Bilhah

21Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is finished. I want to sleep with her."

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22So Laban called together all the men of that place. He made a big meal for them.

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

NoteA wedding meal was a big party. It lasted a whole week, with many guests.

23That evening Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

NoteThe bride wore a thick veil over her face. It was dark at night, so Jacob could not see who she was.

24Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her helper.

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

NoteA servant girl worked for the family. She went with the bride to her new home to help her.

25In the morning, there was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Did I not work for you to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?"

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26Laban said, "In our land we do not do that. The younger daughter is not married before the older one."

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

NoteIn that land the oldest daughter had to marry first. That was their rule for families.

27"Finish this wedding week with Leah. Then we will give you Rachel too. For her you will work seven more years for me."

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

NoteThe wedding party lasted seven days. Jacob had to stay with Leah for all of it.

28Jacob did that. He finished the wedding week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife too.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her helper.

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

NoteIn those days a man sometimes had more than one wife. That is why Jacob was married to both sisters.

1Rachel saw that she had no children for Jacob. She was jealous of her sister Leah. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

NoteLong ago, having children was the most important thing for a family. A woman with no children often felt very sad and ashamed.

2Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said, "Am I in God's place? He is the one who has kept you from having children."

And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

NoteJacob means that he is not God. Only God can decide when a baby is born.

3Rachel said, "Here is my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She will give birth on my knees. Then I can have children through her too."

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.

NoteHolding a new baby on your knees was a sign. It meant, "This baby counts as mine."

4So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah to be his wife. Jacob slept with her.

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

NoteIn those days a man could have more than one wife. Bilhah was Rachel's servant, so her baby would count as Rachel's baby.

5Bilhah was going to have a baby. She had a son for Jacob.

And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6Rachel said, "God has judged for me. He heard me and gave me a son." So she named him Dan.

And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

NoteIn Hebrew, the old language of this story, "Dan" sounds like the word for "he judged." Judged here means God gave Rachel what was fair.

7Bilhah, Rachel's servant, was going to have another baby. She had a second son for Jacob.

And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8Rachel said, "I have fought hard with my sister, and I have won." She named him Naphtali.

And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Note"Naphtali" sounds like the Hebrew word for "my fight." People often picked names that sounded like something that had happened.

21Israel traveled on again. He put up his tent past the tower called Edar.

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

NoteEdar means "flock," which means a group of sheep. Shepherds climbed the tower to watch their sheep.

22While Israel was living in that land, Reuben slept with Bilhah. Bilhah was his father's servant wife. Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons.

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

NoteBilhah was a servant, but she was also one of Jacob's wives. In those days, a son who did this was trying to take his father's place as leader of the family.