Leah gives Zilpah to Jacob to build her household and secure more children under her name.
In the biblical account, When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife (v.9). This event likely took place around 1900 BC in the region of Paddan-aram, near ancient Mesopotamia, where Jacob had settled after leaving Canaan. Leah’s decision was motivated by her desire to continue building her family line because she had been unable to conceive further children herself. By offering Zilpah to Jacob, Leah hoped that any children born would be credited to her own household under the customs of that day. Indeed, Zilpah had two sons—Gad and Asher—who would both become heads of tribes in the nation of Israel. Historically, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and the older sister of Rachel; her lineage played a major role in the formation of God’s covenant people, culminating centuries later in the birth of Jesus Christ through one of Leah’s other sons, Judah.
The act of giving a maidservant in marriage was not uncommon in the ancient Near East, particularly when childbearing was at stake. Leah’s actions echo earlier chapters involving Sarah and Hagar, where a servant was chosen to bear children if the wife could not conceive (Genesis 16:1-4). Although it may appear unusual to modern readers, this practice reflected the cultural norms of its time. Here, Leah’s plan contributed to the broader story of Jacob’s children, each destined to father a tribe of Israel. Gad’s name derives from a Hebrew word meaning “good fortune,” while Asher’s name means “happy one,” both illustrating the joy and relief these children brought to their mother’s heart.
Leah’s resourcefulness in continuing her family line through her maid Zilpah demonstrates her persistence and trust that God would provide an inheritance for her in the emerging nation of Israel.
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Genesis 30:9 meaning
In the biblical account, When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife (v.9). This event likely took place around 1900 BC in the region of Paddan-aram, near ancient Mesopotamia, where Jacob had settled after leaving Canaan. Leah’s decision was motivated by her desire to continue building her family line because she had been unable to conceive further children herself. By offering Zilpah to Jacob, Leah hoped that any children born would be credited to her own household under the customs of that day. Indeed, Zilpah had two sons—Gad and Asher—who would both become heads of tribes in the nation of Israel. Historically, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and the older sister of Rachel; her lineage played a major role in the formation of God’s covenant people, culminating centuries later in the birth of Jesus Christ through one of Leah’s other sons, Judah.
The act of giving a maidservant in marriage was not uncommon in the ancient Near East, particularly when childbearing was at stake. Leah’s actions echo earlier chapters involving Sarah and Hagar, where a servant was chosen to bear children if the wife could not conceive (Genesis 16:1-4). Although it may appear unusual to modern readers, this practice reflected the cultural norms of its time. Here, Leah’s plan contributed to the broader story of Jacob’s children, each destined to father a tribe of Israel. Gad’s name derives from a Hebrew word meaning “good fortune,” while Asher’s name means “happy one,” both illustrating the joy and relief these children brought to their mother’s heart.
Leah’s resourcefulness in continuing her family line through her maid Zilpah demonstrates her persistence and trust that God would provide an inheritance for her in the emerging nation of Israel.