Reuven and Bilhah/2

From AlHaTorah.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Reuven and Bilhah

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Sexual Desire

Reuven's act was one of promiscuity.

"וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֶת בִּלְהָה" – These sources read this phrase simply to mean that Reuven had relations with Bilhah.
Why now? According to both Jubilees and the Testaments, Reuven happened to see Bilhah while she was bathing and was overcome by desire.1 This fact is absent from the Biblical text and is likely influenced by the similar story of David and Batsheva where this background is explicit.2
"וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר" – Ibn Ezra, R"Y Bekhor Shor, and Radak all suggest that this verse serves to close the story.  According to Ibn Ezra, after Reuven's deed, Yaakov no longer had relations with any of his wives, as Bilhah had been tainted, Rachel had died, and Leah and her maidservant Zilpah were abhorrent due to their connection to Reuven. Therefore, the verse tells us that Yaakov had only the twelve sons who were born prior to Reuven's deed.3
"כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ אָז חִלַּלְתָּ יְצוּעִי עָלָה" – According to these sources, Yaakov's words "כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ" refer to Reuven's sleeping with Bilhah, while the phrase "אָז חִלַּלְתָּ יְצוּעִי עָלָה" refers to the consequences of the action: either Reuven's defiling of himself,4 of Yaakov,5 or of Yaakov's bed,6 resulting in Yaakov refraining from further relations with Bilhah.7
"פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר"
  • According to Ibn Ezra, Radak, and Ralbag the phrase "פַּחַז" refers to Reuven's reckless and impetuous personality8 which led him to sin, and therefore lose any advantages that his firstborn status would otherwise have bequeathed.
  • R"Y Bekhor Shor, instead thinks that "פַּחַז" is a verb, and the phrase refers to Reuven's punishment, that his deed caused all his advantages to quickly slip away from him like water.
Punishment – As a result of his sin, Reuven lost his first born status to Yosef, and kingship to Yehuda.  One might have thought that such a deed should have led to a harsher punishment, and perhaps to Reuven's total rejection from the family. This leads some to suggest that Reuven must have repented of his deed, resulting in his father's forgiveness.9

Power Play

Reuven's deed was a power play, intended to protect Reuven's status as first born.

"וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֶת בִּלְהָה" – R. D"Z Hoffmann takes the phrase at face value to mean that Reuven slept with Bilhah.  Ramban is ambiguous but might instead understand that Reuven simply rearranged the beds11 so as to prevent his father from having relations with her.12
Purpose of act – These sources differ in their understanding of Reuven's specific motives:
  • Ensure inheritance – Ramban suggests that Reuven did not want Bilhah to bear any more children lest it affect his inheritance.  As a firstborn he was supposed to get a double portion, and thus he would be most affected by any added progeny.13
  • Rebellion – R. D"Z Hoffmann, instead, views Reuven's act as a rebellion against his father's authority, comparing the deed to that of Avshalom sleeping with David's concubines.14 It is possible that by sleeping with his father's concubine15 Reuven wanted to demonstrate that Bilhah was not a real wife (and thus that her sons were not contenders for the birthright), enabling him to stake out his claim as the firstborn who was to inherit the mantle of leadership from his father.
Why now?
  • It is possible that it is only after Rachel, Yaakov's favorite wife dies, that Reuven, a son of Leah, dared act to assert his position as first born.
  • R"Y Medan, instead, suggests that Reuven's rebellion stemmed from Yaakov's submissive stance in his meeting with Esav.  R. Medan claims that after Yaakov submitted himself to his brother, bowing down and calling himself his servant, his children lost faith in their father's authority and several looked to replace him.16
"וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר"
  • According to Ramban,17 the phrase comes to share that, as Reuven planned, Yaakov did not have any other children after his deed.  The verse thus tells us that Yaakov had 12, and not any more, children.
  • Alternatively, according to R. Hoffmann's reading of the story, it is possible that in reaction to Reuven's act, Yaakov ensured that Bilhah and Zilpah attained full wife status,18 and now viewed their children as equal to those of Rachel and Leah.  Thus, the text shares that the sons of Yaakov were twelve (and not 8).
Punishment – Reuven receives a measure for measure punishment, losing the very firstborn status he hoped to ensure.  R. Medan suggests that is possible that he is not rejected outright due to his repentance.  In trying to save Yosef, the very son who had been given the birthright in his place, Reuven proved that he had repented of his deeds.
"רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה" – At the end of his life, Yaakov opens his blessing to Reuven with the words, "you are my firstborn" perhaps to chide him that though he had been firstborn, and could  have maintained that status, his reckless actions caused him to lose it.

Concern for Mother's Honor

Reuven prevented his father from having relations with Bilhah but did not sleep with her himself. He was motivated by concern for his mother's honor.

"וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֶת בִּלְהָה"