Old Testament women: Leah, Rachel and Rebekah

Rebekah

(
Rivka
, English Rebecca, ancient Greek Ρεβέκα, Hebrew רבקה) is a biblical character[1].

[edit] Biography

The meaning of the name is interpreted as “devoted wife” or “one who captivates.”

She was the wife of Isaac, the daughter of Bethuel and the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor[2], the sister of Laban[3].

When Abraham decided to marry his son Isaac, he sent his senior slave - the housekeeper - for the bride to his homeland, in Northern Mesopotamia, because he did not want to take a wife for his son in Canaan, and according to custom, take a relative for his son as a wife.

Arriving in the “city of Nahor” (Haran), Abraham’s servant accidentally met Rebekah and was touched by her friendliness and helpfulness. Seeing this as a sign of God, he asked her parents for her hand in marriage for his master’s son and received consent.

Isaac fell in love with Rebekah and married her.

During pregnancy, God reveals to her the fate and purpose of her sons: they will become the ancestors of two nations, and the nation that comes from the elder of the twins will be subordinate to the descendants of the younger [4]. This is where Rebekah's preference for her youngest son, Jacob[5] comes from.

After 20 years of infertility, she gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. The parents' feelings were divided: while Isaac loved the trapper Esau, Rebekah loved the shepherd Jacob.

In Philistea, Isaac, fearing that the locals would kill him in order to take possession of his wife, “since she was beautiful in appearance,” passed her off as his sister (cf. Sarah

).

When Isaac, having grown old and sensing the approach of death, sent Esau to catch game for him and prepare food for him, “so that Esau’s soul might bless him before he died,” Rebekah encouraged Jacob to deceive his brother to warn his brother and receive his father’s blessing[6]. She, having learned that Esau was plotting to kill his brother out of revenge, saved her favorite by sending him to Mesopotamia to her brother Laban[7].

Nothing is said about the time of her death, but it is reported that she was buried next to Isaac in the crypt of the Cave of Machpelah, like all the patriarchs and their wives[8].

Rebekah is portrayed as a pious woman, beautiful, friendly, helpful even to strangers, with strong feelings of sympathy and antipathy[9], with deep faith in God's people[10]. Her character is decisive[11]; to achieve her goal, she stops at nothing, sometimes even resorting to cunning; She carefully looks and listens to her surroundings and knows how to take the necessary measures in a timely manner[12].

God's blessing

The girl looked a lot like Sarah's mother. Isaac fell in love with her very much. Despite the fact that the girl was barren at the age of 20, thanks to her prayers, twins Isaac and Rebekah were born.

Some time after the birth of the babies, hunger set in. Isaac went to the city and made the same mistake as his father once did, introducing his wife as his sister. But despite this, the Lord was merciful to him and made him rich. He got:

• cattle;
• small cattle;
• sheep;
• goats and other animals.

As a result of the great work he had done in digging wells, people and kings who did not have such wealth began to envy Isaac a lot. But here too God appeared and blessed him. As a result, the king of Gerar entered into an alliance with him.

Isaac died at the age of 180. He was buried in the Machpel Cave. History does not say when Rebekah died. As the Bible says, Isaac and Rebekah were buried together in a tomb.

The best article for you, go to: The Last Days of Jesus Christ

May the Lord protect you!

[edit] In rabbinic literature

According to the Haggadah, Rekekah was born on the day of Sarah's death[13].

The Haggadah emphasizes Rebekah's piety in contrast to her father[14].

When Isaac married her, she was 3 years old[15]. According to another haggadah, Rebekah was an adult when she got married[16].

The biblical story about the meeting of Abraham's servant with Rebekah at the spring is decorated with a haggadah in its characteristic style. As Rebekah approached the source, the water rose[17]. The gifts that Abraham's servant presented her at their first meeting take on a symbolic meaning in the haggadah: two wrists - as a sign of the two tablets of the Testament; their weight of ten shekels symbolized the Ten Commandments[18]. Rebekah's thoughtfulness was also expressed in the fact that when the servant asked whether it would be possible to spend the night in her parents' house for one night, Rebekah answered him that she could find shelter with them for many nights.

