Deborah (Hebrew:דְּבוֹרָהDeborah) appears in theHebrew Bible as thewet nurse ofRebecca (Genesis 35:8). She is first mentioned by name in theTorah when she dies in a place calledAllon Bachuth (אלון בכות), "Tree of Weepings" (Genesis 35:8), and is buried byJacob, who is returning with his large family toCanaan.
According toRashi, Deborah was sent byLaban to care for his sister Rebecca when the latter went to marryIsaac (Genesis 24:59). After Rebecca's son Jacob had been away from home for 22 years, Rebecca dispatched her loyal nurse to tell Jacob that it was safe for him to return home. The elderly nurse delivered her message and died on the return journey.
According to theBook of Jasher, Deborah was the daughter of Uz, who was the first son ofMilcah andNahor. Deborah joined Rebecca, her cousin, on her journey to marry Isaac. Rebecca later sent Deborah with two of Isaac's servants toHaran to findJacob and ask him to return to his father's house in the land ofCanaan. She remained in Haran with Jacob and stayed to tend to his wives and children, while the other servants returned. Later, God told Jacob to move toBethel and make an altar, and Deborah died there and was buried under an oak.[1]
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