(Heb. Bilhah', בַּלְהָה , faltering, i.e. perh. bashful),' the name of a woman and of a place.
1. (Sept. Βαλλά ) The handmaid (Genesis 29:29) whom the childless Rachel bestowed as a concubine upon her husband Jacob, that through her she might have children. B.C. 191t. Bilhah thus became the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:3-8; Genesis 35:25; Genesis 46:25; 1 Chronicles 7:13). Her stepson Reuben afterward lay with her (Genesis 35:22), B.C. cir. 1890, and thus incurred his father's dying reproof (Genesis 49:4).
2. (Sept. Βαλαά .) A place belonging to the tribe of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:29), called BALAH (See BALAH) (q.v.) in Joshua 19:3; and it seems to be the same which is called BAALAH in Joshua 15:29.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More