I have prevailed, because she has prevailed (Hebrew niftalti) over her sister in a divine contest (Hebrew naftulei Elohim; NRSV, mighty wrestlings). 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. How did Zilpah and Bilhahs attitude and possible wifely status affect their childrens status? Back in the 1980s/90s, officers didnt seem to, By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it, Its Tuesday morning. Bilhah and Zilpah, women in the Bible Zilpah, whose name is believed to mean "drooping", was given to Leah as a handmaiden by Laban, Leah's father, when Leah was given to Jacob as a bride.
what nationality were bilhah and zilpah