Rebecca is the second of the four matriarchs. Though she was raised in an immoral environment, Rebecca overcame her upbringing and, after marrying Isaac, continued Sarah’s legacy of righteousness, purity and faith.
Isaac and Rebecca were married for twenty long years without having children. After many prayers, Rebecca gave birth to twin boys, Jacob and Esau. From the moment they were born (and even before), the two boys were in constant conflict. While Isaac favored Esau, Rebecca saw that Jacob was righteous while Esau was not. When it came time for Esau to receive Isaac’s blessing as the firstborn, Rebecca told Jacob to dress as Esau and take the blessing instead of his brother, thus ensuring that the birthright ended up in the right hands.
From Rebecca we inherit the strength to overcome our past and choose the right path for the future. She also embodies the Jewish woman’s keen sense of perception, and the ability to make difficult choices in order to do what’s best for our family and our people.
Rebecca is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron, alongside her husband, Isaac.
Resources
Read the full account of Isaac and Rebecca’s marriage
In-Depth Study
Rebecca and the Camel Test—a lesson in giving
Surrounded by a group of able-bodied men, Eliezer did not appear as a helpless, weary chap begging for a drink. And Rebecca was a young woman of nobility, not a poor servant girl accustomed to lugging water from wells. Read
Strength of Character
Do we have the power to change our own lives? Or are we entirely the product of our environment? Read
How Rebecca Learned to Fly
Some of us thrive as a result of a challenging environment; our struggles
refine our characters and make us even greater people. And sometimes, no matter what we do, we cannot seem to rise above the circumstances of our birth . . .Read
Video Series
What lessons for our own lives can we learn from studying the lives of biblical women? Learn about three great women from our past: Sarah, Rebecca and Nitzevet. Watch
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