Women of the Bible; a Series of Story and Character Sketches of the Great Women Who Have Aided in Making Bible History

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... Although Rebekah belongs to the same general class with Sarah, viz., women who have used their influence for good, she is found to be different in many essential characteristics. It will be the task here to trace the general influence of her life, and to point out the particulars in which she presented likeness and contrast to her mother-in-law, Sarah. As has been said, when Abram. Sarai. and Lot left Haran, in upper Mesopotamia, Nahor, Abram's brother, remained behind. Xahor"s son, Bethuel. lived also at Haran, and here were born to him several children, among them Laban and Kebekah. These two first come into the Bible history, in connection with the errand of Abraham's servant to Haran, to obtain a wife for Isaac. Abraham was anxious that his sou should not marry a wife from among the Canaanites. He therefore told his servant to go to his own kindred in Mesopotamia, and use every effort to secure a wife for Isaac from among them. His meeting with Rebekah at the well is one of the striking romantic him an indication of success in his errand/ and he would not rest until he had made a formal proposal of marriage in behalf of his master's son. The immediate acceptance of this offer by Rebekah has been taken by some as an indication of her selfishness and lack of home affection. That she was somewhat crafty and calculating, there is no doubt; but it is a little questionable if these characteristics were shown in her willingness immediately to leave her home and accept a husband whom she had never seen. It must be remembered that among the orientals the goal of a woman's highest ambition is husband and children. And in the case of Rebekah. the offer seemed to be so distinctly of the Lord, that there could be no doubt of her duty to accept it immediately. The ...