The Structure of Jacob's House

These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah... (Genesis 46:18)

The house of a nomadic patriarch included his wives, his children, his servants, and their children. If he had multiple wives, each of them had her own sub-house made up of her own children, her personal servants, her handmaids, and her handmaids’ children, especially if they were also the patriarch’s concubines. If an infertile (or under-fertile) woman gave her servant girl to her husband as a concubine, the servant’s children were born free and belonged to the free woman as if they were her own. Inheritance in such situations was undoubtedly complicated, especially if the free wife had natural children of her own later. The conflict between Ishmael and Isaac is a good illustration.

In this passage, the children of Jacob’s four wives are listed first according to their mothers and then by their birth order. Leah’s children are given first and listed in age order, followed by Zilpah’s, Rachel’s, and finally Bilhah’s. This illustrates the internal structure of Jacob’s house according to his wives. Zilpah and her children were a subdivision within Leah’s house, because Zilpah was always Leah’s servant even while a concubine to Jacob. The same is true of Rachel and Bilhah.

On another level, this organization illustrates another structure within the nation of Israel. When the Hebrews left Egypt, they brought with them a mixed multitude of gentiles who came to be associated with one tribe or another, eventually becoming indistinguishable in every way. They were attached to Israel by faith in God’s promises and by their presence at Sinai. How tribal identities were determined or assigned I have no idea, but that they were, I have no doubt. By the time Israel entered the promised land, there was no more mixed multitude, but only the twelve tribes plus Levi.