The small children ran giggling and laughing to tell Jacob that someone wanted to see him.
Jacob approached the caravan with great suspicion. He could not imagine who would know to look for him here. “Can I help you?” he asked hesitantly.
The old lady leaned out farther and stared at him and then past him as though searching for a familiar face. She frowned and ordered the boy to have the camel kneel so she could alight. With amazing agility for one so obviously old, she clambered down from the nest of skins she had been lying in. “I must see Jacob,” she said.
Jacob had stood puzzling over the strange sight. The woman was vaguely familiar. She clung to the young camel boy as though she was in pain, but her head was held high and her eyes, kind and gentle, moved over the small gathering as though she was looking for someone. “I must see Jacob,” she said. “I have an important message for him.”
At that Jacob recognized her and ran forward. “Deborah,” he said, choking back the tears. “You are Deborah, my mother’s nurse.”
* * *
It was indeed the Deborah who had not only been his mother’s nurse but had also taken care of him when he was a baby. He wanted to take her to his tent and see that she had all the attention and special care she might need. He could see that she was not well.
“No, no,” she said gently smiling. “I’m tired of being closed in with the odor of unguents and ointments and goatskins. Let me sit under that lovely oak tree and get a look at your family, and then I must talk to you. I have much to tell you.”
The oak tree turned out to be a very good choice. A rug was thrown down and quickly a mat with back piece and armrests was placed under the tree, and she was led to this shaded bower by Jacob himself. When she was settled and had been plied with cool melons, fresh figs, and some pomegranate wine, Jacob suggested that she rest.
“No,” she said leaning forward and clutching his sleeve with her thin fingers. “I must see your wives and your children and then I must talk with you. My time may be short and I have much to tell you.”
Jacob could see that she was serious, so he had Leah and Rachel come and sit with them. He then told Bilhah and Zilpah to bring his children so she could meet them. To each one she had something special to say, some unique blessing in the name of Rebekah their grandmother and Isaac their grandfather. It was obvious that she saw the sons as wonderfully handsome young men and Dinah as lovely as her grandmother. Jacob could see the surprise in his sons’ eyes as they realized that she saw only the potential and knew nothing of the reality.
When the children had gone, Deborah turned to Rachel who was sitting next to her. “My dear,” she said, “I can see you aren’t well. It’s not easy to carry a child under these circumstances.”
Rachel smiled. “To one who has been childless for so long, it is no trouble.” Deborah gave her a strange, sad look and patted her hand.
“The young boy with the curling hair and the questioning, intelligent look who brought me the pomegranate wine was your son?” she asked.
“Yes, he is Joseph,” Rachel said proudly. Then a bit shyly she added, “I have only the one, while my sister, Leah, has so many.”
Deborah seemed to notice Leah for the first time. “Her blessing is obvious,” she said smiling, “while yours is all contained in one special lad.”
Leah beamed and Rachel felt comforted.
It was only after they had left that Deborah turned to Jacob. “I know you think I should rest, but I have much to tell you and I must do that first.”
Jacob protested but he could see that she was determined. He found himself fearing what she might have to tell him. He dreaded hearing of his mother’s disappointment when he didn’t get home before she died, and he was sure Esau had been critical of him. What his father was thinking he could not imagine. He almost expected her to tell him that he was no longer welcome in his father’s tent.
Somehow, being a wise old woman, she was able to see all these conflicting emotions and thoughts without Jacob’s telling her anything. “Don’t be afraid, Jacob,” she said, laying her hand on his arm and looking at him with a sharp intensity. “I am bringing you good news.”
“How can it be good news when my mother has died?” he asked with a catch in his voice, turning away so she could not see the tears that welled in his eyes.
“Your mother was concerned about that, and she made me promise that I would come and help you understand.”
“Understand what? It’s quite obvious that I broke her heart and wasn’t there when she needed me.”