What does Genesis 35:25 mean?
The 12 sons of Jacob are listed in this passage, according to their birth mothers. A rivalry broke out between Jacob's two wives, Rachel and Leah. This started when Jacob was tricked by their father into marrying them both (Genesis 29:25–28). Their bitterness (Genesis 29:30–31) carried over into an almost-blatant competition to bear more children. This led both women to bring their servants into the marriage as surrogates. Bilhah was Rachel's personal servant, given to her by her father Laban (Genesis 29:29). The children of Bilhah, therefore, would have been legally considered Rachel's.Bilhah's two sons include Dan (Genesis 30:5–6) and Naphtali (Genesis 30:7–8).
Any daughters conceived by these women are left unmentioned, as the focus is on the future patriarchs of the nation of Israel. Only Dinah, a daughter of Leah, is noted by name due to her tragic story (Genesis 30:21; 34:1).