Interesting Facts

• Naphtali was the second son born to Jacob through Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah.
• Rachel named him Naphtali, stating that she had wrestled great wrestlings with her sister and had prevailed.
• Naphtali was noted for being lightfooted, as swift as a stag, able to walk on ears of corn without crushing them.
• Judah instructed Naphtali to quickly number all the streets of Egypt.
• Naphtali, along with his brother Dan, were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel.

Genealogy

• Naphtali was the son of Jacob and Bilhah.
• His mother, Bilhah, was the handmaid of Rachel.
• His full brother was Dan.
• His half-brothers and sister were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (sons of Leah and Jacob), Joseph and Benjamin (sons of Rachel and Jacob), and Gad and Asher (sons of Zilpah and Jacob), and Dinah (daughter of Leah and Jacob).
• Naphtali had sons named Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. Another son, ‘Iv, was born after the famine and died in Egypt.

Historical Context

Naphtali’s life unfolded within the context of Jacob’s growing family and their nomadic existence, marked by significant events such as the tensions with Laban, the journey to Canaan, and the eventual migration to Egypt due to famine. The emphasis on family lineage and the development of the twelve tribes of Israel were crucial aspects of this period. The incident involving Dinah and the subsequent actions of Simeon and Levi demonstrate the potential for conflict with surrounding Canaanite populations. The later selling of Joseph into Egypt and his eventual rise to power shaped the circumstances under which Naphtali and his brothers lived in Egypt, where they initially prospered under Joseph’s care before eventually facing oppression after his death. The burial of Jacob in Canaan was a significant event that united the brothers and potentially led to friction with Esau’s descendants over land rights.

Narrative

Naphtali’s individual narrative is less detailed compared to some of his brothers, but he participates in key family events. His birth is specifically mentioned as the second son born to Jacob through Bilhah, with Rachel attributing the name to her struggles with Leah. Later in life, during the tense confrontation with the disguised Joseph in Egypt, Judah instructs Naphtali to swiftly count all the streets of Egypt, showcasing Naphtali’s noted swiftness. This task suggests he was perceived as someone capable of quick and efficient movement. When the brothers faced opposition from Esau and his sons during Jacob’s burial in the cave of Machpelah, Joseph called upon Naphtali to quickly travel to Egypt and retrieve the records of purchase to prove their right to the burial site, again highlighting his speed. The text explicitly describes him as being “lighter on foot than any of the stags that were upon the wilderness” and able to walk on ears of corn without crushing them. Naphtali ultimately died in Egypt at the age of one hundred and thirty-two and was embalmed and placed in a coffin by his children. While not a central figure in all the narratives, Naphtali’s actions, particularly his swiftness and his role in retrieving crucial documents, contribute to the unfolding events of Jacob’s family history.