Rachel

Rachel was the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her long struggle for children and rivalry with Leah are central to the family narrative behind the origins of the tribes of Israel.

Rachel also worked as prophet. Rachel died in Canaan. Rachel dies while giving birth to Benjamin and is buried on the road to Bethlehem according to Genesis; her sons Joseph and Benjamin became ancestors of important Israelite tribal traditions.

In Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, The novel follows Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah through marriage, motherhood, rivalry and household ritual, making the women’s tent a centre of memory, birth and female community.