Bible Strands
Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a domestic event occurring while Jacob resides in the region beyond the Tower of Eder, positioned chronologically between Jacob’s journey and the formal enumeration of his sons.
The words — The text employs וַ/יִּשְׁכַּ֕ב (va/i.yish.Kav), literally "and he lay with," to report Reuben’s sexual union with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine.
The thread — The narrative fact is later cited in 1 Chronicles 5:1 as the cause for Reuben’s lost birthright, explicitly forbidden in Leviticus 18:8, and functions as the hidden context for Jacob’s gathered address in Genesis 49:1.
Why it lands — The passage states a boundary violation and a father’s awareness without editorial judgment, requiring the reader to observe how recorded actions establish structural consequences for the patriarchal lineage.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
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:
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 5:1 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
- Leviticus 18:8 You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.
- Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
- 2 Samuel 16:21 Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
- 2 Samuel 20:3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
- Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
- Genesis 30:5 and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.
- Genesis 35:18 And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
- Genesis 46:8 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.