Zilpah

Servant of Leah who became a concubine of Jacob. Mother of Gad and Asher.

Role

When Leah stopped bearing children, she gave Zilpah to Jacob as a wife, following the custom that Rachel had initiated with Bilhah. Children born to Zilpah were considered Leah’s own.

Sons

Zilpah bore two sons to Jacob:

• Gad - ancestor of the tribe of Gad
• Asher - ancestor of the tribe of Asher

Both tribes received their inheritance east of the Jordan (Gad) and in the northwest coastal region (Asher).