Leah went on to have 3 more children from that. "[11], Some rabbinical commentators interpreted the story differently, saying that Reuben's disruption of Bilhah's and Jacob's beds was not through sex with Bilhah. It really does amaze me how the Lord has different experiences planed for each of us. Zilpah is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:24. Wow, and what a crazy story about a 61 year old woman giving birth to her grandson that is really strange! Love for their sons, knowing that they were giving them the best position, name, and quality of life possible in their situation. Any children born of the union were considered to be legally the children of the mistress wife. As opposed to Isaacs story in which the maid-slave Hagars child is not included in the inheritance, the maid-slaves children are included in the inheritance in Jacobs story. 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.[3]. For Kristine Casey, 61, it meant giving the gift of motherhood to her infertile daughter by carrying and giving birth to her own grandson. In this instance, no functional role is in view. 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. 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). Instead, Zilpah and Bilhahs motherly role comes to the forefront. This is reinforced by the fact that Rachel named both of the sons Bilhah bore. Zilpah gave birth to two sons, whom Leah claimed as her own and named Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:1013). Particularly moving to hear from a young woman. 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. 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." 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. While Zilpah is a considered a minor Bible character, she was a vessel used to usher in two of the tribes of Israel. Zilpah bore two sons to Jacob, which would have been Gad and Asher. Sister of Bilhah / Maybe she was buried in Egypt. much like their mothers, who, through their humility and forbearance, were eventually able to attain wifely status. One last question remains. And freakier. There is no mention of their status as wives or maid-slaves at all. 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. While Leah, Rachels older sister, had given birth to four sons. Genesis 29:31 "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We can read the little that we know about them in Genesis 30. They are called nashim without any qualifier functionan identification never given to Hagar. 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. If nothing else, we can surmise that the institution of marriage and the status and roles of women in such relationships in the ancient Near East were complex and often-changing, depending on circumstances. 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. What is the symbol (which looks similar to an equals sign) called? She gives Jacob two more, and then a girl to boot! Laban gave Rotheus a wife named Euna, who was the girl's mother. I don't think we know. At the start of Jacobs story, the Genesis narrator makes it clear that Zilpah and Bilhah are maid-slaves. Zilpah and Bilhah, who are usually named together, had each other, while Hagar was alone. Identify blue/translucent jelly-like animal on beach. ( , ), , , . : Ethel Reynolds Smith, Why Having a December Birthday is NOT a Bummer. Enjoying this article? In an ancient Nuzi marriage contract it stipulated that a woman whose servant bore the children of her husband should have full authority over the offspring. (Source) This adoption ceremony was often conducted by placing the son or daughter on the knees of the mistress and declaring it her child. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Bilhah means "to become alarmed" ( lehibahel ). Often times bricks were placed under her to give her more support and the midwife knelt in front of her. (though Rachel is not buried there either). Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. While Leah and Rachel, who are also often named together, competed against each other for Jacobs attention and to accumulate sons, Zilpah and Bilhah were always accommodating, respectful, and supportive of each other and authority figures. In later texts, Bilhah is remembered as one of the ancestresses of the Israelites. Boolean algebra of the lattice of subspaces of a vector space? 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. While Leah and Rachel, who are also often named together, competed against each other for Jacob's attention and to accumulate sons, Zilpah and Bilhah were always accommodating, respectful, and supportive of each other and authority figures. Zilpah also figures in the competition between Jacob's wives to bear him sons. 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. Hetta vru brn Zilpu, sum Laban gav dttur sni Leu; hon tti Jkupi hesi brnini, 16 tali. 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 apocryphal Testament of Naftali says that Bilhah and Zilpah's father was named Rotheus. Rosman, Josephine. And then well consider how to respond to our findings. The number of Jacob's descendants through Bilhah was seven. For me, synagogue was always the place where everyone was truly equal, because my community made such an effort to be inclusive and accepting. In Jewish tradition, Zilpah is believed to be buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Only the tribe of Judah are Jews. Zilpah, whose name is believed to mean drooping, was given to Leah as a handmaiden by Laban, Leahs father, when Leah was given to Jacob as a bride. Does a password policy with a restriction of repeated characters increase security? But the son's that were the most important were the ones that had the birthright, which was Reuben, Leah's firstborn, until he slept with Bilhahthen lost that birthright and then it went to Joseph, Rachel's firstborn. I heard a teaching comparing the relationship of Jacob and Esau and the stolen birthright, with the relationship of Leah and Rachael. What did it take for them to share their husband with two other women? Leah named the first son Gad and declared. But at night, to mask the deception, Laban gave the veiled bride the younger of the handmaids, so Jacob would think that he was really marrying Rachel, the younger of the sisters.