Rebekah saw the tears beginning to gather in her mother’s eyes. “So you wish I were marrying that old man Laban chose for me?”
“Ayeeeee,” her mother objected, throwing her hands in the air. “I would rather see you dead than married to such a one.”
“Eleazar says my young cousin is handsome, very rich, and generous.” Rebekah held her arm out and twisted the bracelets back and forth with obvious delight.
“His mother, our Sarah, died. Who will show you what to do? How will you manage?”
Rebekah shrugged and looked at her mother with amusement. “Look, I’ll show you.” With that she pulled her mantle around to cover her face so only her eyes were showing. She lowered her head and took small mincing steps as she had seen the local brides do so often. “I’ll be the perfect bride. You needn’t worry. I’ll be shy and quiet.” She spoke the words in a low, diffident manner that surprised her mother.
“There, that is right,” her mother said, smiling. “That is the way. A bride must remember these things are important.”
Rebekah stopped and looked with delight at her mother. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she reached out and hugged her. “I will do everything right until they are used to me and then … I may surprise them with my true self.” Here she flung back the mantle and with quick springing steps danced across the room.
“Too much freedom. I gave you too much freedom,” her mother cried as she sank down among the colorful bedrolls all neatly stacked in the corner of the room.
Rebekah saw that her mother was really disturbed and she felt remorseful that she had caused her so much concern. “Come, Mother,” she said. “I promise I’ll be shy, quiet, and modest just as you would wish.”
“You’ll keep your face covered …”
“I promise. I’ll do everything just the way everyone expects.”
With that her mother struggled to her feet and brushed her gown to straighten it, adjusted her mantle, and then with one long, fond look at her daughter, said, “There’s one consolation, you’re going to close relatives. You’ll be safe—no talk of divorce, beatings, or turning you out.” She sighed and wiped two large tears from her cheeks, then in a burst of emotion she embraced Rebekah and clung to her sobbing.
There was the sound of running, then voices low and insistent. Slowly her mother released her as she whispered, “It’s time to go. It’s bad luck to keep men waiting.”
With that, the two went out to join the others in the courtyard.
* * *
At the very last moment Rebekah’s mother called Deborah, Rebekah’s old nurse, aside. “Here,” she said, handing her a small, tightly wrapped bundle. “These are the swaddling clothes I wove with my own hands for my daughter’s first child.”
Deborah took the soft, flaxen bundle and was about to put it in with her things when she felt something hard slightly protruding from the cloth. She gave the mother a questioning glance.
“It is nothing, nothing to concern you,” the mother said as she looked around furtively. She nervously pulled Deborah aside to where none of the others could hear what she said. “You understand. I will not be there to help her. She may need this.” She reached out and pulled at the soft cloth until it covered the hard, dark object completely.
“A small goddess?” Deborah asked.
The mother nodded and whispered, “One made by old Terah in Ur.”
“But …” Deborah knew she would be severely punished if it were discovered that she was leaving with one of the household fertility gods. The ones from Ur that had been made by Terah’s workmen were especially prized.
“They are expecting many children,” the mother said, giving Deborah a knowing look. When she saw that Deborah didn’t quite understand, she leaned forward and whispered, “God forbid but she may be like our kinswoman, Sarah.” With that she drew the mantle across her mouth to stifle a sob.
Deborah was immediately filled with compassion. She tucked the package into the small bundle of her belongings. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “I’ll be there to take care of her.”
With that the mother impulsively grabbed both of Deborah’s hands and kissed them. “You must care for her in my place.”
“I swear by the gods of Ur, she will lack nothing.” The two women exchanged a long, meaningful look and then went together out into the busy courtyard.
It was immediately obvious that Laban was nervous and impatient. He, more than the others, was well aware of the conflict that could result if Rebekah did not get away as quickly as possible. He was frantically urging, cajoling, and insisting that they hurry. As a result it was within the hour that Rebekah mounted her camel and was ready to follow Eleazar and his men out the city gate and down past the well where she had met him such a short time ago.