Genesis 46:18
These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah--whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah--sixteen in all.
These are the sons of Zilpah
Zilpah was a maidservant given to Leah by her father, Laban. In the Hebrew context, maidservants often played significant roles in the family dynamics of the patriarchs. Zilpah's sons were considered part of the tribes of Israel, highlighting God's inclusive plan and the importance of every individual in His divine narrative. The mention of Zilpah underscores the theme of God's providence and the unexpected ways He fulfills His promises.

whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah
Laban, Leah's father, was a key figure in the ancestral narratives of Genesis. His actions, often driven by self-interest, were used by God to fulfill His covenant promises. The giving of Zilpah to Leah reflects the customs of the time, where maidservants were often given as part of a dowry. This practice, while foreign to modern readers, was a means by which God worked within the cultural norms to bring about His purposes.

and these she bore to Jacob
Jacob, the patriarch, was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. The phrase emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be numerous. Each child born to Jacob, including those through Zilpah, was a step toward the realization of this promise. It also reflects the complex family dynamics and the sovereignty of God in using human relationships to achieve His divine will.

sixteen in all
The number sixteen here refers to the total number of descendants from Zilpah, including her sons and grandsons. Numbers in the Bible often carry symbolic meaning, and while sixteen does not have a specific symbolic significance, it represents the completeness of Zilpah's contribution to the family of Israel. This completeness is a testament to God's faithfulness in multiplying Jacob's descendants, as He had promised.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zilpah
A maidservant given to Leah by her father Laban. She became one of Jacob's wives and bore him sons.

2. Laban
Leah's father, who gave Zilpah to Leah as a maidservant. He is a significant figure in Jacob's life, known for his dealings with Jacob.

3. Leah
The first wife of Jacob, to whom Zilpah was given as a maidservant. Leah bore Jacob several sons.

4. Jacob
The patriarch of the Israelite tribes, who had children with multiple wives, including Zilpah.

5. Sixteen Sons
The total number of sons born to Jacob through Zilpah, as part of the larger family of Jacob.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Family Dynamics
Despite human manipulation and complex family dynamics, God's plan for the nation of Israel unfolds through Jacob's family.

The Role of Servants in God's Plan
Zilpah, though a maidservant, plays a crucial role in the lineage of Israel, showing that God uses all people, regardless of status, in His divine plan.

Faithfulness in Adversity
Jacob's life, including his relationships with Leah and Zilpah, demonstrates the importance of faithfulness and trust in God's promises, even when circumstances are challenging.

Legacy and Heritage
The mention of Zilpah's sons emphasizes the importance of understanding one's heritage and the impact of family lineage in God's overarching account.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the inclusion of Zilpah's sons in the lineage of Jacob demonstrate God's use of all individuals in His plan?

2. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty at work in the complex family dynamics of Jacob's household?

3. How does the account of Zilpah and her sons encourage us to view our own roles and contributions in God's kingdom?

4. What lessons can we learn from Jacob's family about dealing with adversity and trusting in God's promises?

5. How can understanding the heritage and lineage of biblical figures like Jacob's sons impact our view of our own spiritual heritage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 29-30
These chapters provide the background of Jacob's marriages to Leah and Rachel, and the role of their maidservants, Zilpah and Bilhah, in bearing children for Jacob.

Genesis 35:23-26
Lists the sons of Jacob, including those born to Zilpah, providing a broader context of Jacob's family.

Exodus 1:1-5
Describes the descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promise to make Jacob's descendants a great nation.
The Beginning of the NationR.A. Redford Genesis 46:8-27
The Catalogue of the Children of IsraelT. H. Leale.Genesis 46:8-27
People
Aram, Ard, Areli, Arodi, Asenath, Ashbel, Asher, Becher, Bela, Belah, Benjamin, Beriah, Bilhah, Canaanitish, Carmi, Dan, Dinah, Egyptians, Ehi, Elon, Enoch, Er, Eri, Ezbon, Gad, Gera, Gershon, Guni, Haggai, Haggi, Hamul, Hanoch, Heber, Hezron, Huppim, Hushim, Imnah, Isaac, Ishuah, Issachar, Isui, Jachin, Jacob, Jahleel, Jahzeel, Jahziel, Jamin, Jashub, Jemuel, Jezer, Jimnah, Job, Joseph, Kohath, Laban, Leah, Levi, Malchiel, Manasseh, Merari, Muppim, Naaman, Naphtali, Ohad, Onan, Pallu, Perez, Phallu, Pharaoh, Pharez, Phuvah, Potipherah, Puah, Rachel, Reuben, Rosh, Sarah, Saul, Serah, Sered, Shaul, Shelah, Shillem, Shimron, Shuni, Simeon, Tola, Zarah, Zebulun, Zephon, Zerah, Zilpah, Ziphion, Zohar
Places
Beersheba, Canaan, Egypt, Goshen, On, Paddan-aram
Topics
Bare, Beareth, Bore, Daughter, Jacob, Laban, Leah, Persons, Sixteen, Sons, Souls, Zilpah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 46:8-27

     7230   genealogies

Library
Estimate of the Scope and Value of Jerome's Writings.
General. The writings of Jerome must be estimated not merely by their intrinsic merits, but by his historical position and influence. It has already been pointed out that he stands at the close of the old Græco-Roman civilisation: the last Roman poet of any repute, Claudian, and the last Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus, died before him. Augustin survived him, but the other great Fathers, both in the East and in the West, had passed away before him. The sack of Rome by Alaric (410) and
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Four Shaping Centuries
'Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt: every man and his household came with Jacob. 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7, And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Faith of Moses.
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear,
St. Augustine—On Continence

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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