Eden

Lore & Background

After the Binding of Isaac, Sarah died. Abraham commanded his servant (whom the Torah commentators identify as Eliezer of Damascus) to journey to Aram Naharaim in Mesopotamia to select a bride for Isaac from his own family, rather than engage Isaac to a local Canaanite girl. The servant devised a test: he prayed to God, 'Let the maiden to whom I say, "Please, lower your jar that I may drink," and who replies, "Drink, and I will also water your camels"—let her be the one whom You have decreed for Your servant Isaac.' Immediately, Rebecca came to the well and offered to draw water for him and water all his camels. The servant gave her a golden necklace (Septuagint translation) or nose ring (Masoretic translation) and two golden bracelets. After the servant recounted his oath and all details, Rebecca's brother Laban and her father Bethuel agreed she could return with him. Rebecca agreed to go immediately. As she approached Abraham's home, she saw Isaac in the fields of Beer-lahai-roi, dismounted from her camel, and covered herself with a veil when she learned he was her future husband. Isaac brought her into the tent of his deceased mother Sarah, married her, and loved her. According to Rashi, the three miracles that characterized Sarah's tent—a lamp burning from Shabbat eve to Shabbat eve, a blessing in her dough, and a cloud hovering over the tent—reappeared when Rebecca entered.

In Their Own Story

Rebecca was barren for twenty years after marriage. Both Isaac and Rebecca prayed fervently to God for offspring. God eventually answered Isaac's prayers and Rebecca conceived. During her pregnancy, her unborn twins struggled with each other. She went to inquire of God why she was suffering. According to the Midrash, whenever she passed a house of Torah study, Jacob struggled to come out; whenever she passed a house of idolatry, Esau agitated to come out. She received a prophecy at the yeshiva of Shem and Eber that twins were fighting in her womb and would continue to fight all their lives, and that the older would serve the younger. When she gave birth, the first child emerged red and hairy all over, with his heel grasped by the hand of the second. Onlookers named the first Esau and the second Jacob. The Bible states Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. The Midrash says that when they reached age 13, Jacob busied himself in the house of study while Esau busied himself with idolatry. Scripture notes: 'Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of hunting, but Rebecca loved Jacob.' At a key moment, Rebecca orchestrated Jacob's deception of Isaac to steal Esau's blessing, securing the covenant for her favored son.

Reader's Guide

When Isaac became blind in his old age, he decided to bestow the blessing of the firstborn upon Esau. According to the Midrash, Isaac had reached the age of 132; according to Genesis, he had reached the age of 137. Isaac sent Esau out to the fields to trap and cook game for him, so he could eat it and bless Esau before he died. Rebecca overheard this conversation and realized that Isaac's blessings should go to Jacob, since she was told before the twins' birth that the older would serve the younger. She then devised a plan for Jacob to impersonate Esau and receive the blessing instead. This deception set in motion the central conflict between the brothers, with Jacob fleeing to Laban's household and Esau vowing revenge. Rebecca's actions, driven by the prophecy she received, shaped the destiny of the Israelite nation.

Did You Know?

• Rebecca was the granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham.
• According to Rashi, three miracles that characterized Sarah's tent reappeared when Rebecca entered it: a lamp burning from Shabbat eve to Shabbat eve, a blessing in her dough, and a cloud hovering over the tent.
• The Talmud and Midrash explain that Isaac was instituting the Mincha (afternoon prayer) when Rebecca first saw him in the fields of Beer-lahai-roi.
• Rebecca received a prophecy at the yeshiva of Shem and Eber that the older twin would serve the younger.
• Esau took two Hittite wives, Judith the daughter of Beeri and Basemath the daughter of Elon, who vexed Isaac and Rebecca.