Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was Bilha in the Torah?
A: Bilha was the maidservant of Rachel, one of Yaakov's (Jacob's) wives. According to Rashi (Genesis 29:29), she was given to Rachel by her father Lavan (Laban) when Rachel married Yaakov. Later, when Rachel initially couldn't have children, she gave Bilha to Yaakov as a wife (Genesis 30:3-4), following the custom of the time.
Q: Why did Rachel give her maidservant Bilha to Yaakov?
A: Rachel gave Bilha to Yaakov as a wife because she was initially unable to have children (Genesis 30:1-3). This followed the precedent set by Sarah giving Hagar to Avraham (Abraham) when she was childless (Genesis 16:2). The Ramban explains that Rachel hoped children born through Bilha would be considered as her own, which is why she named Bilha's sons Dan and Naftali (Genesis 30:6-8).
Q: What is the significance of Bilha bearing a son to Yaakov?
A: Bilha bearing a son (Dan) to Yaakov was significant because it continued the fulfillment of Hashem's promise to Avraham of numerous descendants (Genesis 15:5). According to the Talmud (Berachos 7b), each of Yaakov's sons, including those born through Bilha and Zilpa, became founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 71:4) teaches that all these sons were equally righteous and important in forming the Jewish nation.
Q: How many children did Bilha have with Yaakov?
A: Bilha had two sons with Yaakov: Dan and Naftali (Genesis 30:5-8). These became two of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Torah lists all of Yaakov's children in Genesis 35:23-26, showing that Bilha's sons were counted equally among the tribes.
Q: What can we learn from the story of Bilha and Yaakov?
A: From Bilha's story, we learn several lessons: 1) The importance of compassion, as Rachel and Leah included their maidservants in building the Jewish nation (Rashi on Genesis 30:3). 2) That all of Yaakov's children, regardless of which mother they came from, were equally part of the chosen nation (Midrash Tanchuma Vayetzei 12). 3) How Hashem's promises are fulfilled in unexpected ways, as the tribes came through different mothers but formed one united people.
Context in Sefer Bereishit
The verse (Bereishit 30:5) describes Bilha, Rachel's maidservant, conceiving and bearing a son for Yaakov. This occurs after Rachel, initially barren, gives Bilha to Yaakov as a wife to bear children on her behalf (Bereishit 30:3-4), following the precedent of Sarah and Hagar (Bereishit 16:2).
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi notes that the phrase "וַתֵּלֶד לְיַעֲקֹב" ("and bore to Yaakov") emphasizes that the child was legally considered Yaakov's, just as Bilha was given to him as a legitimate wife (based on Rachel's declaration in 30:3). This follows halachic principles of yibum-like relationships where children born to a maidservant given as a wife are fully recognized.
Midrashic Insights (Bereishit Rabbah)
Halachic Perspectives (Rambam)
In Hilchot Ishut (Laws of Marriage), Rambam discusses how the matriarchs' actions with maidservants established that children born through such arrangements (with proper intent and procedure) have full familial status, influencing later halachic discussions about surrogacy-like situations.
Onomastic Significance
The naming of this child as Dan (v.6) reflects Rachel's declaration of divine judgment ("דַּנִּי" - "He judged me"). The Malbim explains this as acknowledgment that the child came through divine providence rather than natural expectation, as Bilha (whose name means "timid") was not expected to bear children easily.