Genesis 35:22

While they were living there, Jacob’s son Reuben went to the woman called Bilhah. Bilhah worked for Jacob’s family, and she was like another wife for Jacob. And Reuben slept with Bilhah, like a man sleeps with his wife. Then somebody told Jacob that Reuben did that bad thing. These are the names of Jacob’s 12 sons.

Plain English Version

In The 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:

In Context

21Then Jacob’s mob left that place. They went past a place called Migdal-Eder, and then they set up their camp.

23Jacob’s wife Leah had 6 sons, – Reuben. He was Jacob’s oldest son. – Simeon – Levi – Judah – Issachar – Zebulun

Read all of Genesis 35

Cross References

Genesis 29:31Jacob didn’t love his wife Leah. He only loved his wife Rachel. And God saw that Jacob didn’t love Leah. So God felt sorry for Leah, and he let her have kids. But Rachel couldn’t have any kids.

Genesis 35:18But Rachel was dying. She said, “I want to name my son Ben-Oni.” That name means the son that I had when I was sad. Then Rachel died. But Jacob gave that baby a different name. He named him Benjamin. That name means the son that is like my strong right hand.

Genesis 46:25Those were the sons and grand-sons that Jacob had with Bilhah. There were 7 of them. That woman Bilhah, she used to work for Rachel’s father Laban. Then, at the time when Jacob and Rachel got married, Laban gave Bilhah to Rachel, to work for her.

Genesis 49:3Then Jacob said, “Reuben, you are my oldest son. You were born first. You were born at that time when I was a strong young man. You were the most important and the most powerful of all my sons.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 35:22-29

The Disgrace of Reuben. ( b. c. 1716.) 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 22 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: 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Genesis 35:22