BALA. – 1. Maidservant (Heb. Bilhah; Septuagint: Βαλλή) given to Rachele by her father Laban at her marriage. Seeing herself barren, her mistress gave her to Giacobbe “so that she might have children by her.” B. had two sons, whom Rachele, receiving them, named Dan and Neftali (Gen. 29:29; 30:3 ff.; 37:2; 46:25).
2. A locality (Heb. Belaʿ) near the Dead Sea. It Segor (v.), Gen. 14:2.
3. A city of southern Judea, assigned to the tribe of Simeone, whose Hebrew name is Baʿd lah (Ios. 15:29; 19:3) or Bilhah (I Par. 4:29). Angelo Penna