Rachel could not bear her sister’s children and she envied her for it. “Give me children, or else I die,” she told Jacob, and he answered in anger, “Am I in God’s stead?” So she gave him her maid Bilhah, who bore Dan and Naphtali. Rachel named Dan with the words “God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice.” Bilhah is mostly seen through other people’s eyes, as a servant given and then as a mother. Genesis 35:22 records a grievous act by Reuben involving her. Read Genesis 30:1-8 to see how the household was shaped.
12 verses
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
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.
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?
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.
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
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.
And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
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:
And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Faltering; bashful, Rachel’s handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob (Gen. 29:29). She was the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:3-8). Reuben was cursed by his father for committing adultry with her (35:22; 49:4). He was deprived of the birth-right, which was given to the sons of Joseph.
William Smith, 1884
(timid, bashful), handmaid of Rachel, (Genesis 29:29) and concubine of Jacob, to whom she bore Dan and Naphtali. (Genesis 30:3-8; 35:25; 46:25; 1 Chronicles 7:13) (B.C 53.)