[5]. Now, I try to keep Bilhah and Zilpah in mind in my daily life. Genesis 30 records that, "when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. Bilhah was first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:29. Their names are Bilhah and Zilpah, the servants - probably slaves - of the two sisters Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob. This image of a woman being supported in a squat by other women is the most common image of women giving birth throughout history and around the world. 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? So following the example of her sister Leah gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife so that she could have more children. Walking with the Women Books [1] Genesis 29:29 describes her as Laban's handmaiden (), who was given to Rachel to be her handmaid on Rachel's marriage to Jacob. With that I think we can say Zilpah and Bilah are matriarchs. Is there an obligation to be buried in Jewish Cemetary? In Old Testament times this was an acceptable way for a married woman who was barren to gain children. Yocheved was born and presumably died in Egypt. Yet in the potentially dangerous situation with Esau, she reverts to being called a maid (Hebrew shifhah). 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. Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? What did it take for them to share their husband with two other women? With Bilhah and Zilpah, it wasn't a forced issue, it was more of a 'that's what they did in those days' issue. It is to Zilpah and Bilhahs credit, because of their honorable actions given their slave status, that their sons inherited alongside their mistresses children, when Hagars son, Ishmael, did not. Bilhah and Zilpah were the handmaidens (servants) of the patriarch Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Whats less clear, however, is their roles within the forming Israelite tribe, especially compared with the roles of Leah and Rachel. 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. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. 31 December 1999. Bilhah was named so because of her stunning beauty. New Testament The plan succeeds, so that when Bilhahs son is born, Rachel names him, an act expressing her maternal authority. In the official record given of Jacob's children in Genesis 46 Dan and Naphtali are listed as the children of Bilhah and Asher and Gad are listed as the children of Zilpah. Rachel, who was Jacobs favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. How did Zilpah and Bilhahs attitude and possible wifely status affect their childrens status? Bilhah, whose name is believed to mean bashful or faltering, was given to Rachel as her handmaiden by Laban, Rachels father, when Rachel was given to Jacob as a bride. Mignon R. Jacobs, Gender, Power and Persuasion: The Genesis Narratives and Contemporary Portrait (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 160.2. Amazing Bible Timeline with World History, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/bilhah-bible, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helladic_period, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georgian_brides_in_church.jpg. These women may not have had legal claim to their children but they still played a large part in their upbringing and in their daily lives. (Did they time her ovulation cycle? [9], Reuben was Jacob's (Israel) eldest son with Leah. Bilhah and Zilpah gave birth to four sonsNaphtali, Dan, Asher, and Gadfathered by Jacob, who became the heads of four of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Canadian of Polish descent travel to Poland with Canadian passport. 27 October 2017. 24:16 says that Yehoyada Kohen Gadol was buried in Jerusalem, but there's a grave in Tzfas shown as his (and I believe it was identified as such by the Arizal). 10 Vayeitzei in a Nutshell I've been involved in far, far left politics for a very long time. Their children were considered Leah's and Rachel's. 8 Zilpah means "to flow" ( lezalef ). When the Israelites finally reached Canaan, they conquered it under the leadership of Joshua. Often times bricks were placed under her to give her more support and the midwife knelt in front of her. Their sacrifice reminds me of all the women who make similar sacrifices around the world today. This brought about art, literature, and building projects reappearing on the Egyptian scene. (What makes the menage a cinq even freakier is that some commentators believe that Bilhah and Zilpah were Leah and Rachel's sisters. Despite their sons being adopted by Rachel and Leah, the sons are associated with their birth mothers. It must have been hard, really hard. This lack of any qualifier title leaves the question of their status open ended. It's all in there! Bilhah (.mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} "unworried", Standard Hebrew: Bilha, Tiberian Hebrew: Blh) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Genesis. After Leah has birthed four sons to Jacob, her competitive sister Rachel decides to give Bilhah, her shiphchah, to Jacob as an ishah, meaning complicatedly woman or wife (Gen 30:4). 