NOTE:
This post has been withdrawn. The post has been published in my book, Rereading the Biblical Text: Searching for Meaning and Understanding. The approach taken in the book is to compare how different translations have approached difficult texts in the Old Testament. The goal of the book is to invite readers to reread the biblical text in light of the new understanding of the intent of the original writer of the text. You can order the book from Amazon.
Rereading the Biblical Text
Visit my Amazon author’s page to purchase the book (click here).
Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
A Note About This Post:
Before “The Rape of Bilhah” was withdrawn for publication, “The Rape of Bilhah” was read by 30,586 readers. “The Rape of Bilhah” was also shared 16 times by readers who enjoyed reading the post. You can read “The Rape of Bilhah” and other articles on problems in Bible translation by reading my book Rereading the Biblical Text: Searching for Meaning and Understanding. Below is the content of the book:
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments – Page xi
Abbreviations – Page xii
Introduction – Page xv
SECTION 1 — THE PENTATEUCH
Chapter 1. The Creation of Animals in Genesis 2:19 – Page 3
Chapter 2. The Serpent Was Right (Genesis 3) – Page 7
Chapter 3. The Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15) – Page 11
Chapter 4. Were They Really Giants? (Genesis 6:4) – Page 17
Chapter 5. “As Far as Dan” (Gen 14:14) – Page 20
Chapter 6. Abraham and the Promises of God – Page (Genesis 12:7) – Page 23
Chapter 7. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:8) – Page 26
Chapter 8. The Rape of Bilhah (Genesis 35:22) – Page 29
Chapter 9. Miriam, a Leader in Israel (Exodus 15:20) – Page 32
Chapter 10. Azazel (Leviticus 16:8-10) – Page 35
Chapter 11. Understanding Numbers 24:24 – Page 38
SECTION 2 — THE HISTORICAL BOOKS
Chapter 12. The Levite and His Concubine (Judges 19:1–30) – Page 43
Chapter 13. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 47
Chapter 14. The Fate of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 4750
Chapter 15. The Virginity of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 54
Chapter 16. Who Went Back to the City? (Ruth 3:15) – Page 59
Chapter 17. Was Ruth Barren? (Ruth 4:13) – Page 59
Chapter 18. King Saul: Little in His Own Eyes (1 Samuel 15:17) – Page 63
Chapter 19. How Old Was Saul? (1 Samuel 13:1) – Page 64
Chapter 20. David and Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) – Page 67
Chapter 21. David’s Sons Were Priests ((2 Samuel 8:18) – Page 70
Chapter 22. “Him that Pisseth against the Wall” (1 Samuel 25:22) – Page 72
Chapter 23. Whose Cloak Did Ahijah Tear? (1Kinga 11:4–7) – Page 78
Chapter 24. The Challenges of Parenthood (2 Kinga 21:25–26) – Page 82
SECTION 3 — THE WISDOM AND POETICAL BOOKS
Chapter 25. Psalm 8:5: In Search of a Better Translation – Page 87
Chapter 26. Understanding Psalm 17:14 – Page 90
Chapter 27. Jezebel’s Wedding Song (Psalm 45:1–17) – Page 93
Chapter 28. Psalm 100:3: In Search of a Better Translation – Page 99
Chapter 29. Sons or Children? (Psalm 127:3-5) – Page 103
Chapter 30. Proverbs 29:18 – Page 106
Chapter 31. “Black and Beautiful” or “Black but Beautiful”? (Song of Songs 1:5) – Page 108
SECTION 4 — THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS
Chapter 32. The Use of Gender Inclusive Language (Isaiah 9:1) – Page 115
Chapter 33. “You Have Increased Their Joy” (Isaiah 9:3) – Page 118
Chapter 34. Who Will the Messiah Strike? (Isaiah 11:4) – Page 120
Chapter 35. The Way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3) – Page 122
Chapter 36. “All Their Goodliness” (Isa 40:6) – Page 126
Chapter 37. The Proclaimer of Good News (Isaiah 40:9) – Page 129
Chapter 38. The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament (Isaiah 50:1) – Page 132
Chapter 39. Beulah Land (Isaiah 62:4) – Page 135
Chapter 40. The Balm of Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22) – Page 138
Chapter 41. The Mother of Seven (Jeremiah 15:9) – Page 142
Chapter 42. The Coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:25–27) – Page 144
Chapter 43. The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:25–27) – Page 148
Chapter 44. The Knowledge of God (Hosea 4:1) – Page 152
Chapter 45. The Word “Hesed” in the Book of Hosea (Hosea 4:1) – Page 154
Chapter 46. The Word “Justice” in Amos (Amos 5:24) – Page 157
Chapter 47. “What the Lord Requires” (Micah 6:8) – Page 160
Bibliography – Page 165
Index of Subjects – Page 169
Index of Authors – Page 171
Index of Scriptures and Other Ancient Documents – Page 173
Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
Reuben did lose his pr-eminence as the firstborn of Jacob and therefore forfeited his birthright just as Essau did. However, I do find it peculiar that Reuben gets his allotment of land in Israel although Levi and Simeon are cursed and do not get an inheritance in the promised land.
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Vanu,
Thank you for your comment and welcome to my blog.
