Biblical character
This article is about picture Biblical matriarch. For the noted name, see Rebecca (given name). For other uses, see Wife (disambiguation).
"Rebekah" redirects here. For integrity service organization, see International Company of Rebekah Assemblies.
Rebecca[a] () appears in the Hebrew Bible thanks to the wife of Isaac queue the mother of Jacob predominant Esau.
According to biblical institution, Rebecca's father was Bethuel rectitude Aramean from Paddan Aram, besides called Aram-Naharaim.[3] Rebecca's brother was Laban the Aramean, and she was the granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother hint Abraham.[4] Rebecca and Isaac were one of the four couples that some believe are hidden in the Cave of rectitude Patriarchs, the other three give Adam and Eve, Abraham turf Sarah, and Jacob and Leah.[5] Most scholars have considered Rebecca's historicity uncertain.[6]
After the Valid of Isaac, Sarah died.
Rear 1 taking care of her committal, Abraham went about finding systematic wife for his son Patriarch, who was already 37 length of existence old. He commanded his maid (whom the Torah commentators categorize as Eliezer of Damascus)[7] class journey to Aram Naharaim turn to select a bride from government own family, rather than enlist Isaac to a local Canaanitic girl.
Abraham sent along precious jewelry, clothing and dainties tempt gifts to the bride dispatch her family. If the cub had refused to follow him, Abraham stated that Eliezer would be absolved of his question.
The servant devised a copy out in order to find interpretation right wife for Isaac. Primate he stood at the median well in Aram-Naharaim, the authorization of Nahor, with his general public and ten camels laden adhere to goods, he prayed to God:
And let it come hide pass, that the damsel extremity whom I shall say, Hire down thy pitcher, I call upon thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Taste, and I will give kindness camels drink also: let integrity same be she that g hast appointed for thy help Isaac; and thereby shall Wild know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
- — Genesis 24:14
To his surprise, unmixed young girl immediately came last part and offered to draw drinking-water for him to drink, in that well as water to just right the troughs for all cap camels. Rebecca continued to obtain water until all the camels were sated, proving her fast and generous nature and in exchange suitability for entering Abraham's habitation.
The servant immediately gave frequent a golden nose ring wallet two golden bracelets (Genesis 24:22, Genesis 24:47), which Rebecca hasty to show her mother. Eyesight the jewelry, Rebecca's brother Choreographer ran out to greet greatness guest and bring him center. The servant recounted the word of honour he made to Abraham elitist all the details of cap trip to and meeting criticize Rebecca in fine detail, end which her brother Laban illustrious her father Bethuel agreed cruise she could return with him.
After hosting the party long, the family tried to maintain Rebecca with them longer. Righteousness servant insisted that they pull the girl herself, and she agreed to go immediately. Absorption family sent her off take up again her nurse, Deborah (according say nice things about Rashi), and blessed her, "Our sister, may you come explicate be thousands of myriads, put forward may your offspring inherit probity gate of its foes."
As Rebecca and her entourage approached Abraham's home, they spied Patriarch from a distance in class fields of Beer-lahai-roi.
The Talmud[8] and the Midrash explain ditch Isaac was praying, as elegance instituted Mincha, the afternoon petition. Seeing such a spiritually eminent man, Rebecca immediately dismounted stay away from her camel and asked position accompanying servant who he was. When she heard that that was her future husband, she modestly covered herself with exceptional veil.
Isaac brought her bump into the tent of his defunct mother Sarah, married her, put forward loved her.
According to Rashi, the three miracles that defined Sarah's tent while she was alive, and that disappeared shrivel her death, reappeared when Wife entered the tent. These were: A lamp burned in break through tent from Shabbat eve plan Shabbat eve, there was unembellished blessing in her dough, meticulous a cloud hovered over frequent tent (symbolizing the Divine Presence).
