How old was Rebecca when she married Isaac?

The age of Rebecca when she married Isaac is a fascinating and often debated topic among biblical scholars and theologians. The Bible does not provide an explicit age for Rebecca at the time of her marriage to Isaac, which has led to various interpretations and theories based on the scriptural narrative and historical context.

The primary account of Rebecca's marriage to Isaac is found in Genesis 24. In this chapter, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac from among his relatives in Mesopotamia. The servant meets Rebecca at a well, and she agrees to marry Isaac and travel back to Canaan with the servant.

To estimate Rebecca's age, we must consider several key pieces of information from the biblical text and Jewish tradition.

First, let's examine the timeline of events surrounding Isaac's life. According to Genesis 21:5, Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old. In Genesis 22, we read about the binding of Isaac, which Jewish tradition often places when Isaac was 37 years old. This event is followed by the death of Sarah, Isaac's mother, at the age of 127 (Genesis 23:1). This means that Isaac was 37 years old when Sarah died.

Genesis 24 does not provide a specific age for Isaac at the time of his marriage to Rebecca, but it does mention that Isaac was comforted after his mother's death by marrying Rebecca (Genesis 24:67). This suggests that the marriage took place relatively soon after Sarah's death.

Additionally, Genesis 25:20 states that Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebecca. This provides a clear age for Isaac but does not directly tell us Rebecca's age.

Jewish tradition offers some insights into Rebecca's age. According to the Talmud (Yevamot 61b), Rebecca was three years old when she was betrothed to Isaac. This interpretation is based on a chronological calculation that attempts to reconcile various events and ages mentioned in the biblical text. However, this interpretation is highly controversial and not universally accepted, as it raises significant ethical and practical questions about the feasibility of such a young marriage.

A more commonly accepted view among scholars and theologians is that Rebecca was likely a young woman, possibly in her early to mid-teens, at the time of her marriage. This view is based on the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, where it was customary for girls to marry in their early teens. Additionally, Genesis 24:16 describes Rebecca as a "young woman" (Hebrew: "na'arah"), which often refers to a girl of marriageable age, typically in her teens.

To further support this view, let's consider the broader narrative of Rebecca's life. In Genesis 25:21-26, we learn that Rebecca gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob, after 20 years of marriage. If Rebecca were in her early to mid-teens at the time of her marriage, she would have been in her mid-30s when she gave birth, which aligns with the typical childbearing age for women in ancient times.

Moreover, the description of Rebecca's actions and responsibilities in Genesis 24 suggests that she was mature enough to make independent decisions and undertake significant tasks. For example, she draws water for the servant and his camels (Genesis 24:18-20) and makes the decision to leave her family and travel to Canaan (Genesis 24:58). These actions indicate a level of maturity and capability consistent with a young woman in her teens.

In summary, while the Bible does not provide an explicit age for Rebecca at the time of her marriage to Isaac, a careful examination of the scriptural narrative and historical context suggests that she was likely in her early to mid-teens. This view aligns with the cultural practices of the ancient Near East and the broader narrative of Rebecca's life as described in the Bible.