The first time Rebekah saw Isaac was when he was praying in the field, and from the expression of his prayerful mood, she thought that he was an outstanding man, which is why she asked her guide, Abraham’s servant, about him[19]. Isaac was jealous of her servant, Eliezer, but Rebekah miraculously managed to restore his peace of mind[20].

When Rebekah was led by Isaac into the tent of her dead mother, the miraculous phenomena observed there during Sarah’s life resumed: a cloud loomed over the tent, the door could be left wide open, the blessing of the Lord rested over the bread; the candle lit at the onset of the Sabbath burned throughout the entire week[21].

Rebekah was childless for a long time because God wanted to hear the prayers of righteous people[22]. Isaac and Bebekah prayed for offspring. God accepted only Isaac's prayer, but not Rebekah's, since she came from wicked parents[23]. Rebekah felt pain during pregnancy because when she passed by the houses of prayer and teaching that belonged to the worshipers of the true God, Jacob was eager to come into the light of God, and when she passed by the temples of idolaters, the same thing was repeated with Esau[24].

For Divine advice, she turned to the school of Shem (Sima), who was then still alive.

Rebekah loved Jacob for his righteous life and love of learning[25].

When Rebekah advised Jacob to prepare a meal for Isaac from two kids, she allowed him to take from the herds that belonged to her, since Isaac agreed in the marriage contract to give her two kids daily[26]. Having handed Jacob the food she had prepared, Rebekah accompanied him only to the door, saying that her task was completed[27].

Rebekah learned about Esau's plans against Jacob by inspiration from above, since she, as one of the four foremothers of the Jewish people, was gifted with a prophetic spirit[28].

Her cunning was a consequence not only of her love for Jacob, but also of her desire to prevent Isaac from committing a bad act by blessing the wicked Esau[29].

Old Testament women: Leah, Rachel and Rebekah

Vince L.I.

“All these things happened to them as examples, but they are written down for our instruction, who have reached the last ages” (1 Cor. 10:11).

This is one of the conversations for sisters that was once conducted by Lydia Mikhailovna Vince, who has now passed into eternity. These conversations were very popular in their time, and were distributed in the fraternity on a “blue” (hectograph) under the names “Old Testament Women” and “New Testament Women.”

1. Jacob fulfills the will of his parents in choosing a wife.

Having received the blessing of his father Isaac, Jacob went to take a wife to the house of Laban, Rebekah's brother (Gen. 28:1-5).

2. Jacob's first meeting with Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20).

Jacob fell in love with Rachel - she was beautiful in figure and face. And Jacob began to serve Laban for Rachel for 7 years; "and they appeared to him in a few days, because he loved her"

3. Leah.

Laban's eldest daughter was ugly and weak-eyed. Jacob obtained Leah as his wife by deception. But the Lord looked upon the unloved Leah and blessed her with children. Why did the Lord look after Leah? What was her character? - Humility, trust in the Lord, the desire to be loved, to cling to your husband, to please him.

4. The fulfillment of God’s promise of offspring, given to Abraham. (Gen.30:22-23).

“And God heard her.”

Rachel prayed and cried out to God, and He heard her. And Rachel gave birth to Joseph (a type of Christ), according to the promise, who was later sold by his brothers, the sons of Leah, out of envy.

5. Consequences of Eve's fall into Rachel.

- Distrust of the promise and impatience. She fought with Leah for the children and gave Jacob a maid so that, according to custom, the children would be considered hers (Gen. 30:4-8).

- She stole idols and hid them from her father by cunning, which resulted in a quarrel between Jacob and her father Laban.

6. Consequences of the Fall of Eve in Leah.

How were Leah's children raised? Sons are envious, dishonest, cruel; daughter Dina - immodest, curious; she went to look at the daughters of the earth, which ended very sadly for her. (Gen. 34ch.)

7. Death of Rachel.

"Rachel weeps for her children." (Jeremiah 31:15). “And Rachel died and was buried on the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem” (Gen. 35:19).

conclusions

“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you sons of Jacob were not destroyed” (Mal.3:6).

