Rebecca • Rebecca Imenu

Rebecca Imenu

Biography

Rebecca is a central biblical figure appearing in the Book of Genesis, the second of the four matriarchs of the people of Israel. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the sister of Laban the Aramean, and the wife of Isaac. Her father Bethuel was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and therefore Rebecca was a relative of Isaac. According to tradition, she was chosen to be Isaac's wife after she watered Abraham's servant and his camels at the well; her haste to bring water to a stranger and his animals was a sign of her greatness of soul and her kindness. She bore Jacob and Esau, twins, and Scripture tells her during her pregnancy: two nations are in your womb. Rebecca was the one who perceived Jacob's virtues and Esau's shortcomings, and she planned the receiving of the blessings by Jacob, so that the blessing would pass to the one worthy of it. According to the aggadah she passed away at age 133, and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

Life Story

Childhood

She was born in Haran in Aram Naharaim, the daughter of Bethuel and granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham's brother. Her brother was Laban the Aramean. According to tradition, she grew up in her father's house, and was a woman of kindness and greatness of soul from her youth.

Family

Her father was Bethuel, the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother. Her brother was Laban the Aramean, from whom Jacob later married Rachel and Leah. Her husband was Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. Her twin sons were Jacob and Esau, and from Jacob came the twelve tribes of Israel.

Key Events

Abraham's servant went to Haran to find a wife for Isaac, and prayed to God to show him the worthy maiden by a sign: the one who would say to him, Let down your pitcher that I may drink, and I will also give your camels drink, she is the one destined for Isaac. Rebecca hastened to water the servant and his camels, and agreed to go with him at once. Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and Isaac was comforted after his mother. After twenty years of barrenness Rebecca was remembered and bore Jacob and Esau. When she perceived Jacob's virtues and Esau's shortcomings, she planned the receiving of the blessings by Jacob, and sent him to Haran to save him from Esau's wrath.

Miracles

After twenty years of barrenness Rebecca was remembered and bore Jacob and Esau. During her pregnancy, when the children struggled within her, she went to inquire of the Lord, and she was told: Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.

Influence

Rebecca Imenu is the second of the four matriarchs of the people of Israel, and the mother of Jacob, from whom came the twelve tribes of Israel. Her figure symbolizes the woman of kindness and wisdom, who perceives virtue and shortcoming and acts for the just cause. She is the one who ensured the passing of the blessing to Jacob, and thereby the continuation of the line of the patriarchs.

Death

She passed away in Canaan at age 133, according to the aggadah. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. According to Scripture, Jacob came to his father Isaac to bury him, which implies that both Sarah and Rebecca were buried in the Cave of Machpelah. According to the midrash, it was Esau who buried Rebecca, since Jacob was not in the land at the time of her passing.

Her Way and Views

Faith

Rebecca was a wholehearted believer, and according to tradition a prophetess. She inquired of the Lord during her pregnancy, and was told: Two nations are in your womb. She believed in the promise of seed and in providence, and acted for the continuation of the line of the patriarchs.

Ethics

Rebecca's way teaches practical kindness and discerning wisdom. She hastened to water the servant and his camels, and she planned the receiving of the blessings by Jacob, so that the blessing would pass to the one worthy of it. She acted for a just cause, and God confirmed her way.

Character

Rebecca is a figure of kindness and wisdom. Scripture describes her as a very beautiful maiden, and the rabbis emphasize her kindness in watering the servant and his camels. Her defining virtue lies in inner discernment, the ability to see virtue and shortcoming, and in acting for the just cause.

Famous Quotes

"And she said to the servant, What man is this that walks in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master (Genesis 24:65)"

"And Rebecca said to them, I will go; for this is the word of the Lord, thus have I spoken (Genesis 24:58)"

Famous Stories

The watering of the servant: Abraham's servant prayed to God to show him the worthy maiden for Isaac by a sign: the one who would say, Let down your pitcher that I may drink, and I will also give your camels drink, she is the one destined. Rebecca hastened to water the servant and all his camels. The servant understood that God had prospered his way, and brought Rebecca to Isaac.

The receiving of the blessings: Rebecca perceived Jacob's virtues and Esau's shortcomings, and understood that the blessing must pass to Jacob. She planned the receiving of the blessings by Jacob, and said to him: Now, my son, listen to my voice. Jacob received the blessings, and Esau was enraged. Rebecca sent Jacob to Haran to save him from Esau's wrath, thereby ensuring the continuation of the line of the patriarchs.