We often assume that the patriarchy ruled Israel. However, while the patriarchs received the promise, it was the matriarchs who saw the future and moved the story forward. They ensured the divine plan unfolded as it should. The matriarchs saw Israel’s future and took action to bring about divine order and fulfill the prophecies. It was the women who built Israel. The matriarchs remind us that faith is fruitless without action.
Sarah Built Israel
When Abraham wavered about turning out Hagar and Ishmael it was Sarah who insisted he do so. She insisted that Ishmael could not inherit alongside her son. Though Abraham was upset about this, G-d told him to listen to his wife and do as she says. Gen 21:12 says, “And God said unto Abraham, “Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman. In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
In Hebrew this verse means more than listen to your wife. The verbiage used here is SHAMA. Shama means to listen and obey. It is the same wording used when the Torah commands us to listen to G-d. This implies that her voice in this instance was communicating divine knowledge. Chaim Ben Torah explains that “What God basically said was: “Listen to Sarah.” It is not that she just stumbled on God’s plan, but she knew God’s plan. She understood God’s plan better than Abraham. Rashi, the great Jewish commentator calls her a prophetess… ” She understood the plan better than the man. This theme of the women having special knowledge of G-d’s divine plan and acting to make it so continues throughout the Torah.
Because Sarah acted to make Abraham cast out Ishmael the promise and covenant passed to Issac instead of Ishmael who as the first born would have traditionally received the blessing. Without Sarah having heard the word of G-d and acted outside of tradition to protect the future G-d predicted for Israel, the blessing and covenant would have passed to Ishmael, whose descendants would become the Islamic nation. Sarah acted bravely to ensure the covenant passed to Issac and the future of Israel was secured.
Rebekah Built Israel
This story later repeats itself with Rebekah. The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women suggest Rebekah replaced Sarah as the woman who protects the covenant. They state, “Rebekah Replaces Sarah: The midrash states that God does not cause the sun of one righteous person to set until He causes the sun of another righteous one to rise, as it is said (Eccl. 1:5): “The sun rises, and the sun sets.” Thus, before God caused the sun of Sarah to set, He caused the sun of Rebekah to shine (Gen. Rabbah 58:2).” Rebekah, like Sarah, heard a prophecy of the future of Israel and acted to make it come true. The difference is Rebekah didn’t hear the prophecy from her husband. She went seeking knowledge.
Nations Wrestled Within Her
She was pregnant with twins who wrestled in the womb. This disturbed her so she went to Shem the son of Noah for advice according to the Talmud. Genesis 25:22 says, “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So, she went to inquire of the LORD.” There G-d told her that two nations wrestled in her womb and that the greater would serve the lesser. Rebekah was the only person who had heard the prophecy. According to the Midrash G-d also told Rebekah that he hates Esau but loves Jacob and further enlightened her to the fact that Esau would be evil.
Rebekah Loved Jacob
For this reason, Rebekah loved Jacob more. Later when Issac prepares to bless Esau, Rebekah has the youngest son, Jacob, dress as his brother to deceive the blind Issac. Because of her brave action the blessing passed to Jacob who would later become Israel. Otherwise, the blessing would have gone to Esau who later in rabbinic tradition becomes associated with Edom and Rome, the empire that eventually adopted Christianity. The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women explains, “For the Rabbis, Esau represents the Roman empire, and they used the names “Esau” or “Edom” as code words when they wanted to criticize the authorities or to complain of the difficulties posed by foreign rule, so that these sentiments would be understood only by Jews.”
If Sarah had not forced Abraham to turn out Ishmael Israel would not exist. Instead, the Muslim faith would have received the blessing of the covenant. Had Rebekah not deceived Issac, Esau and the Christian faith would have got the blessing. The brave actions of the women who built Israel ensured the Jewish nation survived and kept the blessing. Had it been left up to the men the nation would have failed in the first two generations.
Faith Requires Action
The women who built Israel acted against the cultural and traditional values of their time in order to create the kingdom G-d wanted. We must do the same. When, like Rebekah, we are honored with a prophecy only we hear and understand, we must take action to ensure it comes true, despite the world who says we are wrong. Israel was not called to behave as other nations. She was called to be a people set apart. Go forward and listen to your wives as Abraham listened to Sarah, because while men hear the promise the women fulfill it. It is the women who built Israel. Faith alone is dead, but brave action taken by the women of the tribe builds a nation.
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