REBECCA

“Who can find a virtuous wife? Its price is above pearls" (Proverbs 31:10).

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Isaac was forty years old when Abraham gave orders to the eldest in his house, the steward Eliezer, to go and take a wife for his son Isaac from his family (Gen. 25:20).

Meek Isaac, who was obedient to his father in his childhood, relied on his father in everything even when he grew up. He also entrusted the most serious step in life - choosing a wife - to his father.

Isn’t this a turning point in everyone’s life - to take on an assistant, the other half of your personality? We know both from the Word and from life how serious the matter of choosing a husband or wife is. What could be more beautiful than the decision of the young man Solomon, who, having the opportunity to ask God for wealth, long life, glory, asked himself only wisdom to rule his people? How noble and pure was his heart and how bright his mind! And so, later it was written about him: “His wives inclined his heart to other gods and his heart was not completely devoted to the Lord.” (1 Kings 11:4).

Remember Ahab, whom his wife Jezebel instructed in wicked acts! “Bad communities corrupt good morals.” (1 Cor. 15:33).

Your wife or your husband is the closest person who, wittingly or unwittingly, influences your life and character. This is all the more important because bad things are more easily and imperceptibly instilled than good things.

There were different nations around, but Isaac did not take a foreign wife. He waited for his father to resolve this issue himself.

Dear friend, to whom have you entrusted the solution to this issue? Or do you choose yourself, like Esau or Ahab, who took foreign wives? Trust the heavenly Father - His eyes survey the whole earth and penetrate into the recesses of the heart. He will not be mistaken in choosing your friend in life. Abraham believed God that He would send His Angel to choose a wife for Isaac.

1. Sent to meet.

“And (Eliezer) said: Lord God of my master Abraham! send her today to meet me” (Gen. 24:12). He turned to the Lord and the Lord did not refuse him: “He had not yet ceased speaking, and behold, Rebekah came out... and her pitcher was not on her shoulder” (Gen. 24:15). Repeatedly in the Word of God it is said that the Lord sent the right person to meet. The persecuted Elijah received instructions to go to Zarephath of Sidon to a widow who would feed him. The street was not named, there was no sign of the widow, but when Elijah came to the gates of the city, the widow was there, collecting firewood.

If you, preparing to start a family, entrust this serious step of life to the Lord - do not worry, He will send to meet you the one He has predestined for you.

2. Character traits that Eliezer wanted to see in Isaac's future wife.

Friendly and helpful.

“Behold, I stand at the source of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of the city come out to draw water; And the girl to whom I will say: “Tilt down your pitcher, I will drink,” and who will say: “Drink, I will give your camels a drink,” - this is the one whom You appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I know that You show kindness to my master” (Gen. 24:14-14).

Eliezer, asking the Lord, set the condition that she should, first of all, be friendly. “She said: Drink, my lord. And immediately she let her pitcher fall on her hand, and gave him drink” (Gen. 24:18). Friendliness is like a flower in its beautiful bloom. Friendliness is like a ray of sunshine, warming people. The frowning face pushes away from itself. When you return home, tired after work, the friendly face of your lifelong friend will cheer up your spirit. It’s nice to be in a house where there’s a friendly family.

Secondly, Isaac's future wife had to be helpful. “And when she had given him something to drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels until they have drunk.” And immediately she poured water from her pitcher into the swill, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels” (Gen. 24:19-20). How ready Rebekah is to serve a random traveler! Who would pay attention to dusty, tired travelers? Rebekah did this without any calculation. She was always like that, and she turned out to be like that when she met Eliezer.

Helpfulness is becoming less and less common today, and people increasingly complain about its absence. But let’s return to the Word: “And she also said to him: We have plenty of straw and fodder; and there is everything for a place to stay for the night” (Gen. 24:25). If it was still unclear to Eliezer whether this was the chosen one for Isaac, then after such cordiality all doubts disappeared: this was the Lord’s order! “And the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord” (Gen. 24:26).

