Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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RACHEL

Daughter of Laban. Isaac was afraid that his son Jacob would marry a Canaanite, so he sent him to live with and work for Laban, his brother-in-law. Jacob fell in love with Rachel and agreed to work for his uncle for seven years in order to marry her. At the end of that time, however, Laban tricked him into marrying Leah, his older daughter (Genesis 29). Jacob had to work for seven more years in order to win Rachel as his second wife. Evidently the ordeal was worth it, for Genesis reports that the additional seven years "seemed to him like a few days, because he loved her so much" (Genesis 29:20). Of all his children Jacob loved Joseph and Benjamin most. They were the two borne by Rachel (Genesis 30:24). She died giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:18) and Jacob erected a tomb in her memory (Genesis 35:20).