Back to Genesis 35

Genesis 35:22-26

While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Genesis 35:22-26 sits inside this longer paragraph.

As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem). Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

    The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

    The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

    The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.

    The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

  • KJV King James Version

    And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

    The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

    The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

    And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

    And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

    the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun;

    the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;

    and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Naphtali;

    and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram.

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Cross-references (45)

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1 (v22) The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given…
  • Genesis 30:18-20 (v23) Leah said, “God has given me my hire, because I gave my servant to my husband.” She named him Issachar. Leah conceived again, and bore a…
  • Genesis 30:22-24 (v24) God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb. She conceived, bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”…
  • Leviticus 18:8 (v22) “ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.
  • Genesis 35:18 (vv22, 26) As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
Show all 44 cross-references
  • Genesis 25:20 (v26) Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be…
  • Genesis 29:32-35 (v23) Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband…
  • Genesis 30:9-13 (v26) When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore…
  • Genesis 31:18 (v26) and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan…
  • Genesis 35:16-18 (v24) They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor. When she was in hard…
  • Genesis 46:8-15 (v23) These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. The sons of Reuben:…
  • Genesis 46:16-18 (v26) The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their…
  • Genesis 46:19-22 (v24) The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the…
  • Genesis 49:1-28 (v22) Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.…
  • 2 Samuel 16:21-22 (v22) Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are…
  • 2 Samuel 20:3 (v22) David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in…
  • 1 Corinthians 5:1 (v22) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that…
  • Genesis 28:2 (v26) Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s…
  • Genesis 29:31-35 (v22) Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben.…
  • Genesis 30:4-8 (v25) She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her. Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. Rachel said, “God has judged me,…
  • Genesis 30:5-24 (v22) Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore…
  • Genesis 33:2 (v23) He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
  • Genesis 37:2 (v25) This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy…
  • Genesis 46:8-27 (v22) These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. The sons of Reuben:…
  • Genesis 46:23-25 (v25) The son of Dan: Hushim. The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel,…
  • Exodus 1:1-5 (v22) Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and…
  • Exodus 1:2-4 (v23) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
  • Exodus 6:14-16 (v22) These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are…
  • Numbers 1:5-15 (v22) These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur. Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.…
  • Numbers 1:20-46 (v22) The children of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the…
  • Numbers 2:3-33 (v22) Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions. The…
  • Numbers 7:12-89 (v22) He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, and his offering was: one silver…
  • Numbers 26:5-51 (v22) Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; of…
  • Numbers 26:57-62 (v22) These are those who were counted of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of…
  • Numbers 34:14-28 (v22) for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’…
  • Deuteronomy 33:1-29 (v22) This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. He said, “Yahweh came from Sinai, and…
  • Joshua 13:1-21 (v22) Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land…
  • 1 Chronicles 2:1-2 (v22) These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:23-40 (v22) These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him,…
  • 1 Chronicles 27:16-22 (v22) Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was the ruler; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of…
  • Ezekiel 48:1-35 (v22) “Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border…
  • Acts 7:8 (v22) He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the…
  • Revelation 7:4-8 (v22) I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel: of the…
  • Revelation 21:14 (v22) The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

44 distinct cross-references across this passage (45 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On v22 22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah. A sad…