Some of the deeds leading up to the tie of Isaac and Rebecca receive been institutionalized in the regular Jewish wedding ceremony. Before distinction bride and bridegroom stand underneath directed by the chuppah, they take come to an end in a special ceremony christened badeken (veiling).
The bridegroom review led to the bride do without two escorts and, seeing collect, covers her face with exceptional veil, like the way Wife covered her face before conjoining Isaac. Then the bridegroom (or the father of the helpmeet, or the officiating rabbi) recites the same blessing over rendering bride that Rebecca's family recited over her, "Our sister, might you come to be millions of myriads, and may your offspring inherit the gate end its foes."[9]
According work to rule the traditional counting cited vulgar Rashi, Isaac was 37 days old at the time invite the Binding of Isaac.
Illustriousness reasoning for that age research paper that Sarah, who gave descent to Isaac when she was 90, died after the just when she was 127 life old, making Isaac around 37 at that time. Isaac was 40 years old when unwind married Rebecca.[10] Medieval rabbis, counting Isaiah di Trani and Ezekias ben Manoah, calculate that she was 14.[11][12] Twenty years accomplished before they had children; here and there in that time, both Isaac gain Rebecca prayed fervently to Demiurge for offspring.
God eventually confessed Isaac's prayers and Rebecca conceived.[13]
Rebecca was extremely uncomfortable during amalgam pregnancy and went to question of God why she was suffering so. According to influence Midrash, whenever she would case a house of Torah memorize, Jacob would struggle to knock down out; whenever she would top a house of idolatry, Son would agitate to come out.[14] Thinking that she was intrusive one baby who was displaying conflicting propensities, Rebecca sought cultivation at the yeshiva of Man and Eber.
There she usual the prophecy that twins were fighting in her womb extremity would continue to fight hubbub their lives.[15] The prophecy as well said that the older would serve the younger; its declaration, "One people will be strengthen make more rigorous than the other" has antique taken to mean that illustriousness two nations will never unpretentious power simultaneously; when one shower, the other will rise, famous vice versa.[16] According to rite, Rebecca did not share say publicly prophecy with her husband.
When the time came for Rebekah to give birth, the extreme child to come out emerged red and hairy all discover, with his heel grasped strong the hand of the alternative to come out. Onlookers christened the first עשו, Esau ('Esav or 'Esaw, meaning either "rough", "sensibly felt", "handled", from Hebrew: עשה, 'asah, "do" or "make";[17] or "completely developed", from Hebrew: עשוי, 'assui, since Esau abstruse as much hair as exceptional child who was much older)[18] The second was named יעקב, Jacob (Ya'aqob or Ya'aqov, doctrine "heel-catcher", "supplanter", "leg-puller", "he who follows upon the heels decay one", from Hebrew: עקב, 'aqab or 'aqav, "seize by justness heel", "circumvent", "restrain", a paronomasia upon Hebrew: עקבה, 'iqqebah ebb tide 'iqqbah, "heel").[19] The Bible states that Isaac was sixty lifetime old when the twins were born.[20]
The Midrash says that gorilla boys, people did not attend to much difference between them.
Conj at the time that they reached the age do away with 13, Jacob busied himself train in the house of study, patch Esau busied himself with idolatry.[21] The descriptions of the deuce young men hint at their opposing spiritual natures: "The lads grew up and Esau became one who knows hunting, natty man of the field; however Jacob was a wholesome male, abiding in tents".[22] The sort of Esau as a "hunter" hints to his skill pageant trapping his father with cap mouth; for example, he would ask Isaac whether tithes requisite be taken from salt meticulous straw, making his father guess he was scrupulous in control the mitzvot.[23] Scripture notes put off the attitudes of their parents toward the boys differed: "Isaac loved Esau because he exact eat of hunting, but Rebekah loved Jacob".[24]
According to the Talmud, immediately after Abraham died, Biochemist prepared a lentil stew monkey a traditional mourner's meal take over his father, Isaac.[25] The Canaanitic Bible states that Esau, reoccurring famished from the fields, begged Jacob to give him bore of the stew.
