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The claim that Rebekah was 3 years old at the time of her marriage to Isaac stems from some traditional interpretations that attempt to align her birth with specific events in Genesis. However, a close examination of the biblical text reveals multiple lines of evidence that contradict this idea. Below, I outline six key arguments, each supported by textual details and logical reasoning.
Source for the idea:
Rabbi Rashi (1040-1105 AD), states Rebekah was 3 when married, suggesting also that she waited until fit for marital relations.
Rabbi Tobiah Ben Eliezer (1050-1108 AD) confirms this in Pesikta Zutrata on Genesis 24.
The Jewish Women's Archive cites Tractate Soferim, Hosafah 1, 1:4, stating Rebekah was 3 years and 3 days old when she left her father's house, interpreted as the time of marriage.
The presence of a "nursing woman" (Genesis 24:57-60) is cited as evidence of Rebekah's young age. Muslims suggest she was not self-sufficient, supporting the idea she was very young, possibly younger than 3 if she was still nursing.
1. Textual Evidence: The Structure of Genesis 22:20-24
The claim assumes Rebekah's birth was part of the news Abraham received in Genesis 22:20-24,shortly after the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) and around the time of Sarah's death (Genesis 23). Since Isaac was 37 at Sarah's death and 40 when he married Rebekah (Genesis 25:20), this would make Rebekah 3 if her birth coincided with the news. However:
- Genesis 22:20-24 states that Abraham was told about Nahor's family, listing eight sons born to Milcah, including Bethuel. Then, verse 23 adds, "and Bethuel begat Rebekah."
- In Hebrew, this clause uses a disjunctive structure (waw-consecutive with a perfect verb), suggesting it is a narrative aside by the author, not part of the news Abraham received.
- Thus, there is no textual evidence that Rebekah's birth was reported at that moment, undermining the timeline that would make her 3 years old at marriage.
- Because Rebekah was not included as one who was born in 22:20-24, we can't use this passage to note when she was born. If you do use this passage for her birth, then you are stating that her father, Bethuel, was born at the same time. As well as all 8 sons being born at the same time. Making a biological impossibility of her being the same age as her father and the near biological impossibility of having 8 children born at the same time naturally.
2. Linguistic Evidence: Virgin, Beauty, and Woman
The description of Rebekah in Genesis 24:16 uses the Hebrew term naarah (נַעֲרָה), which has implications for her age:
- Naarah typically refers to a young woman of marriageable age, generally between 12 and 20 years old, not a child.
- She is called an Isha, אשה, as well (Gen 24:51). Which is only used of adult women.
- She is called both an almah a bethula. Genesis 24:16, Gen 24:43
- The text further describes her as "a virgin, whom no man had known," reinforcing the idea of physical and social maturity.
- A 3-year-old would not be described as a naarah, indicating Rebekah was significantly older. Also naarah paired with "virgin" (בְּתוּלָה) makes it very unlikely to mean any woman who was pre-pubescent.
- The most suitable Hebrew word for a 3-year-old girl is yaldah (יַלְדָּה) which means young girl who is not old enough for marriage or tap (טַף) which is gender neutral for toddler.
- Exact Meaning: טֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד means "very beautiful in appearance" or "exceedingly pleasing in appearance," describing Rebekah's exceptional physical beauty in a visual, aesthetic sense. Rebekah beauty was visually appealing. While this doesn't carry the kind of sexual/sensual overtones as words like desire or covet do (or really ANYTHING in song of solomon), it does indicate someone who would be able to reproduce and is desirable to look at. A man could gain pleasure from her appearance. It could lead to sexual thoughts by gazing at her.
- To make Rebekah 3 would make this comment incredibly evil and extremely pedophilic. Since the phrase comes from the narrator, this would mean either Moses or Yahweh considered a 3 year old girl to be sexually beautiful or, at least, a person whose physical appearance could induce sexual desire.
3. Physical Evidence: Rebekah's Actions at the Well
Rebekah's physical capabilities in Genesis 24:15-20 provide strong evidence against her being a toddler:
- She drew water for Abraham's servant and his 10 camels, a task requiring substantial strength and endurance.
- A single camel can drink up to 200 liters (53 gallons) of water, meaning Rebekah handled approximately 2,000 liters (528 gallons) total.
- A 3-year-old, weighing around 13.4 kg (29.5 lbs), lacks the physical capacity to carry heavy water jars repeatedly over such a volume.
- This feat aligns with the abilities of a teenager or young adult, not a young child. Not even most modern western adults, who do not perform intensive labor tasks on a daily basis, would be able to achieve this feat.
4. Behavioral Evidence: Consent and Maturity
Rebekah's behavior demonstrates a level of maturity inconsistent with a 3-year-old:
- In Genesis 24:58,when asked if she would go with Abraham's servant to marry Isaac, she responds, "I will go."
- This explicit consent reflects an understanding of marriage and the ability to make a significant life decision.
- A 3-year-old lacks the cognitive and emotional development to comprehend or agree to such an arrangement, suggesting Rebekah was much older.
