Rebekah (Bible)

The first book of the Old Testament, the book of Genesis, presents the origins of creation, the relationship between God and men, but also the relationship between men and women. Female characters in the Bible often face childbearing problems. This was the case with Rebekah, wife of Isaac. Read on to learn about Rebekah is in the Bible as well as the descendants of Isaac and Rebekah.

Rebekah, wife of Isaac

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, from Padan-Aram, and sister of the Aramean Laban. (Genesis 25:20) She met the servant of Abraham, having been sent by his master to find a woman for Isaac. She showed herself to be very helpful in giving the servant and his camels a drink when she had just met them. With the agreement of her parents, Rebekah agreed to leave her country to meet Isaac and marry him. The Bible tells us that: “Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” (Genesis 24:67)

Jacob and Esau, sons of Rebekah

For the first 20 years of their marriage, Rebekah was unable to give Isaac children. “Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” (Genesis 25:21) Rebekah had twins: Esau and Jacob. She loved the youngest, Jacob, much more, and she helped him to deceive Isaac and gain the blessing that normally would fall to Esau, the eldest. It happened as the Lord had told her when she was pregnant: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23) At the end of her life, she was very sad, because her son Esau had married Hittite women. Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (Genesis 27:46) Isaac therefore blessed Jacob and gave him this order: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman.” (Genesis 28:1) and that is what happened. He married Leah and Rachel, who were from the same country as Rebekah.