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Bilhah

In the Book of Genesis, Bilhah (בִּלְהָה "Faltering; bashful", Standard Hebrew Bilha, Tiberian Hebrew Bilhāh) is a concubine of Jacob, and bears him two sons, Dan and Naphtali. See Genesis 30:3-5, 35:25.

She is the handmaiden of Jacob's favourite wife Rachel, who offers her to Jacob when she is herself apparently unable to bear Jacob a son. Rachel is delighted when Dan and Naphtali are born, as they will count as her heirs too.

Reuben loses his right to a double portion as firstborn when Jacob hears of his alleged infidelity with Bilhah, see Genesis 35:22, 49:3,4, Deuteronomy 21:17.

This story is reflected in the satirical book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Bilhah is burried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias.

Last updated: 10-16-2005 11:20:09
Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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