Bilhah

Bilhah was a woman in Genesis who bears children to Jacob on behalf of Rachel. She becomes the mother of Dan and Naphtali, placing her within the family traditions used to explain the origins of the tribes of Israel.

Genesis presents Bilhah as Rachel’s servant and as the mother of Dan and Naphtali by Jacob, placing her within the genealogical traditions explaining the twelve tribes of Israel. A later episode involving Reuben and Bilhah becomes part of the story of rivalry and inheritance within Jacob’s household. Beyond these brief biblical references, the historical record does not allow an independent biography to be reconstructed.

In Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, The novel follows Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah through marriage, motherhood, rivalry and household ritual, making the women’s tent a centre of memory, birth and female community.