Verse 3
She shall bear upon my knees - The handmaid was the sole property of the mistress, as has already been remarked in the case of Hagar; and therefore not only all her labor, but even the children borne by her, were the property of the mistress. These female slaves, therefore, bore children vicariously for their mistresses; and this appears to be the import of the term, she shall bear upon my knees.
That I may also have children by her - ממנה ואבנה veibbaneh mimmennah , and I shall be built up by her. Hence בן ben , a son or child, from בנה banah , to build; because, as a house is formed of the stones, etc., that enter into its composition, so is a family by children.
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