what nationality were bilhah and zilpah

Why are Mordechai and Esther buried in Hamedan, considering it is distant from Shushan? Walking With the Women of the Old Testament, Walking With the Women of the New Testament, Does the Journey Seem Long? [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. Rachel, who was Jacob's favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. While the forefathers were very cautious in choosing their spouses from Avraham's family, the Torah says nothing about Bilhah and Zilpah's ancestry. The story is silent about Bilhahs reaction. Anyway, Rachel said that Jacob would go to Leah if Rachel could have the mandrakes that Reuben brought back. Elizabeth Wyner Mark, The Four Wives of Jacob: Matriarchs Seen and Unseen,. Rachel and Leah named Bilhah's and Zilpah's boys. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Zilpah and Bilhah: Zilpah bore Gad - The Black Hebrews | Facebook I will use the term maid-slave to capture their feminine and slavish status. (though Rachel is not buried there either). They are simply Zilpah and Bilhah. Tzipporah ("the missing matriarch") did she outlive Moshe and make it into Israel? (Source) This adoption ceremony was often conducted by placing the son or daughter on the knees of the mistress and declaring it her child. Their children were considered Leah's and Rachel's. Bilhah and Zilpah's Birth Stories: The Old Testament's Form of Adoption Share Bilhah and Zilpah were the handmaidens (servants) of the patriarch Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Zilpah is given to Leah as a handmaid by Leah's father, Laban, upon Leah's marriage to Jacob (see Genesis 29:24, 46:18). The crux of the agreement states that Jacob will not ill-treat Labans daughters or take other wives besides his daughters (Gen 31:50). 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. This may be because Zilpah and Bilhah never speak within the narrative, nor are they spoken to directly. 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. So when Rachel meant that Bilhah would bear upon her knees she may have been referring to the actual position in which she would give birth. Rachel, who was Jacob's favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. We can read the little that we know about them in Genesis 30. much like their mothers, who, through their humility and forbearance, were eventually able to attain wifely status. 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). Why are players required to record the moves in World Championship Classical games? Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? Only the tribe of Judah are Jews. Acts - Revelations Her academic work focuses on the ancient Near Eastern environment, Hebrew Bible, and the philosophy of religion. When I asked Sarah who they were, I didnt know that her answer would be my introduction to the intersection between Judaism and feminism, and would influence how I thought about my role in relation to both. This pushes me to actively seek out women who have been overlooked by our tradition, whether from the Torah or from more recent history. So following the example of her sister Leah gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife so that she could have more children. In Genesis 31:17, Jacob and his household leave for Canaan without telling Laban. 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. Bilhah and Zilpah - Jew or Not Jew They are called nashim without any qualifier functionan identification never given to Hagar. They made a deal over the mandrakes "love fruit"remember that in the scriptures? The only other brothers who are not singled out with specific actions in the narrative are Leahs two sons Issachar and Zebulun. This is my own translation of the Hebrew text found in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.6. Read more from The Biblical Mind. I had never heard of them before. I like your take on it, but I guess it always seemed like Bilhah and Zilpah didn't have any choice. While Leah, Rachel's older sister, had given birth to four sons. Thus, while in Canaan and after Rachels (and probably Leahs) death, Zilpah and Bilhah were possibly able to transition in status to the wives of Jacob. Does a password policy with a restriction of repeated characters increase security? Leah then offered her handmaid, Zilpah, to Jacob. For me, this was a revelation. In later texts, Bilhah is remembered as one of the ancestresses of the Israelites. Is a downhill scooter lighter than a downhill MTB with same performance? 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., In her desperation for children Rachel followed the example of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and married her maid Bilhah to her husband so that she could have children through her. How well do you know your Biblical stories? I was thinking about this subject of surrogacy.I recently re-read the record of Jacob and his wives. For you are forgetting Bilhah and Zilpah, Jacob's other two wives. Though there is some indication that Zilpah and Bilhah were elevated to a matriarchal status as the wives of Jacob, they were still not on par with Leah and Rachel, whose death or burial place is mentioned (Gen 35:19, 49:31). The Rabbis brought it from here: "If you afflict my daughters" (Bereishit 31:50) gives two. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Genesis 30 records that, The second son Bilhah bore she named Naphtali and said, "With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.". Many of the brothers directly speak and act within the familial affairs. But in having a child, Hagar becomes prideful and disrespects her mistress Sarah. She was the first wife, but it seems that history has made her a litte shrewish, maybe less attractive. All four of those women had to have had crazy patience and understanding to make it in that situation. The PatriarchsAbraham, Isaac, and Jacobare the three ancient forefathers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 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. During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. Instead, these maid-slaves begin a surrogate-motherly role of raising their children. Whether or not they had any say in the matter, I do think you point out a really good point. Zilpah bore Leah two sons. Dinah, if you are wondering.). The Twelve Tribes Of Israel Explained - Grunge There are some shenanigans with mandrakes (which also involve Jacob's first-born, Reuben; hold that thought), and Rachel finally gives birth! [4] He was taken into captivity but redeemed by Laban, Rachel and Leah's father. Zilpah, Leah's maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. Zilpah is referenced in the genealogy in Genesis 46:18. The account of Zilpahs role as Leahs surrogate mother can be found in Genesis 30:9-13. Rachel, who was Jacobs favorite wife, had not been blessed with children. Whom were Bilhah and Zilpah descendant? Book of Mormon, Study Guides At the end of the narrative (Gen 49), the children of Zilpah and Bilhah received blessings from their father Jacob at his death, along with Jacobs other sons by Leah and Rachel. Though her reaction is not recorded, Bilhah gives birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who are named by Rachel but referred to as the sons of Bilhah. Later in her life, Bilhah would have sex with Reuben, Jacobs eldest son. The wonders of ancient polygamy! And then, for good measure, she finishes out the brood with Benjamin (those must have been some powerful mandrakes). Adding EV Charger (100A) in secondary panel (100A) fed off main (200A). I hope that for all of the sibling rivalry,the sisters at least loved each other. 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). 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. In the official record given of Jacobs 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. Who was the father of bilhah and Zilpah? Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Though her reaction is not recorded, Bilhah gives birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who are named by Rachel but referred to as "the sons of Bilhah." However, Reuben, Leah's eldest, felt that this move slighted his mother, who was also a primary wife, and so he moved Jacob's bed into his mother's tent and removed or overturned Bilhah's. Upon parting ways again, Laban and Jacob make a pact before Jacobs God. (Bereishit 31:43), Said R. Avin, 'They were all his daughters: "The girls are my daughters" gives two, "And as for my daughters, what should I do?" We could defy the patriarchal constraints of the Torah, and highlight significant women regardless of their status. Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 7475, 137.11. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bible Charts and Maps, PO Box 171053, Austin, TX 78717 Who was the mother and father of Bilhah and Zilpah? (What makes the menage a cinq even freakier is that some commentators believe that Bilhah and Zilpah were Leah and Rachel's sisters. I have often wondered the nationality (color) of the wives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but can not find any concrete evidence. Probably the greatest sacrifice that any mother could ever make. As long as Rachel was alive, say these commentators, Jacob kept his bed in her tent and visited the other wives in theirs. Previous to joining academia, Heather worked in the IT field as a web developer for ten years, learning the importance of input data to output success. 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. The God of Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah. Say, the one of Jacob and his wives. (Gen 30:3). For me, synagogue was always the place where everyone was truly equal, because my community made such an effort to be inclusive and accepting. Many of the brothers directly speak and act within the familial affairs. This caused Jacob to commit to another seven years of labor to pay for Rachels hand in marriage though he took her as his wife only a week after he took Leah. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. 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. The childs name, Dan, means he judged and indicates Rachels relationship to the boy: she claims that God has judged me [Hebrew dananni] and has also heard my voice and given me a son (Gen 30:6). The apocryphal Testament of Naftali says that Bilhah and Zilpah's father was named Rotheus. s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? The maid-slaves would not only serve the daughters, but they could also bear children for their mistress-owner as a surrogate if the mistress were barren. Probably the greatest sacrifice that any mother could ever make. Laban gives Zilpah to Leah and Bilhah to Rachel as a maid-slave as part of their wedding dowry (Gen 29:24, 29). And Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in Gods stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Bilhah: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive 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. Its my job, as a woman and as a feminist, to continue to integrate feminism into Judaism. When Rachel died, Jacob moved his bed into the tent of Bilhah, who had been mentored by Rachel, to retain a closeness to his favourite wife. This is reinforced by the fact that Rachel named both of the sons Bilhah bore. . This was a normal thing for concubines. While Leah, Rachel's older sister, had given birth to four sons. Zilpah also figures in the competition between Jacob's wives to bear him sons. At the start of Jacobs story, the Genesis narrator makes it clear that Zilpah and Bilhah are maid-slaves. Laban excused his actions as part of his peoples tradition to always marry the oldest daughter first. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? 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. Biblical family tree showing Jacob's line. The Hebrew word sahnay does not mean hate as the term is used today, but rather conveys the idea of loving less. A better translation would be, when the Lord saw that Leah was loved less or was not as favored, he opened her womb. 