Bilhah

Servant of Rachel who became a concubine of Jacob and mother of two of Israel’s tribal ancestors. When Rachel was unable to conceive, she gave Bilhah to Jacob following the custom of the time (similar to Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham), with children born to Bilhah counted as Rachel’s own (Genesis 30:3-8). Bilhah bore Dan and Naphtali, founders of their respective tribes. After Rachel’s death, Reuben lay with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22)—an act that cost him his birthright as firstborn (Genesis 49:4).