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. And freakier. What did it take for Bilhah and Zilpah to share their children with two other women? 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. I learned that there werent always the more progressive Jewish sects that allow women to wear tallises or kippas or to become rabbis. Artist unknown. ( , ): , . Its a story of the quiet humility of marginalized women whose children have better lives as a result. For you are forgetting Bilhah and Zilpah, Jacob's other two wives. Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 164166.8. I had never heard of them before. Elizabeth Wyner Mark, The Four Wives of Jacob: Matriarchs Seen and Unseen, The Reconstructionist (Fall 1998): 2224.13. I contend that these two women are relatable and worthy of emulation for different reasons than the more well-known Matriarchs are. It's Joseph, child #12, son #11, Jacob's favorite. Jacob favored Rachel, his other wife, and even loved her maidservant Bilhah more than Zilpah. Thank you. The only other brothers who are not singled out with specific actions in the narrative are Leahs two sons Issachar and Zebulun. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? Book of Mormon. Just you wait. To me, they are emblematic of all the women who have been left out of and left behind by history. These maid-slaves children are owned by the mistress, because the mothers were also owned, even after being given as an ishah to Jacob. Both Bilhah and Zilpah had their own tent in Jacob's camp (Genesis 31:33). Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! At first, it almost seemed wrong for feminists to make their own assertions about thousand-year-old practices, but then I thought more about the fact that the Torah was written by men, which meant our most important text was biased from inception. Rachel in turn gives Bilhah to Jacob as a "wife" when Rachel is found to be barren. Let's just move on. A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. And they are not buried in the cave of Machpelah where Leah and other honored family are buried, including Sarah and Rebekah 10Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 7475, 137. Probably the greatest sacrifice that any mother could ever make. Some pictures, and directions, are here. Folder's list view has different sized fonts in different folders. Is there such a thing as "right to be heard" by the authorities? Reflecting on this, I now recognize that it was Jewish feminists who have made Judaism more equal for me. As the listing of the tribes and children has always been by the identified biological mother, this lack of motherly identification and categorization is thought-provoking. According to Bereishit Rabbah 74:13 Bilhah and Zilpah were also daughters of Lavan. She is given to Jacob as his wife (Hebrew ishah), although in one instance she is called his secondary wife (pilegesh; NRSV, concubine). Genesis 30 records that, "when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; In an ancient Nuzi marriage contract it stipulated that a woman whose servant bore the children of her husband "should have full authority over the offspring." Zilpah bore Leah two sons. The manufacture of artifacts from iron was noted. After Leah had already bore Jacob four sons and then stopped having babies, she presented Zilpah to Jacob to act as a type of surrogate mother and have more children for Jacob. why not correct the list to include the two maid-slave mothers? 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. 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). Bilhah sons were dark skinned, both Dan and Naphtali, there is no reason to believe that Zilpah sons Gad and Asher were any different. Bilhah, Rachel's servant and Jacob's concubine, bears two more sons, Dan and Naphtali. New York: 2000. Whether or not Zilpah and Bilhah attained wifely status, there seems to have been a change of status for their children into equal sonship and equal inheritance. This image of a woman being supported in a squat by other women is the most common image of women giving birth throughout history and around the world. If some liturgies listing the Matriarchs have been corrected to list Leah first, as the older daughter and first wife of Jacob,12Elizabeth Wyner Mark, The Four Wives of Jacob: Matriarchs Seen and Unseen, The Reconstructionist (Fall 1998): 2224. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, Bilhah is gaining a new, elevated role, much as Hagar did with barren Sarah (Gen 16:3). 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. 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). Its my job, as a woman and as a feminist, to continue to integrate feminism into Judaism. We could defy the patriarchal constraints of the Torah, and highlight significant women regardless of their status. What Are The Names of the Thieves Crucified With Christ? Not to worry! These two handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah, made great sacrifices. Leah named the first son Gad and declared, A troop cometh. The second son Zilpah bore Leah named Asher and said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed. Like Rachel, the sons that Zilpah bore would have been considered to be Leahs and she would have raised them as her own sons. But apparently he considered it a major offense, for in his deathbed speech, he removes Reuben from his extra inheritance as firstborn and alludes to Reubens dreadful deed (Gen 49:4). Probably all three maid-slaves desired to have children, as women were primarily valued for their reproductive capacities in the culture. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. and Alib . For example, II Chron. The story is silent about Bilhahs reaction. