Family of origin
Rebecca was likely the daughter of Bethuel the Nahorite, grandson of Abraham and Sarah. Rebecca was born in the area near Aram-Naharaim where her father’s family presumably lived. According to biblical scholar Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Rebecca was originally barren and her eventual marriage with Isaac was part of an arranged set of events put in place to ensure the safe arrival of a son of Abraham into the world. Bible experts agree that the advances of Eliezer in the story of Rebecca is representative of the role of agents in arranging Middle Eastern marriages during the time of Isaac and Rebecca’s courtship.
Success And Popularity
The main story of Rebecca involves her marriage to Isaac and the birth of their two sons, Esau and Jacob. Rebecca’s marriage to Isaac is celebrated in the book of Genesis through God’s blessing of the marriage. While Esau was a son of Isaac’s father Abraham, it was Rebecca who was Isaac’s mother. This link with Abraham however makes Rebecca indirectly a link to the covenant of God to make Abraham the father of a whole nation.
Characteristics
In the biblical narrative, Rebecca is characterized as an altruistic, caring and devoted wife and mother. After the marriage of Isaac, Rebecca moves from her family home to Canaan with her husband. She supports the endeavors of her husband, and is quick to intercede for the future of her sons. Rebecca is also portrayed as having a strong intuition – prior to the arrival of the messengers of Abraham, she is prone to dreams and prophetic visions. Additionally, Rebecca is said to have an ‘inner knowing’ of God’s plans and goals for her children, as evidenced in the story of Jacob and Esau.
Acceptance Of God’s Message
Rebecca is an example of faith in God and His messages. Soon after she hears of the divine plan, Rebecca makes her act of faithfulness to the point that she readily agrees to the divine plan of God. Rebecca offers to sacrifice her own son, Isaac, if it would be God’s will. This willingness of Rebecca to yield to the will of God is a marker of her piety and devotion to the deity.
Origin Of The Israelites
Rebecca is a key figure in the formation of the Israelites, as it is through her marriage to Isaac that the lineage of the Israelites is begun. The marriage of Rebecca and Isaac was marked by the bestowal of blessings from God and the promise of the formation of a nation. This intermarriage of foreign peoples in the Middle East to form the beginnings of what would become the Israelites is an important milestone in the history of the region.
Connection To Later Generations
Rebecca’s influence on her two sons had lasting consequences – even after her death, Rebecca’s sons and grandsons continued to struggle and contend with each other. Rebecca’s sons, Esau and Jacob, had competing views of their mother and father’s legacy. Jacob attempted to gain blessing and favor from his mother’s line while Esau attempted to honor his father’s heritage, with their mother’s legacy falling to the wayside.
Conclusion Of The Story
The story of Rebecca marks the origin of both the Israelites and the legacy of Abraham, a legacy that was carried through Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The biblical narrative tells of the birth of a nation and the struggle of Rebecca and her family to fulfill the divine plan for their progeny. While Rebecca’s story is an inspiring tale of faith and courage, her legacy has been somewhat overlooked by the religious traditions that have grown up around it.
Subsequent Role Of Rebecca
Rebecca’s subsequent role in her children’s lives was that of a peace maker, as she often interjected in disputes between her children and soothed their inner tensions. Her children, in turn, respected Rebecca as a parental figure and she was said to be a source of wisdom and comfort to them.
Legacy
Rebecca’s legacy has been celebrated through religious commentaries and art throughout the centuries, with stories and artwork depicting her noble character, fierce loyalty to her husband and commitment to her children. In recent years, many feminists have pointed to the stoic and determined Rebecca as an example of female power, citing her strong leadership and decisive action.
Matriarch Of Judaism
Rebecca is viewed as the matriarch of Judaism, a female force within a patriarchal society. She is seen as a strong female role model who was able to break through the constraints of a male dominated society to lead her children to a prosperous and united future. Rebecca is also praised for her character traits of endurance under pressure and her unwavering faith in a higher power.
Influence In Literature And Art
The story of Rebecca has had a lasting influence in literature and art. From Greek tragedies to romantic novels, the story of Rebecca has been adapted and re-told to fit the sensibilities of the times. Likewise, many famous paintings have been inspired by the story of Rebecca and her sons, depicting moments that capture the essence of the story.
Present Day Significance
The modern relevance of Rebecca and her story is that of a strong female leader, who had the courage and faith to go against the grain of a patriarchal society and stand up for what she believed in. Rebecca is an example of the power of faith in God and trusting in the divine plan. In the present day, Rebecca is an example of the power that women can have, even when going against societal constraints.
