Bible Literacy 5: Jacob's Children Quiz

Answer: Leah

Even though Jacob worked for, and wanted to marry Laban's daughter Rachel, Laban gave his daughter Leah to Jacob instead. According to Laban, custom called for the oldest child to be married first. Reuben and Simeon were the first two children born to Jacob from his first wife, Leah. Upon entering the Promised Land, each one of Jacob's children was given a portion of land for them and their descendants. Because Reuben was the first born, he was given the birthright, but lost it when Jacob learned that his son had committed an indiscretion with Rachel's maidservant Bilhah. His birthright was then given to his nephews, Ephraim and Manasseh. When the Israelites entered Canaan, the tribe of Reuben settled east of the Jordan River where land was fertile. Unfortunately, it also left them open for attack.

Jacob's second son, Simeon, never got his own tribal area. Instead, he and his descendants blended in with his brother Judah's tribe.

Answer: Leah

Issachar was the ninth child for Jacob and the fifth son for Leah. Not much is known about Issachar. When Joshua was issuing land to the twelve tribes once they were in the Promised land, he gave Issachar land for his tribe that extended from Mt. Tabor to Mt. Gilboa. Issachar's land was along a trade route, which benefited the tribe.

Answer: Bilhah

Bilhah was a maidservant that Laban gave to Rachel upon her marriage to Jacob. When Rachel discovered that getting pregnant was difficult for her, she gave Bilhah to Jacob to have a child. Bilhah gave birth to Naphtali who was her youngest son. Joshua gave his son and his descendants an area that would be known later as Galilee.

It was mostly hill, but contained fertile land. Naphtali and his tribe were good fighters, but could not compare to the Assyrians when the tribe was attacked.

Answer: Leah

Dinah is the only daughter born to Jacob and Leah. Not much is known of Dinah after her lover Shechem was murdered by her brothers, Simeon and Levi. Dinah's story from birth to the death of her lover is found in Genesis 34.

The life of Dinah is told in a 1997 book, titled "The Red Tent", written by Anita Diamant and a movie that followed the book.

Answer: Leah

Leah was the mother of Levi. Jacob's son was very strong willed. Because of his son's temperament, Joshua spread the tribe of Levi over Israel. Even though Jacob was wary of Levi's temperament, God saw Levi's hatred of idolatry and honored Levi and his people by giving them a city in each of his brother's territories. Levi had three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari, who shared Levi's territories.

The Levites were given the job of constructing and deconstructing the tabernacle on their way to the Promised Land.

When the tribes journeyed, Levi and his family travelled in the center. For money, the Levites were given tithes from the other tribes.

Answer: Rachel

Jacob worked Laban's land for fourteen years in order to marry Rachel. After thinking she was barren, Rachel gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin. She died during the birth of the youngest son, Benjamin. When Benjamin moved into the Promised land with his family, his tribe moved in between his nephew, Ephraim, and his half-brother, Judah. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe of Israel. King Saul, Mordecai, and Queen Esther were all descendants of the tribe of Benjamin.

Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, each had a tribe, so technically they were known as the tribe of Joseph. Joseph was given a double portion because of his half-brother's indiscretion with Bilhah which lost him the birthright of a double portion of land. Joshua was a descendant of Ephraim. After directing the tribes, Joshua settled into the land given to the tribe of Ephraim.

Answer: Leah

Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob and Leah. Jacob saw that his son was a strong leader and his tribe would become leaders as well. Judah's tribe would lead the other tribes in battle. After King Solomon's death, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin joined together and made Jerusalem their capital. David and Jesus were descendants of the tribe of Judah.

Answer: Bilhah

Dan was the son of Jacob and Rachel's servant Bilhah. Dan's tribe was positioned between his half-brother, Judah, and his half-nephew, Ephraim. Dan didn't like where his tribe was positioned so he moved to the northern side of Canaan for better land. The tribe of Dan slaughtered the people of Laish near Jordan's headwaters and took over the city.

Their location made them susceptible to attack.

Answer: Zilpah

Zilpah was a Syrian woman that Leah and Rachel's father, Laban, gave to Leah as a maidservant upon her marriage to Jacob. When Leah had trouble getting pregnant, she gave Zilpah to Jacob to mother a child for him. Zilpah mothered two of Jacob's children, Gad and Asher. When Jacob's son, Gad, moved into the Promised Land, he and his descendants moved into the center of Canaan. Gad's tribe was quick to defend themselves, but easily attacked. They were the first tribe to be taken hostage by the Assyrians.

Gad's brother, Asher, moved his tribe to the coast along Mt. Carmel, north of Tyre and Sidon. When he moved his tribe, Asher didn't push any of the Canaanites out (as instructed by Joshua), so he never had full control of all of his land; however, he did have the best oil due to the olive orchard on his land.

Answer: Leah

Zebulun was the sixth son born to Leah and the tenth son born to Jacob. The land Joshua gave Zebulun and his tribe was close to the coast. It took up a small part of Galilee and Nazareth.