If, having chosen a girlfriend in life, you ask the Lord for blessings and take His silence for consent, remember whether you set conditions for the Lord, what she should be? Conditions based on the Word of God about the qualities that your chosen life friend should have. Be convinced of this, as Eliezer was convinced, who only then bowed before the Lord and took further steps to unite the lives of Isaac and Rebekah. You are young, you want to have a family where there would be an altar of the Lord. Turn to Him and wait for an answer through the Word of God. The desire to have one heart, one thoughts, one feelings can be fulfilled under the following conditions:

a) the chosen one must be “from her kind,” that is, a Christian. “What does light have in common with darkness?” Mutual understanding is possible with a common faith, a common spirit and a common goal.

b) the goal and meaning of a Christian family should be the words: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

Good.

“Whoever finds a good wife finds goodness and finds favor with the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). Kindness comes from a heart filled with the love of Jesus. Kindness! How difficult it is to find it in the world! It warms and melts all grief in its rays and heals the wounds of life.

Reasonable.

“A wise woman is from the Lord” (Proverbs 19:14). Reason is wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7), and “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it will always be content and no evil will come upon him” (Proverbs 19:23). A reasonable wife will keep her family members from falling and teach them a good Christian life.

Virtuous.

“Who can find a virtuous wife? Its price is above pearls" (Proverbs 31:10). This is an active wife for the benefit of the family and others.

“She is not afraid of cold for her family, because her whole family is dressed in double clothes... She opens her hand to the poor and gives her hand to the needy... She oversees the management of her house and does not eat the bread of idleness... She looks cheerfully at the future. She opens her lips with wisdom, and gentle instruction is on her tongue... The children stand up, and the husband pleases her, and praises her: there were many virtuous wives; but you have surpassed them all” (Proverbs 31:20-29). Truly, its price is higher than pearls.

Fearing the Lord.

“Pretty is deceptive and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears the Lord is worthy of praise” (Proverbs 31:31).

The reason for the decay and corruption of the world is that there are people who neither fear God nor are ashamed of people. In families where there is no fear of God, sin, wickedness, tears and grief nest. The fear of God keeps us from unworthy actions. The fear of God is based on respect, admiration and love for the One by whom the worlds and the universe were created: Who did not spare His Only Begotten Son in order to bring us, sinners, closer to Himself. A woman who fears God will build a house where God's blessing will be.

Does the intended friend of your life meet these requirements of the Word of God? And if your family is already established, check what it is like? If it is not as we have discussed here, then pray and do your best to keep an altar to God at the center of your family. To have a worthy assistant, you must be worthy yourself. Bring your hearth together to the Lord. Cleanse yourself and sanctify yourself, make it your goal to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Decisive.

“And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go” (Gen. 24:56). She didn't hesitate. She was ready to go, not regretting her home and not knowing what awaited her in the groom’s house. The path was difficult; it was necessary, like Sarah once, to pass through rivers and deserts. But Rebekah agreed without hesitation.

When you, dear sister, give your word to be your life partner to the friend chosen for you by the Lord, what considerations guide you? Do you agree to go through the burning sands of trials, in the scorching sun, as a traveler and wanderer in this life? Or perhaps you want, according to the custom of the whole earth, to settle more comfortably in this world, to stay, like Lot’s wife in Sodom, to hold tightly to your husband and children in it? Rebekah was ready for any difficulties and clearly imagined them. Determined Rebekah!

Modest and respectful.

“Rebekah looked and saw Isaac, and she descended from the camel. And she said to the servant: Who is this man who is walking across the field towards us? The slave said: This is my master. And she took the veil and covered herself.” (Gen. 24:64-65).

Nowadays, it has become common in the world for women to expose themselves to everyone’s gaze. The immodesty of attire has become disgusting even for worldly people who still have a glimmer of conscience. Rebekah did not show off her face, although she knew about her beauty. What prompted Rebekah to cover herself with a veil when she was so beautiful? Modesty.

How much effort must be made to bring modesty back to the world!

