Rebekah is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her role as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. Her account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where she is depicted as a woman of beauty, faith, and decisive action.

Family Background and Early Life

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah, making her a member of Abraham's extended family. She was the sister of Laban, who later becomes a significant figure in the life of Jacob. Rebekah's family resided in Paddan-aram, in the region of Mesopotamia.

Marriage to Isaac

Rebekah's marriage to Isaac is a pivotal event in the biblical narrative. Abraham, seeking a suitable wife for his son Isaac, sends his servant to his homeland to find a wife from among his relatives. The servant prays for guidance, asking for a sign to identify the right woman. Rebekah's kindness and hospitality are revealed when she offers water to the servant and his camels, fulfilling the sign the servant had requested from God (Genesis 24:14-19).

Upon receiving gifts from the servant and learning of his mission, Rebekah and her family agree to the marriage proposal. Rebekah's willingness to leave her family and homeland demonstrates her faith and trust in God's plan. She travels to Canaan, where she becomes Isaac's wife, and he loves her deeply (Genesis 24:67).

Motherhood and the Birth of Esau and Jacob

Rebekah initially faces barrenness, but Isaac prays to the LORD on her behalf, and she conceives (Genesis 25:21). During her pregnancy, Rebekah experiences a struggle within her womb and seeks the LORD's guidance. God reveals to her that two nations are in her womb and that the older will serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). This prophecy foreshadows the future conflict between her sons, Esau and Jacob.

Rebekah gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Esau, the firstborn, is described as a skillful hunter, while Jacob is a quiet man who stays among the tents (Genesis 25:27). Rebekah favors Jacob, which influences the dynamics within the family.

The Deception of Isaac

Rebekah plays a crucial role in the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding her sons. When Isaac, in his old age, intends to bless Esau, Rebekah devises a plan to ensure that Jacob receives the blessing instead. She instructs Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and prepares a meal for Isaac, enabling Jacob to deceive his father and receive the blessing meant for Esau (Genesis 27:5-17).

Rebekah's actions, while controversial, align with the divine revelation she received during her pregnancy. Her intervention secures Jacob's position as the heir to the Abrahamic covenant, through which God's promises to Abraham are continued.

Later Life and Legacy

After the deception, Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother Laban in Haran to escape Esau's wrath and to find a wife from her own family (Genesis 27:43-45). Her concern for Jacob's safety and future underscores her protective nature and commitment to God's plan.

Rebekah's influence extends beyond her lifetime, as her actions shape the course of Israel's history. Her account highlights themes of faith, divine providence, and the complexities of family relationships. Rebekah is remembered as a matriarch of Israel, and her legacy is carried on through her son Jacob, who becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.439. Allon Bakuth -- "oak of weeping," a tree near the grave of ...
Allon Bakuth. 438, 439. Allon Bakuth. 440 . "oak of weeping," a tree near the
grave of Rebekah's nurse. Transliteration: Allon Bakuth Phonetic Spelling: (al ...
/hebrew/439.htm - 6k

7259. Ribqah -- wife of Isaac
... 7258, 7259. Ribqah. 7260 . wife of Isaac. Transliteration: Ribqah Phonetic
Spelling: (rib-kaw') Short Definition: Rebekah. ... Rebekah. ...
/hebrew/7259.htm - 6k

Chapter xxxv
... 8. And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried below Bethel beneath
the oak; so it came to be called the Oak of Weeping. Of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxv.htm

Chapter xxviii
... We cannot help but feel that, had Rebekah told Isaac of Esau's murderous plans,
Isaac would, or at least could, have taken a hand in restraining Esau. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxviii.htm

The Same is Proved from the visions which Appeared to Jacob.
... And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and was buried beneath Bethel under
an oak: and Jacob called the name of it The Oak of Sorrow. ...
/.../chapter lviii the same is proved.htm

The Deceiver Deceived
... aloud. And when Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and
that he was Rebekah's son, she ran and told her father. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the deceiver deceived.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. ... Rebekah heard it, and told
Jacob to bring kids from the flock, which she cooked and served as venison. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm

Letter ccxxxv. To the Same, in Answer to Another Question.
... It is said of Rebekah "She was a virgin, neither had any man known her," [2973]
and "How shall this be seeing I know not a man?" [2974] Did no man know ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxxxv to the same.htm

Religious and Social State.
... The modest veiling of Susanna in v.32, more distinctly expressed (en gar katakalummene)
in Th than in O', reminds one of Rebekah's veiling in Genesis 24:65 ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/religious and social state 2.htm

Chapter l
... family. So Abraham bought the cave and digged his grave and Sarah's. Isaac
digged his and Rebekah's. Jacob digged his and Leah's. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter l.htm

How Rebekah Became the Wife of Isaac
... THE OLD TESTAMENT HOW REBEKAH BECAME THE WIFE OF ISAAC. ... Now Rebekah had a brother
named Laban; and Laban ran out to the man at the spring. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how rebekah became the wife.htm

Chapter xxiv
... And it came to pass before he had finished speaking, that, behold, there came forth
Rebekah, who had been born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiv.htm

Rebekah's (5 Occurrences)
...Rebekah's (5 Occurrences). Genesis 26:35 They grieved Isaac's and Rebekah's spirits. ...
Genesis 27:5 Now Isaac's words to his son were said in Rebekah's hearing. ...
/r/rebekah's.htm - 7k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... A bee. (1.) Rebekah's nurse. ... Genesis 35:8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she
was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth. ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

Isaac's (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 25:28 Now Isaac's love was for Esau, because Esau's meat was greatly
to his taste: but Rebekah had more love for Jacob. (BBE). ...
/i/isaac's.htm - 8k

Bethuel (10 Occurrences)
... Man of God, or virgin of God, or house of God. (1.) The son of Nahor by Milcah;
nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:22, 23; 24:15, 24, 47). ...
/b/bethuel.htm - 11k

Allonbachuth (1 Occurrence)
... Oak of weeping, a tree near Bethel, at the spot where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse,
was buried (Genesis 35:8). Large trees, from their rarity in the plains of ...
/a/allonbachuth.htm - 7k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... (1.) The son of Bethuel, who was the son of Nahor, Abraham's brother. He lived at
Haran in Mesopotamia. His sister Rebekah was Isaac's wife (Genesis 24). ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REBEKAH. ...Rebekah is first mentioned in the genealogy
of the descendants of Nahor, brother of Abraham (Genesis 22:20-24). ...
/r/rebekah.htm - 21k

Bethel (67 Occurrences)
... Jacob revisited the place on his return from Paddan-aram; here Deborah, Rebekah's
nurse, died and was buried under "the oak" (Genesis 35:6 f). Probably on ...
/b/bethel.htm - 38k

Esau (89 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hairy, Rebekah's first-born twin son (Genesis
25:25). The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from ...
/e/esau.htm - 41k

Rebel (35 Occurrences)

/r/rebel.htm - 18k

Who was Rebekah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible advocate arranged marriages? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)? | GotQuestions.org

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