22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah. A sad and even tragic history is now related concerning the incestuous intercourse of Reuben with his mother-in-law. Moses, indeed, calls Bilhah Jacob’s concubine: but though she had not come into the hands of her husband, as the mistress of the family and a partaker of his goods; yet, as it respected the bed, she was his lawful wife, as we have before seen. If even a stranger had defiled the wife of the holy man, it would have been a great disgrace; it was, however, far more atrocious that he should suffer such an indignity from his own son. But how great and how detestable was the dishonor, that the mother of two tribes should not only contaminate herself with adultery, but even with incest; which crime is so abhorrent to nature, that, not even among the Gentiles, has it ever been held tolerable? And truly, by the wonderful artifice of Satan, this great obscenity penetrated into the holy house, in order that the election of God might seem to be of no effect. Satan endeavors, by whatever means he can, to pervert the grace of God in the elect; and since he cannot effect that, he either covers it with infamy, or at least obscures it. Hence it happens that disgraceful examples often steal into the Church. And the Lord, in this manner, suffers his own people to be humbled, that they may be more attentively careful of themselves, that they may more earnestly watch unto prayer, and may learn entirely to depend on his mercy. Moses only relates that Jacob was informed of this crime; but he conceals his grief, not because he was unfeeling, (for he was not so stupid as to be insensible to sorrow,) but because his grief was too great to be expressed. For here Moses seems to have acted as the painter did who, in representing the sacrifice of Iphigenia, put a veil over her father’s face, because he could not sufficiently express the grief of his countenance. In addition to this eternal disgrace of the family, there were other causes of anxiety which transfixed the breast of the holy man. The sum of his happiness was in his offspring, from which the salvation of the whole world was to proceed. Whereas, already, two of his sons had been perfidious and sanguinary robbers; the first-born, now, exceeds them both in wickedness. But here the gratuitous election of God has appeared the more illustrious, because it was not on account of their worthiness that he preferred the sons of Jacob to all the world; and also because, when they had fallen so basely, this election nevertheless remained firm and efficacious. Warned by such examples, let us learn to fortify ourselves against those dreadful scandals by which Satan strives to disturb us. Let every one also privately apply this to the strengthening of his own faith. For sometimes even good men slide, as if they had fallen from grace. Desperation would necessarily be the consequence of such ruin, unless the Lord, on the other hand, held out the hope of pardon. A remarkable instance of this is set before us in Reuben; who, after this extreme act of iniquity, yet retained his rank of a patriarch in the Church. We must, however, remain under the custody of fear and watchfulness, lest temptation should seize upon us unawares, and thus the snares of Satan should envelop us. For the holy Spirit did not design to set before us an example of vile lust, in order that every one might rush into incestuous connections; but would rather expose to infamy the baseness of this crime, in an honorable person, that all, on that account, might more vehemently abhor it. This passage also refutes the error of Novatus. Reuben had been properly instructed; he bore in his flesh, from early infancy, the symbol of the divine covenant; he was even born again by the Spirit of God; we see, therefore, what was the deep abyss from which he was raised by the incredible mercy of God. The Novatians, therefore, and similar fanatics, have no right to cut off the hope of pardon from the lapsed: for it is no slight injury to Christ, if we suppose the grace of God to be more restricted by his advent.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. Moses again recounts the sons of Jacob in a regular series. Reuben is put the first among them, not for the sake of honor, but that he may be loaded with the greater opprobrium: for the greater the honor which any one receives from the Lord, the more severely is he to be blamed, if he afterwards makes himself the slave of Satan, and deserts his post. Moses seems to insert this catalogue before the account of the death of Isaac, for the purpose of discriminating between the progeny of Jacob and the Idumeans, of whom he is about to make mention in Genesis 36:1. For on the death of Isaac the fountain of the holy race became divided, as into two streams; but since the adoption of God restrained itself to one branch only, it was necessary to distinguish it from the other.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v22 This teacheth that the fathers were not chosen for…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On v22 Gen 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 This was a horrid incest; for concubines were a…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv22–25 The sons of Leah,.... Jacob's first wife, which are…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v22 When Israel dwelt in that land - As if…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv22, 23, 26 Verse 22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v22 Gen 35:22. When Israel dwelt in that land —…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 The concubine. She was his lawful wife; but according…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v26 Sons of Jacob . . . born to him…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v22 22. Bilhah — Rachel’s handmaid, and mother of Dan…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v22 22b–29 (P). Jacob’s Sons, and the Death of Isaac
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 (22) Reuben.—Again another grief for Jacob to mar his…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv22–23 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v22 The sons of Jacob
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv23, 26 This is the name of Rachel's female servant. See…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv22–23 35:22 Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, thus defiling his…
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