We should trust God, rather than take charge. - Genesis 28:13-15. Isaac then gives his blessing to Jacob rather than first-born Esau. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." The other thing is Rebekah isnt too fond of her Hittite daughter-in-laws (Esau married TWO) and even says she wants to die if son Jacob marries one. When Jacob woke up, he was amazed at the things God had said. Battle Of Calais, 1944, So Jacob gets directed to HER brother Labans family and goes and marries his first cousin Rachel AND Leah. How do you think the plot made his older daughter, Leah, feel? Her trickery led to a split between the brothers that has caused turmoil to this day. In England, Rebekka began a training program to become a domestic servant, but dropped out because the head of the program was sexually harassing her. It signifies the important role of the senior woman in a family household, at least when considered from a female perspective, as does the use of the phrase his mother Sarahs tent for Isaacs home. He would never see his mother again. Let's look at our map again . To pursue is to go after something, to follow closely. Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah. Rebeccas Character. TheTorah.com. She had a son. Reporteros De Telemundo San Antonio, Furthermore, virtually all scholarly studies and Bible textbooks, until very recently, designated the pre-Mosaic era as the patriarchal period, thereby providing an inherent male bias to any consideration of the family stories of Genesis. Rebekah (and Isaac) did a poor job of modeling or teaching support, unity, and affection. James Jacques Joseph Tissot. [1] [3] [4] [5] Following her first book The Beauty Myth (1991), she became a leading spokeswoman of what has been described as the third wave of the feminist movement .. . Hold up a candy bar in one hand. Rebekah (Rebecca) was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. 106. more replies. 7. Ephesians 5:22 says, Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord., Isaac avoided conflict by avoiding honest conversation, so Rebekah had made a habit of eavesdropping. They will spread out to the west and to the east. Answer (1 of 14): "8. Rebekah came up with a plan to ensure that Jacob received the blessing from the aged Isaac. Yet the biblical text is clear about Gods intention to have Jacob continue the lineage. When a parent believes God needs help establishing His plans and carrying out His will, her children learn that God is not Almighty. Verse 27. Observation #8: Rebekah's strong desire to see Jacob / Israel walk in God's blessing. "In their eagerness to find material for separate documents, or evi- dence of duplicate accounts, the critics seem to be ever Probably not, she is never mentioned again as being alive when Jacob returned and she never sent for him (27:45) No, Rebekkah's deceit caused her to have to send Jacob away, because Esau out of jealousy was going to kill Jacob. When Isaac became old and he could not see, he told Esau to gather food for him so that he might bless his son, but Rebekah wanted Jacob to receive the family blessing instead. 2007 BibleLessons4Kidz.com All rights reserved worldwide. What did Rebekah show Jacob by the way she treated God and her family members (27:14-17)? Rachel saw that she couldnt have any children by Jacob. Use your free hand to pull away the bandana (AND pull away the candy hidden by the bandana). (See also the midwives in Exodus 1 and Rahab in Joshua 2.) Rebekah had an answer for everything: Isaac was blind so he couldn't see who it was, Jacob would wear Esau's clothes so he would smell the same, Jacob would put goat skins on his neck and hands so he would feel hairy like Esau, etc. Sasson, Jack M. The Servant's Tale: How Rebekah Found a Spouse. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 65 (2006): 241-265. a. Mothers and Sons in Ancient Israel. In Ihr Vlker alle, klatscht in die Hnde! Festschrift fr Erhard S. Gerstenberger Zum 65. After sending gifts ahead to Esau, Jacob awoke to see Esau approaching with 400 men. What kind of blessing did Isaac manage to give Esau? So she dressed him up in Esau's clothes and she put fur on him and prepared food for Isaac and sent Jacob to deceive Isaac. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. Hold the candy so everyone can see it well. We don't know whether Rebekah ever shared with Isaac God's prophecy about Jacob, but if she did, then it is hard to see how Isaac was operating in faith here. