Rachel (Wives of the Patriarchs) by Jill Eileen Smith

ISBN13: 9780800734312
Paperback: $14.99
Revell a division of Baker
Publishing Group

About the book: Combining meticulous research with her own imaginings, Jill Eileen Smith not only tells one of the most famous love stories of all time but will manage to surprise even those who think they know the story inside and out

Review:  Rachel is a lovely young lady who loves adventure. She loves helping her father and brother's with the sheep. One day she goes to the well and meets a handsome young man named Jacob. He ends up being her cousin. Rachel and Jacob fall in love right away. Jacob makes a deal with her father, Laban, to work seven years for her hand in marriage.

Rachel has an older sister named Leah who is not married. In the culture of Biblical times, it would look bad on the family for the younger sister to marry first. So Laban goes to Leah and tells her that she is going to marry Jacob. Leah tries to argue with him but to no avail. When Laban tells Rachel, she can not believe that her father would do this to her and Jacob. Laban has Leah keep her identity secret through out the wedding festivities.

When Jacob awoke the morning after his wedding and saw Leah instead of Rachel he was furious. He confronted Laban and said he had to make things right. Laban tells him that he could marry Rachel at the end of the wedding week if he promised to work another seven years. Jacob agrees and at the end of the week marries Rachel. Now Rachel has to share the man she loves with her sister.

It was a struggle from day one. Rachel is unable to have children and watches her sister Leah have four. It causes Rachel much grief and bitterness. The sisters are in a constant battle of trying to win Jacob's attention. Finally Rachel has a son for Jacob. This son's name is Joseph and Jacob favors him over all of Leah's children.  Many years pass before she is able to have another son. Rachel dies during his birth. This sons name was Benjamin.

I would recommend this book. It was a very good take on what life would have been like for Rachel.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Revell a division of Baker Publishing in exchange for our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.