- "Another proof that she was of age is that we have an iron clad rule that parents must not marry off a girl who has already reached puberty unless she has been asked and given her consent. The fact that in our chapter Rebekah's family proceeds to ask for her consent proves that without it the parents could not have married her off." Chizkiah ben Manoach (Chizkuni)
5. Cultural Evidence: Veiling and the Role of the Nurse
Cultural details in the narrative further support Rebekah being a young woman:
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Veiling: In Genesis 24:65,Rebekah veils herself upon meeting Isaac, a practice associated with adult women in marital contexts in the ancient Near East, not children.
Purpose of Veiling: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, veiling was often a sign of modesty, social status, or marital readiness, particularly for women entering marriageable age. It was not typically required for young children but became relevant at puberty or when a woman was eligible for betrothal.
Age of Marriageability:
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In the patriarchal period, girls were considered marriageable around the onset of puberty, typically between 12 and 15 years old. This is supported by studies of ancient Near Eastern marriage practices, such as those discussed in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (entry on "Marriage").
- Veiling was associated with this transition, as it signaled a woman's readiness for marriage or her status as a bride. For example, in Mesopotamian texts (e.g., the Code of Hammurabi, circa 1754 BCE), veiling is linked to married or betrothed women, not prepubescent girls.
Examples from Related Cultures:
- In ancient Sumerian and Akkadian societies, veiling was a practice for women of marriageable age, often during betrothal or marriage ceremonies, as noted in Women in the Ancient Near East by Marten Stol.
- In later Jewish tradition (e.g., Mishnah, Ketubot 5:2), girls were betrothed around 12-13, aligning with the age when modesty practices like veiling became relevant.
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Nurse: Genesis 24:59 mentions her nurse accompanying her. While some might argue this suggests infancy (younger than 3), in ancient culture, nurses often remained long-term companions for young women of marriageable age, not just infants.
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These elements align with Rebekah being a mature individual, who was ready to start a family, not a toddler.
6. Chronological Evidence: Flexibility in the Timeline
The timeline underpinning the claim is speculative and not required by the text:
- The news in Genesis 22:20-24 is not explicitly tied to the events of Genesis 22 (Isaac's binding) or Genesis 23 (Sarah's death).
- Travel between Hebron and Haran (approximately 800 miles or 1,287 km) at ancient speeds (20-30 miles per day) could take months, and communication delays were common.
- The news could reflect events from years prior, meaning Rebekah's birth need not align with Isaac's age at the time, making the 3-year-old calculation uncertain.
- There is also nothing within the text that suggests quick succession in events between chapters 21-24. There is at least a decade jump in time between 21 and 22. There is a 37 year jump between 21 and 23. 22 doesn't have the time in which Rebekah was born as she isn't included in the news report itself but only listed as an aside via the author's interjection. We only know that there was a 3 year gap between 23 and 24. Not how much time Rebekah was already alive from 22 to 24.
- Overall there are 40 years of time between 21 and 24 that are only loosely accounted for. Rebekah could have very easily been 12-30. The likely age was around full adulthood so 16-22 from the physical feat she demonstrated and her description of beauty showing that she was fully mature; being fully post-pubescent (older than 16).
They had sex genesis 24:67. The common Muslim and Jewish interpretation is that he married her and then had sex with her when she was old enough later on. Genesis 24 seems to suggest they instantly had sex. This doesn't work with her being 3 for several reasons.
1) a three year old can't have sex with an adult man without risking serious injury and death.
2) it says he loved her. A man can't love a 3 year old and have sex with her. It's not loving to risk death to your spouse by having sex with her well before puberty.
Overarching Syllogism
To summarize the argument in syllogistic form here is a logical structure that captures the essence of the evidence:
- Major Premise: If Rebekah was 3 years old when she married Isaac, then the biblical text would support her birth being reported in Genesis 22:20-24,and her actions and descriptions would be consistent with those of a 3-year-old.
- Minor Premise: However, the biblical text does not confirm her birth was part of the news in Genesis 22:20-24,and her actions (drawing water for 10 camels, giving consent) and descriptions (naarah, veiling) are inconsistent with a 3-year-old.
- Conclusion: Therefore, Rebekah was not 3 years old when she married Isaac.
Conclusion
The idea that Rebekah was 3 years old when she married Isaac lacks substantiation in the Genesis account. The textual structure does not tie her birth to the news Abraham received, while linguistic, physical, behavioral, cultural, and chronological evidence all point to her being a young woman of marriageable age—likely in her teens or early twenties. Her ability to perform demanding tasks, give informed consent, and engage in adult cultural practices, combined with the flexibility of the timeline, collectively refute the claim. Thus, based on a thorough analysis of the biblical text and its context, Rebekah was not 3 years old at the time of her marriage to Isaac.
But even if Isaac did marry a 3 year old, that doesn't change anything about Mohammed being a pedophile and evil. Just because one man does an evil thing, doesn't justify another man to do the same evil thing. Both things would be evil. We don't say murder and adultery are good because David did them. It was wrong for him and it is wrong for Mohammed.