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. Do you think it would be harder or easier? Daughter of Laban the Aramean and NN ., Concubine 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). I do not take women's rights or my Judaism for granted and explore both in my daily life as well. The Israelites were divided into 12 tribes named after Jacob's sons and two sons of Joseph Manasseh and Ephraim. I learned that Miriam hadnt always been recognized at our Passover seders. 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. New York: 2000. Leah named the first son Gad and declared. New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? However, Hagar is termed mother at the end of her story when she becomes free (Gen 21:21).7Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 164166. It only takes a minute to sign up. It is common practice in my sphere to seek or pray, Center for Hebraic Thought at The King's College | 56 Broadway | New York, NY 10004. How are engines numbered on Starship and Super Heavy? Leah started popping out kids left and right, four boys to be exact. 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. While this parallel relationship gives insight into the newly-gained procreative roles of Zilpah and Bilhah, it also highlights Zilpah and Bilhahs worth. Most havent. Zilpah gave birth to two sons, whom Leah claimed as her own and named Gad and Asher. Though Zilpah and Bilhah could never have been the full wives of Jacob while the treaty with Laban stood, once Labans two daughters died, Jacob may have viewed the stipulation of no other wives as no longer applicable, since it was meant to protect Labans daughters. While Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel used more competitive, empowered, persuasive, and often deceptive means to achieve their ends according to their privileged status, Zilpah and Bilhah wisely used cooperation and submissiveness within their less privileged status. Each takes ownership of the maid-slave, much like Sarah owned Hagar (Gen 16:1) and Rebekah owned her nurse Deborah (Gen 24:61). 35, Dan and Naphtali are presented as the sons of Bilhah, Rachels maid (v. 25). They are the biblical women we view as relatable and worthy of emulation. I believe words have the power to change the future and heal the past. The Greatest Champion Of Woman And Womanhood Is Jesus Christ James E. Talmage. Jewish Women's Archive. 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. A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. The few times the story tells of their actions (bearing sons and bowing before Esau),11Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 128. it is at the behest of others. Called Balah in Joshua 19:3, the town was allotted to the tribe of Simeon. Where did Bilhah and Zilpah come from? - Daily Justnow Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically. Leah and Rachel, of course! This piece was written as part of JWAs Rising Voices Fellowship. [2] Bilhah gave birth to two sons, whom Rachel claimed as her own and named Dan and Naphtali. Phone Toll Free: 877-966-7300 or 816-584-3077, [This article continues after a message from the authors], These Articles are Written by the Publishers of, Amazing Bible Timeline with World History 2023. Elisheva -- see notes on Tzipporah. Old Testament They are Zilpah and Bilhah. Often times bricks were placed under her to give her more support and the midwife knelt in front of her. 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). 27 October 2017. 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. I found this article concerning surrocacy with a mother and daughter: "A mother's love takes many forms. Bilhahs own status in the household is somewhat ambiguous. How is the difference to be accounted for? When do you use in the accusative case? But more importantly, we will question why these two womens children receive blessings and an inheritance when other sons of women in other stories did not. Bilhah . (deceased) - Genealogy Amen.13This amended liturgical prayer is based on the traditional, central Jewish liturgical blessing of praise, the Amidah or Standing Prayer, that invokes the blessing of the ancestors, some of which already have added the four matriarchal figures (though most have Rachel before Leah). 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. to Laban, the father of Leah and Rachel. : Ethel Reynolds Smith, Why Having a December Birthday is NOT a Bummer. Yet, consistently the narrator of Genesis insists that the twelve sons of Jacob had four named mothers: Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah. For example, II Chron. rev2023.5.1.43405. "And if you take other wives in addition to my daughters" gives [another two equaling] four. The plan succeeds, so that when Bilhahs son is born, Rachel names him, an act expressing her maternal authority. Zilpah and Bilhahs deaths are never mentioned. Bilhah and Zilpah were slaves, not wives of a patriarch, but their descendants eventually became the Jewish people. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. I contend that the reason Zilpah and Bilhah attained this full wifely and motherly status and that their children inherited lies in their quiet humility and cooperative attitude throughout their lives. 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. @CashCow Do you happen to know the source for this opinion? 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. During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. It makes me wonder what sort of relationship Rachel and Leah had with them. Subscribe now to receive periodic updates from the Center for Hebraic Thought. