Having children thru their maids.
- Thread starter Pamella
- Start date
Rachel served as a midwife to Bilhah.
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theophilus
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No she didn't.
Bilhah, a servant girl presented to *Rachel by her father. Bilhah was given by Rachel to her husband Jacob as a concubine. Bilhah bore two children by him, *Dan and *Naphtali. Reuben cohabited with her while his father was still alive, apparently by way of asserting his right of primogeniture. This offense is given as the reason for the loss of birthright by Reuben.
Pamella asked, "what on earth does 'bearing children on one's knees' mean"?
The question is addressed in Genesis 30:3 concerning Rachel, not Sarah.
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If you read the commentary provided the specific question is answered, no matter to whom it is applied. Out of a sense of not appealing to the puerile natures of some, the link is all I saw fit to post. One will have to actually read it to glean the answer(s) given therein.
AMR
I read the commentary and it provides a couple of interpretations, neither of which I agree with.
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There are varying views. In addition to the one's contained in the link peviously provided, some believe the phrase to mean the children are adopted (See Genesis 50:23). Others, a reference to the upright birthing method used in ancient times. The phrase is possibly a Hebrew idiom related to Middle Eastern custom: ceremonially placing a child on one’s knees or lap, that person is signifying that they are claiming that child as their own.
Pick one. Go in peace.
AMR
There are varying views. In addition to the one's contained in the link peviously provided, some believe the phrase to mean the children are adopted (See Genesis 50:23). Others, a reference to the upright birthing method used in ancient times. The phrase is possibly a Hebrew idiom related to Middle Eastern custom: ceremonially placing a child on one’s knees or lap, that person is signifying that they are claiming that child as their own.
Pick one. Go in peace.
Ok, thanks. I pick the one where Sarah is on her knees delivering Bilhah's baby. That makes more sense to me.
iouae
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Today we would speak of "test-tube babies" through surrogate mothers.
Back then they did not have test-tubes or in-vitro fertilisation.
So back then, the husband had to implant the maid and the mistress then would raise the baby as her own - in theory. In practice, it just caused chaos.
But this chaos in Jacob's home was God orchestrated because God was doing some genetic engineering of the nation of Israel, and he was selecting traits from all 4 mothers to produce the 12 tribes. These 12 tribes are part of the modern nations today as God promised in Gen 49. The nation of Israel today is but one of 13 countries which came from Jacob's chaotic home.
iouae
Well-known member
I am sorry Nick, I don't get your point.
Pamella is most welcome here and her question sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Sarah could not bear children and looked for a surrogate mother.
Rachel and Leah could not bear children fast enough to please not-so-wise-Jacob, so they brought in a few of their maids to bear babies for them too. Jacob was a large part of this chaos by consenting to go in to the maids, and by having favourites.
This person registered here and has made one post, a classic left wing devil worshipping cliché that she thinks is clever. You must be new to the internet and forums. Don't mind me, you continue on without the person starting the thread for discussion. I will be making my martini.
iouae
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Nick, I think you need that martini, or perhaps a few.
I am just glad my first post was not greeted with such hostility.
And I still don't see what it is about the question that you find unreasonable.
iouae
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You know who will really appreciate this "joke"? Customs.
Next time they ask you "Anything to declare" give them your above answer.
Oh, really. ? Well that is news to me.
ur the best Pamella
Nick is already trying that. He has a devil and thinks it is from God.