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy s. Sometime yus nurse Deborah died and was buried. Yet they are unforgettable. Genesis 28:5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. Women whose lives and actions were pivotal in changing the course of history. what is the importance of arousal in sports? Jacob's Arrival in Canaan. The final scene in which Rebekah appears is another well-known biblical episode: Isaac blesses Jacob rather than Esau, the first to emerge from the womb and thus the expected recipient of the paternal blessing (Genesis 27). Chapter 16: Jacob and Esau. Rebekah teaches us by reverse example. . But then they would not have been in this position if he had respected Gods will. Laban ran out to greet his nephew. Jewish Women's Archive. Say: No, it wouldnt. Again, Esau made a foolish decision by going to Ishmael to find a wife. What is the moral lesson of at wars end by rony diaz? Say: When Sarah grew impatient waiting for God to give her children, she also told her husband to marry her servant girl. Lying, Hatred, And Murder | Grace Church Wyoming, MN She was also the sister of Laban and the aunt of Jacob's future wives: Rachel and Leah. Rebekah was Isaacs wife and Jacob and Esaus mother. 5 Things Christians Need to Know about the Lake of Fire. Alter, Robert. Psalm 119:111 says of God, Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. Parents leave an inheritance for their children: Rebekah and Isaac both inherited the skills to connive, and Rebekahs twin boys were beneficiaries of the interest earned on generations of deception. In Genesis 27:5-7, Rebecca overhears Isaac tell Esau, "Bring me venison and prepare a savoury food, that I may eat, and bless thee before the L ORD before my death." 10. Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. The first person who stands gets to read the verse and wins the candy bar. However, a long time later, Abimelech saw Isaac showing love to his wife, and he told Isaac to tell the truth, which he did confess that Rebekah was not his sister, but his wife. (She must have been wearing a veil.) God searched for Adam and Eve after they sinned. Laban secretly gave Leah to Jacob instead. If it were not a wrong to Esau to deprive him of the blessing, he himself having forfeited it by selling the birthright, yet it was a wrong to Isaac to take advantage of his infirmity to impose . Pulpit Commentary. Also noteworthy is that the language used in reference to Rebekahs journey from Mesopotamia to Canaan, and in anticipation of her role as progenitor of countless offspring, echoes that found in the Abraham narratives (compare Gen 24:4, 38, 60 with Gen 12:1 and 22:17). 9,031. Does Rebecca in the bible ever see her son Jacob again after he leaves to go to her brother laban? The clothes would fool what was left of Isaacs vision and also tricked his sense of smell, since Isaac smelled the smell of his garments (Genesis 27:27). At this point, Jacob could have told Rebekah this is the wrong thing to do, but self-interest won the day. Laban held a big feast in honor of his daughters wedding. She bore two sons who became leaders of great nations. . But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much. In addition, Rebekahs behavior in Genesis 24 is depicted by a series of action verbsshe runs, draws water, fills jars, and rides a camelthat contribute to a sense of her individuality and vitality in contrast to Isaacs passivity. So Jacob worked for seven years to get Rachel. A good mother wants the best for her children. He sent his servant to the city of Nahor to find her. Since Jacob was smooth and Esau was hairy, Rebekah told Jacob to wear a fur, which Isaac would mistake for the older boys hairy skin. Rebekah also ultimately ended up making a tremendous sacrifice in order to ensure Jacob received Isaac's blessing, for she never saw Jacob again in her lifetime. Romans 6:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes Not Helpful For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. She seems to have some input into the marriage negotiations, or at least into the decision about her departure from her homeland and birth family (24:5758). Sad that her father had to trick someone into marrying her, sad that she was married to a man who didnt love her. The fourth generation were in terrible trouble as Abraham's ideals were a distant memory. Rebekah came out with her water jar and did exactly that! May He give you and your children after you the blessing he gave to Abraham. Jacob did not realize what Laban did until after he was married to Leah. Email: soccer@maestrosoccer.com, Maestro Soccer Rebekah made up an excuse to send Jacob to her brother, Laban, to look for a wife for himself (Genesis 27:41-46). Get More Inspiration Delivered to Your Inbox, A New Look at the Powerful Women of the Bible. Still, Laban should not have deceived Jacob. Rebekah later became the mother of Jacob and Esau and she helped Jacob deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the