Rebekah, mother of twins, Esau and Jacob...

Rebekah, draws water for camels.

        In a setting of romance and wonder Rebekah is introduced, and from her first sharply etched portrait at the well at Nahor in Mesopotamia she attracts interest. Even in this first scene we seem to sense the kindness in her heart, to hear the music in her voice, and to see the grace in her motions. At the same time we know she is chaste, courteous, helpful, industrious, and trusting.
       No young woman in the Bible is so appealing. One of the old masters has depicted Rebekah in a flowing dress of delft blue and a headdress of scarlet and purple. The dress neckline is striped in gold to match the gold in her necklace, ear-screws, and bracelets. The artist has given her a dark, patrician profile, broadly arched eyebrows, gentle but expressive eyes, a slightly aquiline nose, and a firm yet innocent mouth.
       At eventide it was that she came to the well, carrying her pitcher on her shoulder. With other women, young and old, who had come  to draw water, she took the well-worn trail to the town watering place. Though Rebekah was unaware of it, she was being observed by a meditative old man, a stranger from far away, who stood by with ten thirsty camels.
       He had only a little while before concluded a long, tiresome trek from the land of Canaan, home of his master, Abraham. As the latter's steward he faced a grave responsibility, that of choosing a wife for his master's son, Isaac. He had approached his task prayerfully and had asked God for a sign to help him make the right choice. What would be the sign? The young maiden who volunteered to give water to his camels after he asked her for a drink for himself would possess those traits of character he was looking for in a wife for his master's son. How little Rebekah knew of the high destiny that awaited her simply because she volunteered a service that would be only natural to her.
       Kneeling in the shadows of the deepening twilight, Abraham's zealous steward, who had been his designated heir before the birth of his sons, spoke to his invisible protector: "O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.'' (Gen. 24:12).
       Eliezer had hardly finished his petition to God when behold there stood before him this lovely maiden Rebekah. The faithful servant hastened to her and said, "Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher‚'' (Gen. 24:17). She gave him a drink with ready grace and then there came the sign for which the servant had been waiting. "I will draw water for thy camels, also, until they have done drinking,'' she said. (Gen. 24:19).
       Rebekah must have had to make several trips down to the well in order to carry enough water in a pitcher for ten thirsty camels. Eliezer gazed in silence, believing all the more in God's goodness. Before asking who her kindred were, he rewarded her with an earring and two bracelets, all of heavy gold.
       Then he asked, "Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?'' (Gen. 24:23) When Rebekah told him she was the daughter of Bethuel, whom the servant knew to be his master's nephew, and when she also added graciously, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in,'' he humbly thanked God for leading him to the house of his master's kinsman (Gen. 24:25).
       The scene that followed moved fast. After Abraham's steward explained to Rebekah's family the purpose of his visit, he gave lavish gifts to her mother and brother Laban and other members of the family. And Rebekah soon learned that her future husband, Isaac, who was her second cousin, was heir to his father's flocks and herds, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and many asses. But of greater significance was the fact that God had established his covenant with Abraham and his son Isaac, and Rebekah would be a participant in that covenant.
       When Rebekah's family asked her, "Wilt thou go with this man?'' she replied without any hesitancy, "I will go.'' A woman of positive direction, Rebekah also had the courage and spirit which would enable her to forsake home and family for a new life in a strange country.
       Apprehensive, however, about giving up their beloved daughter, her family asked that she remain for a few days, at least ten; but Abraham's steward was in haste to be on his way. So we picture the eager-hearted Rebekah departing with her nurse Deborah and her maids on camels. We can see her family bidding her good-by and then watching longingly as the caravan disappeared through the Balikh Valley.
       Then it crossed the banks of the Euphrates into the pathless and sun-bleached sands of the desert on its way to Damascus. It passed over the Lebanon highlands into the green hills of Galilee and finally drew near the yellow plains around Beer-sheba. As the caravan came into the more fertile fields, Rebekah saw an upright man walking forth in his field, bearing in his measured tread the aspect of one in holy meditation. He had seen the camels coming and had gone into his fields to pray. As Rebekah drew near, she lowered her veil in the manner of oriental women and alighted from her camel.
       After Abraham's steward explained all that had taken place on the journey, Isaac took Rebekah into his mother's tent, a sacred place to him, and she became his wife. "And he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death'' is the brief but graphic account of the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 24:67) . We can imagine that Isaac rejoiced when he saw in Rebekah a reflection of the endearing qualities of his mother, Sarah.
       Isaac was now forty, and we can assume that Rebekah was some twenty years younger. Her husband, an agriculturist as well as a cattle raiser, enjoyed great affluence, and we can be sure that these were satisfying years for Rebekah. Though there is little record of her life between her marriage and twenty years later when she gave birth to twins, we can imagine she became a woman of sympathy, foresight, and religious fervor. And we can be certain that she enjoyed peace at home, for her marriage to Isaac is the first monogamous marriage on record.
       Only one blessing was lacking in Rebekah's life. She had not conceived, but when she did conceive, she discovered that she was to have twins. We have this record, "And the children struggled together within her; and she said. If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord'' (Gen. 25:22). This is the first recorded instance of a woman's immediate appeal to God.
