<P> Rachel, like Sarah and Rebecca, remained unable to conceive . According to Tikva Frymer - Kensky, "The infertility of the matriarchs has two effects: it heightens the drama of the birth of the eventual son, marking Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as special; and it emphasizes that pregnancy is an act of God ." </P> <P> Rachel became jealous of Leah and gave Jacob her maidservant, Bilhah, to be a surrogate mother for her . Bilhah gave birth to two sons that Rachel named and raised (Dan and Naphtali). Leah responds by offering her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob, and names and raises the two sons (Gad and Asher) that Zilpah bears . According to some commentaries, Bilhah and Zilpah are actually half - sisters of Leah and Rachel . After Leah conceived again, Rachel was finally blessed with a son, Joseph, who would become Jacob's favorite child . </P> <P> Rachel's son, Joseph, was destined to be the leader of Israel's tribes between exile and nationhood . This role is exemplified in the Biblical story of Joseph, who prepared the way in Egypt for his family's exile there, and in the future figure of Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah, son of Joseph), who, in the Rabbinic Jewish view, will fight the apocalyptic Wars of Gog and Magog, preparing the way for the kingship of Mashiach ben David (Messiah, son of David) and the messianic age . </P> <P> After Joseph's birth, Jacob decided to return to the land of Canaan with his family . Fearing that Laban would deter him, he fled with his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and twelve children without informing his father - in - law . Laban pursued him and accused him of stealing his idols . Indeed, Rachel had taken her father's idols, hidden them inside her camel's seat cushion, and sat upon them . Laban had neglected to give his daughters their inheritance (Gen 31: 14--16). Rachel becomes a trickster like her father, her aunt (Rebekah), and her husband . </P>

Who did rachel give birth to in the bible