[See Jacob's Family Tree] Rachel was the wife of Jacob (son of Isaac) and the biological mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She was the daughter of Jacob's maternal uncle Laban, making her Jacob's first cousin. She married Jacob along with her older sister Leah. Jacob loved Rachel his entire life, but God only allowed children to her older sister Leah. The account of her quarrel with Jacob over this suggests she had a jealous personality.
Genesis 30:1Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”Genesis 30:2She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.”Genesis 30:3She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
아들 요셉이 태어나자 야곱이 고향 땅으로 돌아가려고 할 때에, 친정아버지 라반의 드라빔을 훔쳤다. 라반이 뒤쫓아왔을 때, 드라빔을 깔고 앉은뒤 생리가 나서 일어날 수 없다고 하며 들통날 위기릴 넘겼는데, 이러한 우상숭배의 행위가 하나님 보시기에는 좋지 못하였다.
Genesis 31:17and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.Genesis 31:18Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.Genesis 31:19Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.Genesis 31:20So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
Genesis 31:32Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah)’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.Genesis 31:33Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them.Genesis 31:34She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.Genesis 31:35Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban). Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?
결국 나중에 야곱이 딸 디나가 강간당하고, 또 그 아들 시므온과 레위가 대 학살 복수극을 펼쳤을 때, 야곱이 두려워하며 벧엘로 가서 모든 이방신상을 버릴때에 같이 처리된 것으로 추정된다.
Genesis 35:1Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments.Genesis 35:2Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”Genesis 35:3They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.Genesis 35:4They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.Genesis 35:5So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
이후, 베들레헴 근처에서 베냐민을 난산 끝에 낳으면서 죽고 그곳에 장사지내게 되었다.
Genesis 35:16When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”Genesis 35:17As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.Genesis 35:18Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).Genesis 35:19Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel)’s grave to this day.Genesis 35:20Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.