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Elizabeth Wyner Mark, The Four Wives of Jacob: Matriarchs Seen and Unseen, The Reconstructionist (Fall 1998): 2224.13. Who were there parents.? I now discuss these two amazing biblical women every chance I get, including here, because their story resonates with so many who are voiceless or powerless. In general it's a big question what it means when various places in the north of Eretz Yisrael are identified as the kevarim of famous tzaddikim or tzidkaniyos - especially when those seem to contradict information given elsewhere. May the God of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the God whose covenant is eternal, bless you and make you fruitful. It really does amaze me how the Lord has different experiences planed for each of us. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? In Old Testament times this was an acceptable way for a married woman who was barren to gain children. Possible meanings for the Hebrew name Bilhah are "simplicity," "modesty," "timid," or "faltering." Bilhah is also the name of a town in the south of Judah ( 1 Chronicles 4:29 ). In contrast, in Hagars case, Sarah does not view the son of the shiphchah Hagar as her own son after conception and soured relations (Gen 16, 21). Women in labor were surrounded by female companions who encouraged them to labor upright and dance and sway during contractions, . The manufacture of artifacts from iron was noted. Yet they did it and through them came the 12 tribes of Israel the covenant family of the whole earth. What did it take for Bilhah and Zilpah to share their children with two other women? 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. Zilpah gave birth to two sons, whom Leah claimed as her own and named Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:1013). 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. In an ancient Nuzi marriage contract it stipulated that a woman whose servant bore the children of her husband, Alternatively she may have just been referring to the way in which ancient women commonly gave birth. Not exactly. New Living Translation These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. 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. This is reinforced by the fact that Rachel named both of the sons Bilhah bore. The great, mighty, and awesome God, God most high, who bestows loving-kindness and goodness and who creates everything. How many children did Laban have? Whats less clear, however, is their roles within the forming Israelite tribe, especially compared with the roles of Leah and Rachel. Their sacrifice reminds me of all the women who make similar sacrifices around the world today. Zilpah bore two sons to Jacob, which would have been Gad and Asher. 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). In midrashic texts, Rabbis have long given Zilpah and Bilhah matriarchal status, alongside Leah and Rachel. The Rabbis count Zilpah among the six Matriarchs. Redirecting the Fear of Death, Teaching Genesis Beautiful Vision in an Incarcerated Context, A Pentecostals Biblical Reflections on the Asbury Revival. Rachel and Leah | Encyclopedia.com And Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said. [9], Reuben was Jacob's (Israel) eldest son with Leah. At the start of Josephs story and after Rachels death, the narrator says that Joseph tended the flocks with his brothers, who are the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his fathers nashim (meaning wives or women, plural of ishah) (Gen 37:2). Further, Bilhah and Zilpah and their children are clearly placed closest to the danger at Jacob's meeting with Esau (Gen. 33:1, 2, 6). Bilhah is also considered a minor Bible character but was also used to bring two of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel onto the earth. Yocheved was born and presumably died in Egypt. Thank you. Yet they did it and through them came the 12 tribes of Israel the covenant family of the whole earth. 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.Questions To Think About: I am a scripture loving, book writing, baby snuggling, garden growing, faith-centered disciple, wife, mother, daughter, and sister. Rachel in turn gives Bilhah to Jacob as a "wife" when Rachel is found to be barren. Bilhah is given by Laban to Rachel as a gift when she marries Jacob. 31 December 1999. Gender was never an issue. Bilhah means "to become alarmed" ( lehibahel ). Its possible this difference of reaction is partially attributable to the support of fellow women. You can read about Jacob, also known as Israel, blessing Gad and Asher as tribes of Israel in Genesis 49:19-20. Who is Bilhah? Jacob of course only wanted to marry Rachel, and worked for 7 years to do so, only to be tricked by his uncle, Laban. 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." If shaimos are buried in the same grave as a person, where should they be placed? And freakier. Jacob was all too happy to oblige, and Bilhah popped out two more boys to bring the total to six. Its a story of the quiet humility of marginalized women whose children have better lives as a result. Gad and Asher were sons of Zilpah and a portion of Gad we know is black, for we can trace Gad's sons Eri, Areli and Arodi to the Igbo people of Nigeria. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry? Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Obviously, at some point, some Jews decided that the matriarchs needed to be acknowledged in prayer. Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 128.12. How Long In Prison? I guess I always felt bad for Bilhah and Zilpah because it didn't really seem like they had any say in the matter. In the Book of Genesis, Zilpah was Leah's handmaid, whom Leah gave to Jacob "to wife" to bear him children. During the final stage of labor a woman would squat and be supported under the arms by one or two other women. Why do you think it is that both Rachel and Leah go on to have their own children. 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. Rachel plans to have children through her (as Sarah did with Hagar) by having Bilhah give birth upon my [Rachels] knees, probably a phrase that comes from adoption ritual.

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what nationality were bilhah and zilpah

what nationality were bilhah and zilpah