“Let not your outward adornment be the braiding of your hair, or the ornaments of gold, or the finery of your clothing, but the innermost person of the heart, in the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God” (1 Pet. 3:3).

Today, the prevailing desire is to stand out among people by appearance. But this does not bring anything good to life. Meek and silent spirit! This is the treasure in a woman! “Who can find a virtuous wife? Its price is higher than pearls. She opens her lips with wisdom and gentle instruction on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:10, 26).

This is what the modern world needs. Are we not becoming like the world in our clothes, conversations, customs? Do you, sister, have a spirit of meekness in your family? Meekness in dealing with elders, with parents, with husband, with children, with other people? Truly, many can only sigh about such decoration for our women. It is not for nothing that the Word of God calls this beauty incorruptible. Purchasing it is more expensive than purchasing pearls. But the Lord gives it freely! “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). If your heart is occupied with Christ, you will be meek and humble.

Who is the owner of your heart?

Rebekah got off the camel when she saw Isaac coming towards them. By this she showed respect, since, being on the camel, she had to look down on him. When we show respect to a person, we stand up when we meet him. That's what Rebekah did. How wonderful this act is! How do you, sister, meet your father, husband, mother? Do you have a joyful greeting for them? Or are you indifferent and cold when your husband comes home from work? Learn from Rebekah to greet family workers with joy and respect.

Capable of replacing a mother.

“And Isaac brought his mother Sarah into the tent; and Isaac was comforted in his sorrow for his mother” (Gen. 24:67).

Two years have passed since the death of Isaac's mother, Sarah. What a wonderful mother she was for him if he could not console himself and forget her for two years! He was the son of her old age—the only son, the son of promise, meek Isaac! All maternal tenderness, love and care surrounded him until her death. Their hearts were united by love. Notice that Sarah's tent was not removed after her death for two years until Rebekah entered it! Here, in the tent, Sarah's presence, her instructions, her love remained. Rebekah did not demand a new tent for herself - she humbly entered the tent of Isaac's beloved mother and replaced it for him. The mother notices when the child is tired, when he grieves, when his soul suffers. The mother gently warns all sorrows with her affection, consoles and supports the weakening heart and hands. Rebekah became the same for Isaac.

Is this how you enter the life of your soul friend? Or do you come in as a destructive, obstinate Jezebel? Having become a wife, do you replace a tender mother for your husband, do you preserve the maternal tent of care and protection, or do you cruelly and rudely destroy it?

3. God's promise to Rebecca.

“The older will serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23).

For Rebekah, a difficult moment in her life had come - pregnancy, which came after many years of infertility, was in danger: “her sons began to beat in her womb.” Notice who Rebekah turned to for help. She did not go to her neighbors or friends, but “went to inquire of the Lord.” Rebekah received the promise about Jacob, and truly he was a meek son. Jacob is the youngest, but he had the blessing of the birthright.

4. The consequences of Eve's fall in the life of Rebekah (Gen. 27:8-29).

Rebekah's impatience awaiting the fulfillment of the promise. Mutual understanding and love between Isaac and Rebekah lasted throughout their lives. For 40 years, Rebekah was comforted by Jacob, but then the crucial moment came - the blessing of the children. The day of blessing has already been appointed, Esau's steps are already approaching to receive the birthright, and the Lord does not manifest Himself. This was a burning moment of testing Rebekah’s faith, and she could not stand it and showed distrust of the Lord. It remains a mystery to us how the Lord would fulfill His promise, but His Word never remains powerless. Oh, Rebekah, why didn’t you go ask the Lord how you went on the children’s birthday? BUT Rebekah showed impatience and decided, removing the Lord, to take Jacob's blessing through her own efforts.

The result of self-will and deception.

The blessing is received, but the result is deplorable - the beloved son must flee, flee to Harran, leaving his home, his loving father and mother, the tents of rest and peace. Slave labor (Gen. 31:6-7,40-42).

Twenty years of slave labor as a shepherd of other people's flocks. Jacob was tormented by heat during the day and cold at night. Sleep fled from his eyes so that the beasts of the desert would not plunder the herds. Fear of his deceived brother Esau (Gen. 31:3).

