Rachel of the bible is extremely important as the mother of Joseph (of the many-colored coat) and Benjamin, and as the wife of Jacob. When Jacob first comes upon her, he falls in love immediately, as she “…was lovely in form and beautifulâ€, and so he agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in return for her hand. The wily old Laban, however, has other plans. At the wedding feast he substitutes Rachel’s older sister, Leah, under the veil. Leah, we are delicately told, was not quite the looker her sister was, having “weak eyes†(perhaps this means she wore an ancient version of coke-bottle glasses?). Laban tells Jacob this is only appropriate, as the elder sister should marry first, but not to worry – another seven years of unpaid labor and Rachel will be his. Jacob goes for it. Leah may not be a beauty queen, but a baby-maker she is in spades, especially of sons. Rachel is so jealous that she sends her maidservant to Jacob to produce a couple of sons on her behalf. Finally after many years, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and then to Benjamin, after which she dies. Joseph becomes the favorite child of his father, although one has to wonder if he really could keep all those children straight.
