Genesis

In Genesis 35, we encounter a brief, but significant, incident involving Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob. “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it” (Gen. 35:22 BEREAN). This single verse, contained within a chapter detailing Jacob’s return to Bethel and the death of Rachel, carries weighty implications for the future of Jacob’s family and Reuben’s tribe. 

At first glance, Reuben’s act appears to be a straightforward case of sexual immorality. However, there is probably more going on here than a modern Bible student would be able to grasp given our societal expectations. Reuben’s actions may not have been about sexual gratification. There are at least two other reasons he may have sinned in this way against his father and Bilhah. An examination of the cultural context reveals a more complex situation involving power dynamics, social status, and clan leadership.

Jacob had bargained for his brother Esau’s birthright and then deceived his father to obtain the covenant blessing. The plan that his mother, Rebekah, hatched for him to receive the blessing had worked, but it came at a big cost. Esau was furious with his brother and planned to kill him once their father, Isaac, was dead. Jacob had to leave his home and seek refuge with Rebekah’s brother. On his way there, he saw a vision of stairs leading to heaven. In this dream, he saw what we call Jacob’s Ladder.

Sending Jacob to his mother’s family was more than just a cover story to protect him from Esau. Isaac and Rebekah wanted to make sure that Jacob did not marry a Canaanite woman. The fact that Esau had married Hittite women made life bitter for his parents (Gen 26:34-35).

Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?” (Gen. 27:46 ESV)

So, Jacob was sent away to Rebekah’s family to find a wife (Gen 28:1). Something very strange, interesting, and special happened to him on his way to Paddan-aram.