Dictionary
A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure. Find accurate definitions of words and phrases.
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 inot 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 hy Rachel (Genesis 30:24). She died giving birth to Bengamin (Genesis 35:18) and Jacob erected a tomb in her memory (Genesis 35:20).
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