This fear haunted Jacob for 20 years. Finally, like the prodigal son, he stood up and went to his father. As he is, in his rags of life, he went to meet his brother halfway. Fighting with God for a blessing (Gen. 32:24-29).

Jacob thought of returning to his father, hoping to hide his sin within himself and enjoy the blessing obtained by deception. And only when the Lord stood in his way and blocked further progress, he realized that his blessing had no power. It was a difficult struggle for Jacob to legitimize this blessing. Even his thigh was affected. The Lord blessed Jacob only when he saw his great thirst to receive this blessing. But so that Jacob would always remember God’s lesson, he bore His punishment within himself—a thorn in the flesh. This is a dangerous path - to deceive God and people without repenting of your stubbornness. Retribution will definitely come.

5. Grace of God.

The Lord did not abandon Jacob. He saw him, a lonely fugitive in the desert, when he put a stone under his head, saw him when he tended his flocks in the heat and cold, when he spent sleepless nights. He saw his brother Esau coming towards him with a thirst for revenge - and he humbled the latter’s heart (Gen. 33:4).

Oh, how great is the infinite mercy of God! “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they both wept.”

conclusions

The result of just one unauthorized decision by the prudent, virtuous, God-fearing Rebekah was the unhappy life of her beloved son (Gen. 47:7-9).

From the day of parting, Rebekah thought she would soon see her son, but she did not see him again until her death.

The devil, when he offered Eve to taste the forbidden fruit, told her: “You will be like gods.” But instead she received expulsion from paradise, wandering and sorrow. Rebekah wanted earthly blessings for her beloved son at any cost and received what he said at the end of his days: “Unhappy are the days of my wandering.” God cannot be scolded!

Check if this moment is present in your life, as the Apostle Paul says to the Galatians: “Are you so foolish that, having begun in the Spirit, you are now being finished in the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).

Having placed yourself at the disposal of the Lord, having walked the path of life from Harran to Canaan, having trusted the Lord in choosing Him as the Bridegroom of your soul, at a difficult moment in life you show distrust in Him and with your own hands create well-being in this earthly life for your children, believing that all means are good - deception, adaptation to worldly customs - as long as the children have success in this life. Isn't that what Rebekah wanted? Are these not the same reasons for tears and lamentations when your children grow up in wickedness and unbelief? What spiritual desert are you throwing them into! Review your paths. Bring your loved ones to the Lord. His path is the path of blessings, the devil's path is the path leading to hell. Which path will you direct your children to? And when the days of their life end, will they not say: “Wretched are the days of my wandering!”

Rebecca is a type of the Church.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Rebekah trusted Eliezer's words and went to Isaac without ever seeing him. So the Church of Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, trustingly surrendered into the hands of Christ and has been following Him for 2000 years. The burning desert of the world, the darkness of sin, the groans of the martyrs, their prayers, perseverance in suffering and persecution - this is the path of the Church.

“I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Vince L.I. "Old Testament Women"

Protestant newspaper, ru

[edit] Sources

1. KEE, volume: 7. Col.: 113–114.
2. Gen. 22:23; 24:15, 24, 47
3. Gen. 24:29; 25:20
4. Gen. 25:22–23
5. Life 25:28
6. Gen. 27:1–29
7. Gen. 27:41–46- 28:1–5
8. Gen. 49:30–31
9. Gen., 27, 46
10. ib., 25, 22
11. ib., 24, 58; 27, 13
12. ib., 27, 42 et seq.
13. Beresch. r., LVIII, 2
14. Life R. 63:4
15. Soferim, XXI
16. Midr. Agadah, Gen., 24, 57; see Tosaf. Jeb., 61b, sv וכן
17. Ber. r., LX, 6
18. ib., 7
19. Beresch. r., LX, 14
20. Midr. Ag., ib., 64, 67
21. Ber. r., ib., Midr. Ag., ib., 67
22. Yebam., 64a
23. Midr. Ag., 25, 21; Wed Yebam., 64a
24. Beresch. r., LXIII, 6; Midr. Ag., ib.
25. Midr. Ag., ib., 27
26. Ber. r., LXV, 10
27. ib., 13
28. ib., LVII, 9
29. Life R. 65:6