family blessing. She became pregnant. Stansell, Gary. She told him to go stay with her brother Laban for a little while, until Esau was no longer angry. God saw the broken heart of Leah. Plus we can only imagine how this deception impacted Isaac and Rebekah's relationship moving forward. There she is loved (24:67) by her husband, the first woman in the Hebrew Bible for whom marital love is proclaimed. Rebekah spake unto Jacob Rebekah is here contriving to procure the blessing for Jacob, which was designed for Esau. One person pretending to be another - it sounds a lot like what Jacob did to Esau, doesnt it? The events which followed were only partially her responsibility, but Rebekah was the brains behind the scheme. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abrahams brother Nahor. I am the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I have never ever thought of Rebekah in this light before. Isaac seemi Web. The Bible says that no one looks to find God on his own (Romans 3:10-11). Just like his grandfather had, he took matters into his own hands. Cheated, angry. Rebekah then left her home with the servant and married Isaac. The Lord stood above the stairway. Later, as Isaac was dying and his eyesight had failed, Rebekah helped Jacob deceive Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. Scripture References Genesis 22:23; 24; 25:20-28; 26:6-35; 27:5-46; Rebekah is first mentioned in Gen. 22: 23 as the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son. So the servant went out and stopped at a well to water his camels and he prayed that God would show him the proper woman for Isaac by allowing the right one to give him a drink and to water his camels for him. We receive a hint for this in 27:27 where Isaac rejoices that Esau smells is like the smell of the fields which the Lord sanctified. Even though it saved Jacob's life, she would never seeJacob again. It was after this that Isaac married Rebekah and Abraham took Keturah as a wife (possibly a concubine) (see Genesis 24 and 25:1). That servant had two sons, Gad and Asher. God selected Jacob to serve His purposes. Indeed, the account of Rebekah at the well is the premier biblical example of such a scene. 55 they ask for a few days for the "na'ar" (again no 'ah') Rebekah before she will go. . Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Wholesale Spa Headbands, Rachels servant had a son and Rachel named him Dan. What is a blog about conferences and meeting halls in Jim Corbett with Conferencevenue? So, Jacob fled to the house of his mother's brother, Laban. Genesis 32:24-28 And Jacob was left alone. Then, when Rebecca proposes that Jacob disguise himself as Esau in order to "steal" his berachah (blessing) from Isaac, Jacob protests-not because of the deception involved, but because he fears getting caught and consequently cursed by his father. In the history of the United States, the House of Representatives has impeached sixteen officials, of whom seven were convicted. She favored Jacob over Esau and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Rebekah in the Bible was the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. While many children are raised by supportive, loving single parents, if there are two parents in the home, they must work together in order to supply children with a sense of security, unity, and moral direction. Read vs.41. Her relationship with her husband is consistently monogamous, unlike the other matriarchs of Genesis: Sarah, who provides her husband with the slave wife Hagar and perhaps has extramarital sex with the pharaoh; and Rachel and Leah, who are co-wives and also provide slave wives to Jacob. Rebekah paid for her deception by losing her beloved son Jacob when he had to run very far away to escape the wrath of Esau. Genesis 27:43-45 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; . The servant came to a well and prayed that the next young woman who came to the well and gave him water would be Isaac's wife. A Strong Woman Who Can Find? A Study of the Characterization in Genesis 24 with Some Perspectives on the General Presentation of Isaac and Rebekah in the Genesis Narrative. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 63 (1994): 89104. Look at Jacob taking advantage of Esau at his most vulnerable. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Engar, Ann W. Old Testament Women as Tricksters. The Bucknell Review 33 (1990): 143157. I will praise Your name. JacobThe Righteous Deceiver. . Lord, You are my God. Here is Rebekahs life story from the Bible: Her family lived in Haran and was part of Abrahams extended family there. Moreover, she is the only matriarch to receive a direct message from God (although Abrahams slave wife Hagar also receives an oracle); she inquires of God, who answers her (Gen 25: 22 23). After the seven years, it was time for Jacob to marry Rachel. