Bilhah

Rachel’s handmaid, given by her to Jacob her husband, as a concubinary wife, that, through her she might have a son, Gen 30:3-4, &c. See BARRENNESS.

Bil´hah, the handmaid whom the childless Rachel bestowed upon her husband Jacob, that through her she might have children. Bilhah became the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:1-8).

The handmaid of Rachel, given by her to her husband Jacob when herself childless, that she might become a mother through her handmaid. Bilhah was the mother of Dan and Naphtali, Gen 30:1- 8.\par

Bil’hah. (timid, bashful). Handmaid of Rachel, Gen 29:29, and concubine of Jacob, to whom she bore Dan and Naphtali. Gen 30:3-8; Gen 35:25; Gen 46:25; 1Ch 7:13. (B.C 53).

1. Rachel’s handmaid (Gen 29:29). Rachel having no children gave Bilhah to her husband Jacob, who by the latter had two sons, Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:1-8; Gen 35:25; Gen 46:25; 1Ch 7:13). Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, defiled her, and was therefore deprived of the birthright, which was given to the sons of Joseph (Gen 35:22; Gen 49:4; 1Ch 5:1). Blunt says, so vivid was the desire for the promised Redeemer, that "the wife provoked, instead of resenting, the faithlessness of her husband, the mother taught her own child deceit, daughters deliberately worked their own and their fathers’ shame, and the daughter-in-law courted the incestuous bed, and to be childless was a by-word" (Gen 16:2; Gen 30:3; Gen 30:9; Gen 25:23; Gen 27:13; Gen 19:31; Gen 38:14).

2. A Simeonite town (1Ch 4:29), named also Baalah or Balah (Jos 19:3).

(Heb. Bilhah’, בַּלְהָה, faltering, i.e. perh. bashful),’ the name of a woman and of a place.

1. (Sept. Βαλλά) The handmaid (Gen 29:29) whom the childless Rachel bestowed as a concubine upon her husband Jacob, that through her she might have children. B.C. 191t. Bilhah thus became the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:3-8; Gen 35:25; Gen 46:25; 1Ch 7:13). Her stepson Reuben afterward lay with her (Gen 35:22), B.C. cir. 1890, and thus incurred his father’s dying reproof (Gen 49:4).

2. (Sept. Βαλαά.) A place belonging to the tribe of Simeon (1Ch 4:29), called BALAH SEE BALAH (q.v.) in Jos 19:3; and it seems to be the same which is called BAALAH in Jos 15:29.

[Bil’hah]

1. Handmaid of Rachel, and mother of Dan and Naphtali. Gen 29:29; Gen 30:3-7; Gen 35:22; Gen 35:25; Gen 37:2; Gen 46:25.

2. Town in Simeon, 1Ch 4:29: the same as BALAH in Jos 19:3. See BAALAH.

By: Richard Gottheil, Wilhelm Nowack

A locality in southern Judea (I Chron. iv. 29), evidently the same as "Balah" (, Josh. xix. 3) and "Ba'alah" (, Josh. xv. 29).

BILHAH.—1. A slave-girl given to Rachel by Laban (Gen 29:29 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] )), and by her to Jacob as a concubine (Gen 30:3-4 (JE [Note: Jewish Encyclopedia.] )); the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:4; Gen 30:7 (JE [Note: Jewish Encyclopedia.] ) Gen 35:25 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ) Gen 46:25 (R [Note: Redactor.] ), 1Ch 7:13). She was guilty of incest with Reuben (Gen 35:22 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] )). The etymology is uncertain. These narratives and genealogies probably embody early traditions as to the origin and mutual relations of the tribes, rather than personal history. Tribes are traced to a concubine ancestress, because they were’ a late accession to Israel. 2. A Simeonite city (1Ch 4:29) = Baalah (Jos 15:29), Balah (Jos 19:3), and, according to some, Baalath (Jos 19:44, 1Ki 9:18, 2Ch 8:6). Site uncertain.

bil´ha (person) (בּלהה, bilhāh; Βαλλά, Ballá): A slave girl whom Laban gave to Rachel (Gen 29:29), and whom the latter gave to Jacob as a concubine (Gen 30:3, Gen 30:4); the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:4, Gen 30:7; Gen 35:25; Gen 46:25; 1Ch 7:13); guilty of incest with Reuben (Gen 35:22).