Content

• 1 In the Scriptures 1.1 In the Old Testament
• 1.2 In the New Testament

Notes[ | ]

1. Rebecca // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
2. Eliezer // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
3. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 58:2
4. Sofrim, 21
5. Midrash Haggadah on Gen. 24:57; see Tosfot on Talmud Yebamot 61b)
6. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 60:6
7. ↑ 123
   Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 60:7
8. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 60:14
9. Midrash Haggadah on Gen. 24:64, 67
10. Midrash Haggadah on Gen. 24:67
11. ↑ 12
    Talmud, Yebamot 64a
12. ↑ 123
    Midrash Haggadah on Gen. 25:21
13. ↑ 12
    Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 63:6
14. Midrash Haggadah on Gen. 25:27
15. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 65:10
16. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 65:13
17. Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 57:9

Creation of the first people.

“And God said: Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that moves on the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed that is on all the earth, and every tree that has fruit yielding seed: it shall be for you to eat; And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to every thing that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food. And so it became. And God saw everything that He had created, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning: the sixth day. Thus are the heavens and the earth and all their hosts perfect. And God finished on the seventh day His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.” The man's name was Adam and the woman's name was Eve. The Lord created them beautiful and happy. They loved their Creator very much, and God loved them. The Lord gave them all created creation. for them to take care of her. Having blessed Adam and Eve, “the Lord planted a paradise in Eden, in the east; and he placed there the man whom he had created.” The Lord instructed them to cultivate and maintain this garden. Adam and Eve were in constant communication with their Creator. In the picture you see that their eyes are turned to God - that's why they are happy. When our eyes and hearts are directed towards the Lord, we also become happy. —— *Why did God say: “Let us create?” Because God is one in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in the First Book of Moses, at the creation of man, God says in the plural: “Let us create.” - Page 1 -

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In the scriptures[ | ]

In the Old Testament[ | ]

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel (Bethuel) and the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor (Gen. 22:23; 24:15, 24, 47). She was the sister of Laban, whose daughters Leah and Rachel later became the wives of her son Jacob.

Abraham, who lived in Canaan far from his homeland, decided to find a wife for his son Isaac in his homeland, in Harran. On his behalf, his steward, Eliezer, went to Mesopotamia[2]. As he set out on the road, he prayed to the Lord, asking for clear instructions that his choice of a bride for Isaac was pleasing to God.

Nicolas Poussin. Rebecca at the well

Arriving in the “city of Nahor” (Haran), Abraham’s servant met Rebekah, Abraham’s grandniece, at the well, and was touched by her friendliness and helpfulness. Eliezer saw this as a sign from above and asked her parents for Rebekah’s hand in marriage for his master’s son and received consent.

Isaac fell in love with Rebekah and married her. Rebekah remained barren for 20 years, after which she gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. While pregnant, Rebekah learned from the prophets of God the purpose of her sons - they would both become the ancestors of two nations, and the descendants of the elder would be subordinate to the younger.

The parents' feelings were divided: while Isaac loved the trapper Esau, Rebekah loved the shepherd Jacob. In Philisteia, Isaac, fearing that the locals would kill him in order to take possession of his wife, “ since she was beautiful in appearance

", passed her off as his sister.
When Isaac, having grown old and sensing the approach of death, sent Esau to catch game for him and prepare food for him, “ so that Esau’s soul might bless him before he died
,” Rebekah encouraged Jacob to deceive his brother and receive his father’s blessing. She, having learned that Esau was plotting to kill his brother out of revenge, saved her favorite by sending him to Haran to her brother Laban.

Nothing is said about the time of her death, but it is reported that she was buried next to Isaac in the crypt of the Cave of Machpelah.

In the New Testament[ | ]

Links[ | ]

Rebekah:

• Texts on Wikisource
• Media files on Wikimedia Commons