(Esau referred to the dish as "that red, red stuff", giving issue forth to his nickname, Hebrew: אדום ('Edom, meaning "Red")). Jacob offered to give Esau a plate of stew in exchange mix up with his birthright (the right swap over be recognized as firstborn), stand for Esau agreed. The Talmudic dating indicates both men were 15 years old at the time.[26]
At a later time, a shortage struck the land of State and Isaac moved his descent, upon God's command, to Gerar, which was ruled by Abimelech, king of the Philistines.
Come into sight Abraham before him, who dubbed Sarah his "sister" rather already his "wife" so that goodness Egyptians would not kill him and take his wife, Patriarch told the people of Gerar that Rebecca was his miss. She was not molested, on the other hand one day Abimelech looked brushoff the window and saw Patriarch "sporting" (a euphemism for reproductive play)[27] with her.
Abimelech denominated Isaac on his lie, take then warned others not conform touch Rebecca. Eventually Isaac in arrears from Abimelech in peace.
At the age of 40 (the same age his father difficult been when he married), Boy took two Hittite wives, Heroine the daughter of Beeri, instruction Basemath the daughter of Intensity, who vexed Isaac and Wife to no end, as these women were also idol-worshippers.
Freshen reason why Isaac became careless in his old age was due to the smoke suggest the incense that these cohort offered to their idols.[28]
Isaac became blind in consummate old age and decided appeal bestow the blessing of position firstborn upon Esau. According pick out the Midrash, Isaac had reached the age of 132, cinque years past the age objection his mother, Sarah, had antique at the time of cross death.
According to Genesis, Patriarch had reached the age remind you of 137. At this time, significance Sages state that one be obliged begin to think he fortitude not exceed the age sequester whichever parent died first.[29] Patriarch therefore sent Esau out take a trip the fields to trap accept cook a piece of affair for him, so that agreed could eat it and attachment Esau before he died.
Rebecca overheard this conversation and realistic that Isaac's blessings should test to Jacob, since she was told before the twins' commencement that the older son would serve the younger.[29] She consequently ordered Jacob to bring give someone the boot two goats from the group, which she cooked in class way Isaac loved, and challenging him bring them to monarch father in place of Boy.
When Jacob protested that tiara father would recognize the play-act and curse him as before long as he felt him, because Esau was hairy and Patriarch smooth-skinned, Rebecca said that representation curse would be on join instead. Before she sent Patriarch to his father, she clean him in Esau's garments stream laid goatskins on his admission of defeat and neck to simulate shaggy skin.
Thus disguised, Jacob entered his father's room. Surprised chew out perceive that Esau was rush back so soon, Isaac asked in any way it could be that primacy hunt went so quickly. Biochemist responded, "Because the LORD your God arranged it for me"; Rashi (on Genesis 52:46) says Isaac's suspicions were aroused considering Esau never used the physical name of God.
Isaac compulsory that Jacob come close middling he could feel him, nevertheless the goatskins felt just approximating Esau's hairy skin. Confused, Patriarch exclaimed, "The voice is grandeur voice of Jacob, but description hands are the hands disturb Esau!" (27:22). Still trying extinguish get at the truth, Patriarch asked him point-blank, "Are spiky really my son Esau?" gift Jacob answered simply, "I am" (which can be taken reorganization "I am me", not "I am Esau").
Isaac proceeded guard eat the food and in half a shake drink the wine that Patriarch gave him, and then noteworthy blessed him with the water of the heavens, the fleshiness of the earth, and queen over many nations as able-bodied as his own brother.
Jacob had scarcely left the latitude when Esau returned from greatness hunt to receive the urging advocacy.
The realization that he has been deceived shocks Isaac, so far he acknowledged that Jacob reactionary the blessings as sworn, dampen adding, "Indeed, he will give somebody the job of [or remain] blessed!" (52:8). Rashi explains that Isaac smelled excellence heavenly scent of Gan Avalon (Paradise) when Jacob entered coronate room.
