Although Jacob served Laban 7 years for Leah and another 7 years for Rachel, it can be argued that he actually served Laban 14 years for Rachel, for he never expressed any desire to marry Leah. Indeed, even if he did want two wives, if Rachel was his favorite, why would he have served Laban an equal number of years for both wives? It seems evident that Reuben had a tender love for his mother, and that tenderness is genuinely expressed in Genesis 30:14, when at about the age of 5 or 6 years, he brought home flowers to his mother, vis-à-vis the mandrakes he found in the field. It isn’t said specifically anywhere in the text, but Reuben probably resented Jacob’s treatment of his mother. Certainly, Leah longed for Jacob’s love (Genesis 29:32-34; 30:20), and, even if he did love her, the love Jacob expressed for Leah’s sister, Rachel, was far superior and overshadowed any expression of love he had for Reuben’s mom.
So, after mourning the death of Rachel, Jacob journeyed a little further to the Migdal-eder (Genesis 35:21). This was probably a tower during the days of the Patriarchs, where shepherds stood guard over their flocks. However, at about the time of Jesus’ birth, a synagogue stood there, and this was his probable birthplace.[1]
It was here at this place that Reuben conceived of a plan, and he lay with Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, and Jacob’s concubine (Genesis 35:22). Concubines are wives, but not in the truest sense. They remain servants, but they have more authority than a mere servant. Nevertheless, they are ultimately servants. When Reuben decided to lay with Bilhah, she had little authority to refuse. It is difficult to assume that Reuben, who was probably more than 20 years her junior, lusted after her: Reuben was at least 23 at this time. However, if it wasn’t lust, what was it? Ham had ulterior motives in raping Shem’s mother, Noah’s wife (Genesis 9:22). He wished to enlarge his own inheritance, assuming Noah would divide the earth into quarters instead of thirds, so Ham, because Canaan was his son, would get half, 50% instead of one-third![2] If this is so, did Reuben have a hidden motive for laying with Bilhah? If so, what was his intention and what motivated him to do the deed at this time?
Reuben was the firstborn, and he stood to inherit the lion’s share (a double portion) of the family’s wealth. However, considering the fact that Rachel was Jacob’s preferred wife, Reuben may have seen his inheritance in jeopardy, when Benjamin was born. Benjamin was the only son who was named by his father. All eleven previous sons were named by Leah and Rachel. When Jacob changed Benoni’s name to Benjamin—the son of my right hand—Reuben may have seen his inheritance in jeopardy. The “right hand” is the position of power and authority, but Reuben’s interpretation of Jacob’s deed was wrong, because in the end, although Joseph did inherit the double portion blessing in Manasseh and Ephraim, it was Leah’s son, Judah who inherited the family authority and leadership (Genesis 49:8; cp. verses 3 and 4), which should have gone to Reuben as his birthright.
Therefore, it seems Ruben’s decision to lay with Bilhah was one of rebellion, not lust, as some claim. His act was an open challenge to his father. He resented Jacob’s treatment of his mother, and, after Rachel’s death, he may have thought or perhaps interpreted Jacob’s behavior as preferring Rachel’s handmaid over his mother, Leah, and this was simply too much to take for the young man, but he was wrong, both morally and intellectually, which is proved by Jacob giving Leah’s son, Judah, the family scepter (Genesis 49:8). Indeed, Jacob was much more honorable than Reuben gave him credit for!
So, despite it being believed by Jacob, his wives and daughters that Joseph was dead, the text says Jacob had twelve sons six by Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun; two by Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; two by Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine and Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali; and two by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid and Jacob’s concubine: Gad and Asher (Genesis 35:23-26).
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[1] See an earlier study of mine in the Gospel of Luke: The Migdal Eder.
[2] See two earlier studies in the Book of Genesis: Noah’s Descendants and Why Curse Canaan for Ham’s Sin?
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