And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
And she said, 'Here is my servant Bilhah, sleep with her, and she will give birth with me supporting her, so that I can have children through her.'
Rachel is offering her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate mother so she can have children through her when she cannot conceive herself.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Rachel was Jacob's wife who struggled with infertility, while her sister Leah had already borne several children to Jacob. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, it was a common practice for a barren woman to offer her maidservant to her husband to bear children on her behalf, ensuring the family line continued. This act by Rachel highlights the societal pressures and customs surrounding family and inheritance in that era.
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