The distribution of the land among the sons of Jacob can be a little confusing. Joseph received two portions of the land. This means that he received the rights of the firstborn. Reuben also received his allotment of the land and so did Simeon. The tribe of Simeon received its allotment south of the land of Judah. Since Simeon was a small tribe, it assimilated with Judah and practically disappeared. Levi was chosen as the priestly tribe so they lived among the other tribes. They also received several cities, the so-called “Levitical cities.”
Claude Mariottini
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Thank you Dr. Mariottini. I am enjoying reading your posts on my favorite subject, the Old Testament.
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Hi, Dr Mariottini
This is another awesome blog post and I got to look at things from a point-of-view I had never considered before I read this. My only question is I’ve missed how we know Rueben raped Bilhah meaning that she was not willing? I mean technically, when Tamar tricked Judah it too was incestuous because she was his daughter-in-law and yet nothing is commented negatively about it. Although the law strictly prohibited it later of what they did. Thanks for your helpful and wonderful scholarship. I thank God for you.
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Marcus,
Thank you for your comment. I am glad to know that you enjoyed my post. As you have discovered by now, I generally write on topics that have been neglected by other writers.
It is difficult to believe that Bilhah consented on the sex act. As a secondary wife, she would be cast out of the house and probably be stoned to death for committing adultery. She had much to lose and nothing to gain by having sex with Reuben. The issue is one of jealousy. Since Bilhah was the maid of Rachel and Reuben was the son of Leah, Reuben probably was afraid that, with the death of Rachel, Bilhah would become Jacob’s favorite wife instead of his mother Leah.
Claude Mariottini
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Thanks, Dr Mariottini, I had never thought of it that way. Thank you!!!!
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So the problem was begun by Jacob’s haughty attitude toward poor Leah. Leah, Jacob’s true wife, tolerated Jacob’s adultery with Rachel.
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Hank,
You misunderstand the Old Testament. Jacob did not commit adultery with Rachel. Rachel was Jacob’s wife and you cannot commit adultery with your own wife.
Claude Mariottini
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Dr. Mariottini: I believe you hit the nail on the head, so to speak! It seemed to me Rueben was good man as how he didnt go along with his brothers in wanting to kill Joseph(though he knew Joseph was favored over him and also a firstborn).
It made me cry that he could love his mother so much that he was willing to sacrifice his status and reputation in order for Jacob to finally ‘love’ his mother Leah.
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Why Jacob didn’t get angry with Reuben went and lay with Bilhah? Jacob only said it, when he going to pass away (where Reuben cannot get his blessing)
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Joyce,
I apologize for the delay in responding to your comment. I have been unable to work with my blog because of my academic work.
It is impossible to know Jacob’s reaction when the incident occurred. The reason for this is that the Bible does not say anything about Jacob’s reaction. But the curse on Ruben is a clear evidence that Jacob was very unhappy with his firstborn son.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Claude Mariottini
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Part of what perfect Christianity
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Dreamer,
I am sorry, but I do not understand what you are trying to say with your comment.
Claude Mariottini
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does possessing the name bilha make me susceptible to such abuse or kind of life
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Billy,
I hope not. No one should be treated to abuse because of their name or because of the color of their skin.
Claude Mariottini
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Dr. Mariottini, thank you for the article. It is quite timely in that the International Sunday School lessons for this quarter are in Genesis. I had wondered why Reuben would do such a disgraceful act and you gave a reasonable explanation. I teach Sunday School weekly at my church. You may or may not remember me, but I am your former student from Northern Baptist.
Vada Southern
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Vada,
The rape of Bilhah is a sad story in the Old Testament, a story that is seldom mentioned in church and rarely taught in Sunday School. I am glad to know that the post was helpful to you.
When I saw your name, I remembered that you were in one of my courses at Northern. I am glad you found my blog. I seek to write to help people like you gain a deeper appreciation for the Old Testament. I welcome your comments.
Claude Mariottini
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2 Samuel 16 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
I’m reminded of this situation between David and Absalom; could it be an outright effort to take over Jacob’s authority as leader because Ruben is so egotistical and can’t wait for his elderly father to die, that he creates an open defiance to insult Jacob and cause division in the family?
When the brothers conspired against Joseph, Ruben used deception to spare him and failed when he should have used his authority as firstborn instead – “unstable as water”.
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Gayle,
The view you propose has some merits. Reuben would be the head of the clan because he was the first born. Because he defiled his father’s bed, he lost the right of the first born. That right was given to Joseph.
Claude Mariottini
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What is your evidence that Reuben raped Bilhah?
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Steven,
The evidence is found in the Bible, “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it” (Genesis 35:22). Even Jacob himself acknowledges this fact, “Reuben, you are my first-born, My might and first fruit of my vigor, Exceeding in rank And exceeding in honor. Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer; For when you mounted your father’s bed, You brought disgrace — my couch he mounted” (Genesis 49:3-4).
Claude Mariottini
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Dr. Mariottini,
I am still not able to see the case of rape of Bilha in your analysis. Please enlighten me further.
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Renrick,
The reading of the Complete Jewish Bible may clarify the issue: “because you climbed into your father’s bed and defiled it – he climbed onto my concubine’s couch!
(Gen 49:4 CJB).
To go into Jacob’s bed is to have sex with his wife Bilhah.
Claude Mariottini
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I think I get it: the fact that she was not stoned to death or even chastised, the punishment which was reinforced by Levitical laws, does suggest that she was an innocent party the act, hence, it is deemed to be an act of rape.
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Renrick,
Correct. Sex without consent is rape.
Claude Mariottini
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