Genesis 30:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

NIV: and she became pregnant and bore him a son.

NASB: Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

CSB: Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

NLT: Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son.

KJV: And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

NKJV: And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Even though Jacob loves his wife Rachel (Genesis 29:16–18), and "hates" his unintended wife Leah, Leah has been able to bear several children (Genesis 29:31–35). Rachel has had no sons or daughters, yet, and absurdly attempts to blame Jacob for this situation (Genesis 30:1), though he reminds her that it is ultimately God, not man, who controls the birth of children. Desperate to "keep up" with her sister, and have a child of her own, Rachel turns to the same plot used by her grandparents, Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 16:1–4). According to customs of the time, children born to a woman's servant were considered children of the owner.

Rachel's plan works, at least in the sense that it results in a child. Bilhah does indeed give birth to Jacob's fifth son. Rachel, though still conflicted, will receive the boy as God's gift to her. Rather than making things better, this event will help fuel a competition between Rachel and Leah (Genesis 30:8).

Genesis 30:1–24 describes the birth of eight more sons to Jacob, as well as one daughter. While Rachel remains barren, her servant woman bears to Jacob two sons. Then Leah's servant woman does so, as well. Next, Leah herself has three more children. Then, finally, God remembers Rachel. She gives birth to Joseph, giving him a name that is essentially a prayer for another son to follow. As the section ends, Jacob now has 11 sons, at least one daughter, and a plan to return home to his own people.

God alone gives children. He causes babies to be born. He even determines what color baby sheep and goats will be. Genesis 30 describes the urgent desire of Rachel and Leah to have sons for Jacob and how God hears and grants their prayers in His own time. In addition, God blesses Jacob's unusual breeding practices with Laban's flocks to finally allow Jacob to overcome his father-in-law's schemes to keep Jacob under his service.

In the previous chapter, Laban tricked Jacob both into marrying Leah along with Rachel and into working for him as a servant for a total of fourteen years. God blessed unloved Leah by allowing her to bear four sons to Jacob. As this chapter opens, Rachel remains barren while Leah and both of their servant women continue to bear sons. Finally God answers Rachel's prayer, allowing her to bear Joseph. His contract completed, Jacob demands Laban send him away to his own people. Laban refuses, asking Jacob to set new terms for his service. Jacob's deal, along with the Lord's blessing and his unusual breeding practices with the flocks, results in Jacob becoming a wealthy man in his own right. This wealth and power will enable him to finally break free and return home.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 4/29/2024 5:48:01 PM