Rachel

Our story starts with a young man named Jacob. His parents Isaac and Rebekah did not want him to marry a Canaanite, so they sent him away to marry one of Rebekah’s brother’s daughters. His journey ended at a well in the town of Haran. The importance of this well is that it is the same well where Isaac’s servant found Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife and Jacob’s future mother. It is also where Jacob meets and falls in love with Rachel.

Rachel was the youngest daughter of Rebekah’s brother Laban. Rachel’s Grandfather was Bethuel who was a cousin of Isaac through his father Abraham’s brother Nachor. She had three brothers; Beor, Alub, Murash, and one sister Leah. It is not known if, Adinah, the mother of Laban’s sons is also the mother of Rachel and Leah. Rachel is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Many do not realize it but there were women shepherds, in Biblical days. Rachel was one of these shepherds. She watched over her father’s flock. In fact, this is how she met Jacob. Jacob had stopped at the well to get water. He noticed three flocks of sheep around the well and no one was watering their flocks in the heat of the day. Jacob inquired why they were not doing so because they should be leading them to pastures to eat until the evening. They responded that they could not until all the sheep were there. That is when Racheal was seen herding her flock to the well. Jacob then rolls back the stone and waters Racheal’s flock. I believe it was love at first sight because he kissed her.
“And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. ¹² And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.” Genesis 29:11-12

Jacob stayed and worked for free with Laban for a month. Leban decided this was not right and asked Jacob what his wages would be to work for him. Jacob looked at the two sisters. Leah had tender eyes and Rachel whom he favored was beautiful. He was very much in love with Rachel and offered to work seven years for her hand in marriage.
“And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? ¹⁶ And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. ¹⁷ Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. ¹⁸ And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.” Genesis 29:15-18

It was agreed that Jacob would work for seven years and he would be granted the hand of Rachel. His love was so great that the years flew as days.
“And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. ²⁰ And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Genesis 29:19-20

After Jacob’s seven years were up he married as he was promised, but he was deceived. It was not Rachel he found in his marriage bed but Leah. Of course, Jacob was not happy. Laban told him it was not proper for a younger sister to marry before her older sister. He arranged for Jacob to keep Leah for a week and then if Jacob would promise to work seven more years he would give him Rachel in a week.
“And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. ²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. ³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.” Genesis 29:28-30

The feud of jealously is now kindled between the two sisters. The fire is fanned when Leah bared sons and Rachel was barren.
“And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister;” Genesis 30:1a

After many years Rachel bears Jacob a son named Joseph. She also predicts that God will give her another son and this is true, however; she dies giving birth to her second son Benjamin.
“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. ²³ And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: ²⁴ And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.” Genesis 30:22-24
“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. ¹⁷ And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. ¹⁸ And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. ¹⁹ And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. ²⁰ And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.” Genesis 35:16-20

Not only was Laban dishonest with Jacob but also with his daughters. He did not give his daughters their dowries as was the tradition.
“And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? ¹⁵ Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. ¹⁶ For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.” Genesis 31:14-16

Rachel was not one to take things sitting down. Jacob was moving his family back home to Canaan. Rachel saw her chance and stole her father’s images (idols called teraphim). These idols were thought to protect their homes and offer their owners advice. They also portrayed legal ownership of property. She probably stole them to lay claim to property that he owed her as part of her dowry. Jacob had no knowledge of this theft.

Laban in his fury tracked them down and searched all their tents for his idols. Rachel hid them in her camel’s saddle and sat upon it. She told her father that she was sorry she could not rise because it was her womanly time of the month.

Rachel’s scheme is all for naught. God told Jacob to go to Bethel, Jacob was concerned because of the idols that had become part of his caravan. He made an order for all idols and earrings to be done away with. Then he made an altar to God and buried the idols and earrings under an oak tree. Rachel’s idols would have been part of this.

Rachel was a beautiful hard working woman. She held a career in a time when very few women did. Her sons became very important Godly men in the Bible. She stood beside Jacob even when her father deceived him. Jacob loved her deeply until the day she died. He even made a special sepulcher in her honor when she died.
“When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah;” 1 Samuel 10:2a