“And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.”
This verse is part of the account of Jacob and his relationships with his wives and concubines:In this particular verse, we see that Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, gave him her maidservant, Bilhah, as a wife or concubine. As a result, Jacob entered into a marital relationship with Bilhah.
To understand the significance and context of this verse, it’s helpful to examine the surrounding passages and the broader narrative of Jacob’s life:In Genesis 29, Jacob falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in order to marry her. However, Laban deceives Jacob by giving him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, as a wife instead. After another seven years of service, Jacob is finally given Rachel as his wife, the one he had originally desired.
Rachel, though dearly loved by Jacob, was unable to conceive children. This became a source of great distress for Rachel, especially as her sister Leah had already borne several sons to Jacob. In her desperation to have children, Rachel decides to follow the cultural practice of the time and offers her maidservant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a surrogate wife. This practice was accepted in the ancient Near East and was considered a legitimate way of expanding the family and producing heirs.
Genesis 30:4 captures the moment when Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob, effectively establishing a polygamous relationship. The phrase “Jacob went in unto her” indicates that Jacob engaged in sexual relations with Bilhah, which was a common way to establish a marital union in biblical times.
The broader theme of this passage, and the subsequent events that unfold, is the complex dynamics within Jacob’s family:The rivalry between Rachel and Leah, Jacob’s two wives, is intensified by the fact that they both offer their maidservants to Jacob in order to bear children on their behalf. The resulting children, born to Bilhah and Zilpah (Leah’s maidservant), are regarded as belonging to Rachel and Leah, respectively.
This passage raises various moral and ethical questions, particularly regarding polygamy and the treatment of women:While the Bible records instances of polygamy, it is worth noting that such relationships often led to strife, jealousy, and tension within the family. The narrative of Jacob’s family serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the difficulties that arise when people deviate from God’s ideal of marriage as a monogamous union between one man and one woman.
In conclusion, Genesis 30:4 provides a glimpse into the cultural practices of the time and the complexities of Jacob’s family relationships:It reminds us of the consequences that can arise when people deviate from God’s original design for marriage and family.
