Rachel (Hebrew Bible) facts for kids

Rachel was an important woman in the ancient Book of Genesis. She was the daughter of Laban, and she became one of the wives of Jacob. Rachel was the mother of two of Jacob's sons: Joseph and Benjamin. Her story is a key part of the early history of the Israelite people.

Who Was Rachel?

Rachel lived a long time ago, in a land called Haran. Her father was Laban, and she had an older sister named Leah. Rachel was known for being very beautiful. She worked as a shepherdess, taking care of her father's sheep. This was a common job for women in those times.

Rachel Meets Jacob

One day, Rachel met her cousin, Jacob. Jacob had traveled from his home to Haran to find a wife from his mother's family. When Jacob saw Rachel, he fell in love with her right away. He offered to work for Laban for seven years if he could marry Rachel. Laban agreed to this plan.

Jacob's Family Life

After seven years, Jacob expected to marry Rachel. However, Laban tricked him and gave him Leah, Rachel's older sister, as his wife instead. Jacob was very upset. He then agreed to work another seven years for Laban to marry Rachel. So, Jacob married Rachel, and she became his second wife.

Rachel and Jacob loved each other very much. For a long time, Rachel could not have children, which made her very sad. In those days, having children was seen as a great blessing. Eventually, God blessed Rachel, and she had her first son, Joseph. Joseph became a very important person in the Bible.

Later, Rachel had another son, Benjamin. Sadly, Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin. She was buried on the way to Bethlehem. Her story shows her strong love for Jacob and her desire to have children.