       God told Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and two manner of people, and that the elder should serve the younger. The struggle is represented as prefiguring the struggle for supremacy between Edom and Israel, descended respectively from Esau and Jacob. And when the first-born Esau came forth, he was red all over like a hairy garment, indicating that he would be material-minded. And then came Jacob, destined to be the more spiritual-minded of the two. Who would be more aware of this than their devout mother?
       Isaac, quiet and retiring, was drawn to the bold, daring, strong, and roaming Esau; and Rebekah, naturally industrious, was drawn to the gentle but impetuous Jacob.
       As the sons grew to manhood, their mother began to love wisely but not always too well. And she began to plan how Jacob, the last- born, and not Esau, the first-born, could receive his father's blessing.
       Esau had already voluntarily surrendered to Jacob his birthright, and all for bread and a pottage of lentils. The birthright, which Esau's mother knew he had sold so casually to satisfy his hunger, was a very valuable right of an older son. Not only did it assure to its possessor a double share of his father's inheritance, but it carried with it a position of honor as head of the family as well. All this now belonged to Jacob.
       All that was lacking was for Jacob to obtain his father's blessing, which would secure to him the birthright of his older brother and all the advantages that birthright entailed. Isaac was now an old man and blind, and his last days seemed near at hand.
       Records do not furnish actual historical details, but we can be sure that Rebekah was a mother who pondered deeply over her son's destiny. She recognized the secular bent of the first-born, Esau, and the priestly mold of the last-born, Jacob. Had she not also observed how Esau's associates were the Hittites, known to be a less religious people? (He had even married two Hittite women, Judith and Bashemath, and in that marriage had returned to the polygamous way of life which she and Isaac had abandoned.) Had she not observed how Esau spent his time in hunting and other such pleasures while Jacob worshiped at the altar of God? Had she not seen how Esau lived for today and how Jacob, like herself, looked into the future? Had she not seen in Esau's face a love for a mess of pottage and in Jacob's a dream of divine glory?
       Yet it was Isaac alone who would ordain his successor. And she had heard him say to Esau, ''Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.'' (Gen. 27:7).
       This sounded the death knell of a proud mother's hopes. And this mother was human. She began to plot an act that was deep, dark, disconcerting. All through her life Rebekah had never wavered in purpose. Even when she left her homeland for another country, she proceeded with positive direction.
       But now in this crisis in her favorite son's life, she perceived dearly too, but her faith wavered. She took quick action, guiding her steps and those of her favorite son by her will, not God's will. One wonders if she did not fall by the very weight of the burden which she believed she was carrying for God. She could not picture Esau as a leader following the great traditions of her people. Only Jacob could fill that high trust. And so it was her fears overwhelmed her and she forgot God's part in the affairs of men.
       While Esau was bounding over the hills, busy in the chase for venison for his old and feeble father, Rebekah sent Jacob to bring back two kids from a pasture near by. And she prepared the savory dish, probably seasoning the kids' flesh with onion, garlic, salt, and lemon juice. She also took pieces of goat's skin and bound them on Jacob's hands and neck; its silken hair would resemble that on the cheek of a young man. Next she gave him the long white robe, the vestment of the first-born, which she had kept in a chest with fragrant herbs and perfumed flowers.
       We cannot make any excuses for Rebekah's actions in deceiving her blind husband and at the same time influencing her son in what was wrong. But may we not say that, though her actions were morally indefensible, her motive was pure.? Does she not typify the mother down the ages who, weak in faith, imagines herself to be carrying out the will of God.? And was she not willing to assume all the responsibility for this deception?
       For Jacob had said to his mother, "My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.'' (Gen. 27:12).
       But his mother hastily replied, "Upon me be thy curse, my son.'' (Gen. 27:13). What a burden for a mother to assume! And could she assume it alone? Wouldn't they both be guilty of deceiving Isaac and Esau?
       But Rebekah did not falter in her purpose. She saw her blind husband prayerfully bestow upon her favorite the blessing which could never be revoked. When her other son learned what had been done by his mother and brother, he threatened to kill his brother. Rebekah must now suffer for her wrong. She must give up what she loved most, her favorite son. Again with positive direction, yet willing to sacrifice herself, she called him forth and sent him to her brother Laban in Mesopotamia.
       An old woman now, Rebekah bade her beloved Jacob good-by as he started on his long journey, with his staff in his hand and his bundle of clothes over his shoulder. We can picture her as she took a long, last look before her son's form became lost on the horizon.
       The tinkle of goats' bells and the bleating of the sheep would be heard as usual. The sun would rise in splendor and would go down again. When night fell the stars would come out as usual, but Rebekah would never see Jacob again. More than twenty years would pass before he returned.
       She would spend her last years with a son who would always remember his mother's part in deceiving him and with a husband who naturally had lost some of the confidence he once had in her. And she and Isaac both would grieve over the actions of Esau's two Hittite wives.
       When Jacob did return, his mother would be sleeping by the side of Abraham and Sarah in Machpelah's quiet sepulcher.