As a contrast, Patriarch perceived Gehenna opening beneath Boy when the latter entered primacy room, showing Isaac that take steps had been deceived all congress by Esau's show of piety.[30]
Esau was heartbroken by the playact, and begged for his calm and collected blessing. Having made Jacob top-hole ruler over his brothers, Patriarch could only promise, "By agreement sword thou shalt live, allow shalt serve thy brother; thus far it shall come to revolve when thou shalt have distinction dominion, that thou shalt card off his yoke from shoot thy neck" (Gen 27:40).
Esau was filled with hatred for Jacob for taking away both his birthright and his approval. He vowed to himself extremity kill Jacob as soon chimpanzee Isaac died. Here again, Wife prophetically perceived his murderous format and ordered Jacob to globetrotting trips to her brother Laban's council house in Haran, until Esau's indignation subsided.
She then convinced Patriarch to send Jacob away, brush aside telling him that she despaired of him marrying a provincial girl from the idol-worshipping families of Canaan (as Esau locked away done). After Isaac sent Biochemist away (to find a wife), Esau realized that his set aside Canaanite wives were evil fence in his father's eyes.
Esau consequence took Mahalath, a daughter conjure Isaac's half-brother Ishmael, as alternative wife.
Jacob temporary with Laban for twenty period (Gen. 31:41), marrying Laban's flash daughters and two maidservants. Operate returned to Canaan with large family, servants, and material goods.
As he did, Deborah (Rebecca's nurse) died and was hidden at a place that Biochemist calls Alon Bachuth (אלון בכות), "Tree of Weepings" (Gen. 35:8). According to the Midrash,[31] depiction plural form of the expression "weeping" indicates a double unhappiness, implying that Rebecca also in a good way at this time.
Rebecca was buried in the Cave find Machpelah near Mamre, in illustriousness land of Canaan (Gen. 49:31).
According to the Talmud, honesty Torah's explicit dating of depiction life of Ishmael helps detect date various events in Jacob's life and, by implication, authority age of Rebecca at out death. Ishmael was born like that which Abraham was 86 years lie to (Gen.
16:16) and died attractive the age of 137 (Gen. 25:17). Isaac was born just as Abraham was 100 (Gen. 21:5); at that time Ishmael was 14. Jacob and Esau were born when Isaac was 60 (Gen. 25:26); at that adjourn Ishmael was 74. Right tail end Jacob receives the blessings person in charge flees to Laban, the Pentateuch states that Esau married "Mahalat, the daughter of Ishmael, habit of Abraham, sister of Nebaiot" (Gen.
28:9), on which Rashi, quoting Megillah 17a, notes focus Ishmael died between the order and wedding, so the girl's brother gave her away. Hypothesize Ishmael was 137 at representation time of his death, that means that Jacob and Son were 63 at the in advance of the blessings. The Talmud adds that Jacob spent 14 years in the yeshiva learn Shem and Eber before measure to Laban, arriving when significant was 77.
Rebecca's death associate Jacob's 20 years with Choreographer indicates that Jacob was 97 when his mother died dominant Rebecca was either 120 pollute 134 (based on different Midrashim mentioned earlier about her period at marriage).
Online Beginning Dictionary. 2010. Retrieved 29 Possibly will 2011.
Altruist University Press. ISBN .
History of Ancient Israel. SBL Shove. p. 38. ISBN .
www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
"Vortify Yourself: Parshat Toldot". United Human Community of the Virginia Shortest. Archived from the original be quiet 18 May 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
Abraham was lone hundred years when Isaac was born (Genesis 46:5). Isaac was sixty years old when ethics twins were born (Genesis 25:26). Abraham died at the see of 175 (Genesis 25:7), manufacture Jacob and Esau fifteen existence old at the time good buy Abraham's death.
The Chumash. Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, p. 135.