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Obviously, at some point, some Jews decided that the matriarchs needed to be acknowledged in prayer. For this reason, some modern Jewish feminists have reclaimed Bilhah and Zilpah as matriarchs. Bilhah was named so because of her stunning beauty. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. See Schneiders Mothers of Promise: Women in the Book of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 103105.) So, yes, you remember the part where Jacob married the ugly Leah and the super-hot Rachel, and lived happily ever after in a sanctioned menage a trois. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Zilpah is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 29:24. Rachel, who was Jacobs favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. Walking With the Women of the Old Testament, Walking With the Women of the New Testament, Does the Journey Seem Long? What is significant about the names Rachel and Leah give their sons? 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 piece was written as part of JWAs Rising Voices Fellowship. (The poor girl is always forgotten. The first son Rachel named Dan saying, "God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." Bilhah means "to become alarmed" ( lehibahel ). I do not take women's rights or my Judaism for granted and explore both in my daily life as well. Jacob wanted the super-hot Rachel to have a kid. They are the biblical women we view as relatable and worthy of emulation. ', referring to the nuclear power plant in Ignalina, mean? I will use the term maid-slave to capture their feminine and slavish status. When do you use in the accusative case. Wilda Gafney in her book Womanist Midrash writes movingly, albeit briefly, on Zilpah and Bilah. Who was the mother and father of Bilhah and Zilpah? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Many of the brothers directly speak and act within the familial affairs. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Nevertheless, when the danger from Esau has passed, Bilhah again is called Jacobs wife; and her sons are not disadvantaged, for Rachels biological son Joseph becomes a shepherd, a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his fathers wives (Gen 37:2). I will use the term maid-slave to capture their feminine and slavish status. The morning after the wedding, Laban explained to Jacob, "This is not done in our place, to give the younger before the older" (Genesis 29:26). Take the Challenge During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. Bronze to Iron Age During this period making items of bronze seemed to be migrating into the Iron Age. Oh, you know this one! This is reinforced by the fact that Rachel named both of the sons Bilhah bore. While Leah, Rachel's older sister, had given birth to four sons. Bilhah is given by Laban to Rachel as a gift when she marries Jacob. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Mi Yodeya offers tons of great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Image Source. 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. What is more, the lack of motherly connection on all fronts seems to indicate that this equal status was no longer given through their adoption by the mistress wives of Jacob. 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. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. RGG, I'll agree that this is a super interesting story. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. We could continue this tradition by claiming Bilhah and Zilpah as matriarchs. This effort is what has been missing from the feminist movement. During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. @CashCow Do you happen to know the source for this opinion? Im about to head out the door. when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 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. This invasion of Jacob's privacy was viewed so gravely that the Bible equates it with adultery, and lost Reuben his first-born right to a double inheritance. [1] Genesis 29:29 describes her as Laban 's handmaiden ( ), who was given to Rachel to be her handmaid on Rachel's marriage to Jacob. 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. 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. 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. No matter what the circumstances in which they had the children, they had to have had incredible strength to raise those children in those circumstances. This seems to indicate equal status and equal inheritance for all the sons, irrespective of who their mother wasother than the double portion of the firstborn birthright given to Joseph, among Jacobs children. The only reason Leah had more children was because she was fertile, while Rachel was barren. 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. with Ya'akov and his sons? And in every case, the mistress wife names the children born to their maid-slave, also indicating that the children are adopted by the mistress as their own. In all, Bilhah and Zilpah are given to Jacob by their mistresses to act in their place twice each to overcome barrenness, resulting in two sons each (Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher). Tammi J. Schneider notes that a, This is my own translation of the Hebrew text found in the. Genesis 35:25 and 26 similarly refer to Bilhah and Zilpah as the ot shefa of Rachel and Leah respectively, while 46:18 and 25 refer to Zilpah and Bilhah as being given by Lavan to Leah and Rachel. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Could it be that Zilpah and Bilhah not only gained the status of full wife, but also of full mother?

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