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Rachel


Ray´chuhl

The more favored of the two wives of Jacob. Jacob agreed to serve Laban for seven years as a bride-price for Rachel, his daughter. When Rachel’s elder sister, Leah, was substituted for Rachel at the bridal feast, Jacob married Rachel a week later and agreed to serve another seven years for her (Gen 28:9-20). When Jacob decided to leave Laban’s household, Rachel took with her the family teraphim (household images). Initially barren, Rachel finally bore a son, Joseph. She later died bearing a second son, Benjamin, and was buried in the later tribal territory of Benjamin (Gen 35:16-21). She and Leah are mentioned as the matriarchs of Israel in (Ruth 4:11).

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.