We will find several Mothers of Israel. But the four I find most interesting according to the Torah, Old Testament are; Deborah, Rachel, Leah and Sarah.
Deborah was a Prophet of God. The 4th Judge of pre-monarchic Israel: a counselor, warrior , and wife. She is the only female Judge mentioned in the Bible. Dates have her recorded back in the 12th century B.C. where she leads a successful counterattack against the forces Jabin, King of Canaan and his military commander Sisera.
The people of Israel had been oppressed by Jabin for 20 years. After the battle, there was peace for 40 years.
Of course, there is much more to Deborah’s story but you’ll have to read it yourself.
Rachel and Leah
Rachel and Leah were sisters. They both married Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, and grandson of Abraham. As we know from the Bible, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (one who struggles with God) and from his sons came the tribes of Israel, the Israelites.
Therefore, Rachel and Leah are referred to as The Mothers of Israel.
The story of the marriages is that Jacob was sent to Haran (today in Iraq) by his mother to live with her brother. There he met his first cousin Rachel and became infatuated with her. It was agreed he could marry Rachel after working for his uncle for seven years. After seven years, the wedding was set but according to custom the older sister was to be married first. Leban, Rachel and Leah’s father made a wedding night switch, in which Leah was substituted in the darkness without Jacob’s knowledge. In the morning, the explosive situation was diffused, to everyone’s apparent agreement, by Jacob then also marrying Rachel – in exchange for another 7 years of labor.
Sarah, wife of the first of three patriarchs of Judaism, Abraham. Abraham plays a prominent role as an example of faith in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Sarah’s role was one of console and loyalty. She too displays great faith. She had been barren her whole life until at 90 plus years old when she became pregnant with Isaac. Abraham was said to be 100 years old.
In the Jewish faith, it is believed that all Jews have Sarah and Abraham as the Mother and Father of all.