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). We first meet Rebekah in Genesis 24:15, where she is identified as "the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.". He is the great Pursuer. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Was Rebekah a Good Mother to Jacob and Esau? Rebekah and Jacob had sinned by tricking Isaac. If God did not use imperfect people, who would He use? Often the women who appear in the Bible are unnamed. Genesis 13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, . 22, we see that it was Rebekah that went herself to enquire of the Deity concerning her experiences with the babies in her womb and the Deity gave her oracles concerning the . Just like his grandfather had, he took matters into his own hands. Jacob was overjoyed to meet his cousin. Why Are the Descriptors True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Admirable Used? (Genesis 27:6-13) Rebekah died during Jacob s absence, but Isaac lived on and he must have been overjoyed when Jacob returned home. Ask: What if I said he could have the candy only if he looks up another verse? (Genesis 27:2-4) Isaac s action alerted Rebekah and she conspired with Jacob to seize Esau s birthright. (This scene is depicted in the painting above Isaac Blessing Jacob, by Jusepe de Ribera.). Even if this was true, he should have explained that to Jacob beforehand, and let Jacob make up his own mind about who to marry. Another tradition declares that Rebekah originally should have given birth to 12 sonsthe fathers of the 12 tribesbut after the birth of Esau she became barren again (Pesik. He placed the female servants and their children in front followed by Leah and her children. June 23, 2021. After twenty years of marriage, when Rebekah fails to become pregnant, Isaac prays to God, who grants the prayer that she may conceive. At that point she shows her faith in God and it says in 25:22 that because of this she went and inquired of the LORD. Then after the servant reported to Isaac what had happened, Isaac took Rebekah into Sarah's tent and she became his wife and he loved her. School Liberty University. She disguised him with the skins of [] young goats (Genesis 27:16) and now the boy was ready to deceive his father. The Lord told Rebekah what would happen to her sons: They named the twins Esau and Jacob. Laban even accused his son-in-law of conniving and kidnapping (Genesis 31:26-27). Did she see her numerous grandchildren and further hope of her family's marriage blessing that she would be a "mother of thousands of millions"? The very idea is enough to persuade Isaac to order Jacob to avoid such a marriage and to send him to Rebekah's family to find a God-fearing wife. Ask: Who else did we learn about who did this same thing? What did Esau have in mind? Finally he arrived in the area of Paddan Aram. What does this mean emulate what you respect in your friends? But her story is more extensive; she is a dynamic character in a long narrative describing how she becomes Isaac's wife. So Esau went to Isaacs half-brother, Ishmael, and married one of Ishmaels daughters. We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products. If the end were good, the means were bad, and no way justifiable. (44) A few days. And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. A. Rebekah and Jacob plot to deceive Isaac. Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34). Rebekah's death is not mentioned in the Bible. This oracle foreshadows the tensions that will characterize the relationship between her sons, Jacob and Esau, as figures in the Genesis narrative and as eponymous ancestors of Israel and Edom. Yet it is Rebekah herself who is chosen as God's instrument, ensuring that His protection and blessings are bestowed upon Jacob and the nation of Israel. Rebekah is the second matriarch in Genesis and shares two problems with Sarah, the first matriarch: barrenness, and being passed off as her husband's sister. They used their children as pawns and established teams, winners, and losers. Rebekah first watered the camels of Abraham's servant who was sent to find a bride for his son Issac. As a skilled hunter he loves roaming the countryside. Several shepherds were at the well, waiting to water their sheep. Genesis 22:23: Chapter 24; 25:20-28; 26:7-8, 35; 27:5-15, 42-46; 28:5; 29:12; 35:8; 49:31; Romans 9:10. Stay for a few days. Ornithoptera Alexandrae For Sale, May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." Bu Perhaps neither man was prepared to trust the other. Their father Isaac loved Esau: "Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob" (Genesis 25:28). Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And Jacob came unto Isaac his father, unto Mature, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah, Mamre -- a place in Palestine, also an ally of Abraham, Kiriath-arba -- 'city of the four', an older name of Hebron, Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah, Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that, Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation, Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular, Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular, To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility. Like Esau (Genesis 27:41), Rebekah expected that Isaac's end was near.Really Jacob was absent for forty years, and while Isaac lived to see him return, Rebekah saw him again no more. Answer (1 of 8): When Jacob and Esau were born, God gave a prophecy to Rebekah that Jacob would receive the birthright and blessing. Jacob helped Rachel water her sheep. Rebekah: "So She Went to Inquire of the LORD" | Trinity Osteosarcoma Hard Lump On Dogs Front Leg Joint. (Davis, 239) No , Rebekkah 's deceit caused her to have to send Jacob away , because Esau out of jealousy was going to kill Jacob . Rebekah thought Jacob would be away for a couple of years until Esau cooled down and then return. Jacob was wise to recognize that God was in control of whether or not Rachel had children. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Since Jacob was smooth and Esau was hairy, Rebekah told Jacob to wear a fur, which Isaac would mistake for the older boy's hairy skin. Obviously, Isaac engaged in underhanded operations as well. When Abimelech asked Isaac of Rebekah, he told them that she was his sister, so that he might not be killed because of her beauty. God told her that she had two nations, two people, or two sons within her womb and that one (Jacob) would be stronger than the other (Esau). Along with the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob deceived his father in order to uphold the covenant. This is especially true for Rebekah, whose position in the second generation of ancestors is actually more prominent than that of her spouse. Then Jacob obeyed his parents and departed (Genesis 28:1-2). Zavada, Jack. Wing Commander: Privateer, Furthermore, Rebekah is said to have had a nurse (Gen 35:8), a highly unusual circumstance in the Hebrew Bible and one that thus signifies her unusual stature. May He increase your numbers until you become a community of nations. 1. Rachel was the younger daughter, and she was beautiful. Q. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? No one comes to God unless God draws him or her to Himself (John 6:44). Secretly grasp both the candy and the broccoli under the bandana. God is the One who pursues us (1 John 4:19). Published November 15, 2017, Last Updated January 9, 2021. https://thetorah.com/article/rebeccas-character. But Rebekahs actions were still pivotal and led to certain consequences. By this time, Jacob had ten sons and one daughter. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. At first Jacob was hesitant, not because he didn't want the Blessing, but because he was afraid of being caught. Why Rebecca Pushed Jacob to Get Esau's Blessing | My Was Rebekah a Good Mother to Jacob and Esau? Jacob had to know and trust God for himself. Its the land God gave to Abraham. - Genesis 28:3-4. Isaac, despite God's will, wants to give the blessing to his son, . Likewise, Jacob paid for his deception by having to leave his home. Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing. (Genesis 27:11-12, NIV). Some readers have accused both Isaac and Rebekah of equal fault in favoring their sons (Esau and Jacob respectively; Gen 27:1-10). God came to him in a dream and spoke to him. Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, did not want his son Isaac to marry one of the pagan Canaanite women in the area, so he sent his servant Eliezer to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. Since Jacob was wearing Esau's clothes his father believed that he was with Esau and he gave the blessing to Jacob.. Who was it and what effects did her lies bring on her whole family? Sometime after the birth of Esau and Jacob, there was a famine and Isaac and his family went to the king of the Philistines, King Abimelech. This incident may signify a reality of maternal dominance, at least in the case of Rebekah, that is too powerful for the androcentric interests of biblical narrative to obscure. Jacob told his relatives all about himself. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That phrase is found only four times in the Hebrew Bible, all in texts that reveal womens lives and agency. Even though Jacob and Rebekah did not trust God and took matters into their own hands, He still proved Himself trustworthy. He sent Jacob away with a blessing, this time willingly. Jacob often suffered because of his own poor choices. Rebekah hatched a plot so that Jacob would receive the blessing. Genesis 13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. Remember, he was a "homebody" who always stayed near to his mother. Getting , through fleshly means, never really works out. Are We Ready for Our Journey to Eternity? (Genesis 27:42-43). She put goatskins on Jacob's hands and neck to imitate Esau's hairy skin. Then the servant had a second son named Naphtali. After the servant praised God, Rebekah ran home to tell her mother what she had seen. Remember, Rebekahs family lived in Paddan Aram. The family seem[s] to regard the blessing as magical, as something detached from God's wisdom and will as though Gods plans could be overcome by parental preference. The very fact that the verb to go is used of Rebekah seven times (a number used in the Bible for emphasis) in the courtship narrative of Genesis 24 highlights her active character. May He give you children. He showed concern for her. Women of the Bible Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community. not that much. 15, 24, and 47 to turn Betuel from Rebekah's mother into her father (to fit J with P), the redactor's attempt to fix Rebekah's lineage had the consequence of causing a major narrative confusion in chapter 24 by bringing her . She did not consider the consequences of her action. She became pregnant with twins after years of infertility Both parents, and their sons, would have benefited if Rebekah and Isaac formed a unified front. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Rebekah was Isaac's wife and Jacob and Esau's mother. Rebecca. Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son (Genesis 27:15). Fortunately, while we cannot trust human beings to bring Gods purposes to fruition in their own strength (not Rebekah, and not any mother), we can rely on God to bring his good works to completion. Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard sentenced to 5 years in prison. She asked the servant whom he was and he told her it was his master, so Rebekah took a veil and covered herself (Gen. 24: 65). I will honor You. But Rachel had never had a child of her own. Rebekah, Wife of Isaac. Laban brought Jacob home to stay with him. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. How Are We All Like Sheep That Have Gone Astray? The designation of Jacob as heir to the ancestral lineage, which means he will be progenitor of all Israel, is orchestrated by Rebekah. Rebekah was assertive and fought for what she believed was right. She will do what it takes to ensure her children have what they need. Rebekah then left her home with the servant and married Isaac. Jacobs twin brother, Esau, felt that he should have the blessing. 27:18-27a Isaac was blind, but he could still use his other senses in addition to his reasoning. Yet, the father (and husband), should have been the spiritual leader of the family. Genesis (Part 122): From The Death of Sarah Through The Blessings of Jacob and Esau. The next reference to Rebekah mentions that she was buried in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 49:31). Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/rebekah-wife-of-isaac-701176. She was chosen by God to be Isaacs wife A generation is the age of the father when his son has his first child, so 100 (Abraham when Issac was born) + 60 (Issac when Jacob was born), so 480 years was three generations. God never changes. One cannot blame Rebekah for the choices her children made or lay all parental blame on her. Two millennia of Jewish and Christian biblical interpretation have focused largely on the male ancestorsthe patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Laban sought to deceive Jacob again in regards to the flock, but Jacob would get the better of him . Her trickery led to a split between the brothers that has caused turmoil to this day. Isaacs intention was to convey his blessings upon Esau to the exclusion of Jacob altogether. Although the law of primogeniture sanctioned this move because Esau was the older brother, the blessing was usually conducted in public. He named the place Bethel, which means house of God. Then Jacob made a vow to the Lord. "Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son" ( Genesis 27:15 ). Answer. He had not learned to cherish the blessing of being one of Gods chosen people, and even though they knew a role reversal was coming, Esaus lack of self-control was symptomatic of a larger problem.