Rachel
Artist: Frederick Goodall (English, 1822-1904)
Date: 1867
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
Rachel
Rachel is a major character in the early Old Testament; she was a daughter of Laban, sister of Leah, favored wife of Jacob, and mother of two of Jacob’s children.
Rachel lived in Harran, or Paddan Aram, and that’s where she met her cousin Jacob. Jacob was fleeing for his life after tricking his brother, Esau, out of his birthright (Genesis 27:1–29). At his mother’s behest, Jacob headed for his uncle Laban in Paddan Aram.
Once Jacob reached Harran, he met some shepherds watering their sheep at a well. When he inquired after Laban, the men replied, “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep” (Genesis 29:6). Jacob rolled the stone from the well and watered Laban’s sheep for Rachel. He introduced himself as Laban’s nephew, and Rachel ran to tell her father of Jacob’s arrival. Laban was overjoyed to see Jacob and invited him to live with his family.
