Also called: Rachel, Rahel
Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the favored wife of Jacob. She is known for her beauty and her struggle with infertility, which led her to offer her maidservant to Jacob to bear children on her behalf. Eventually, she bore two sons, Joseph and Benjamin.[GEN 29:6][GEN 29:17][GEN 30:1][GEN 30:25]
Marriage to Jacob
Rachel marries Jacob after he works for her father Laban for seven years, although he is initially deceived into marrying her sister Leah first.[GEN 29:18][GEN 29:25]
Struggle with Infertility
Rachel struggles to conceive children, leading her to give her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob to bear children in her place.[GEN 30:1]
Birth of Joseph
Rachel finally bears her first son, Joseph, whom she names, expressing her hope that God has taken away her disgrace.[GEN 30:22]
Birth of Benjamin
Rachel dies during childbirth while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, and is buried near Bethlehem.[GEN 35:16][GEN 35:19]
Rachel is significant in biblical history as the mother of Joseph, who became a prominent figure in Egypt, and Benjamin, the progenitor of one of the tribes of Israel. Her story reflects themes of love, rivalry, and the complexities of familial relationships within the patriarchal narratives.[GEN 30:22][GEN 35:24][GEN 46:19]
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