Rachel lit. 'Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, & the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of a twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban. Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's number one wife. Her aunt Rebecca was Jacob's mother.
Rachel's son Joseph was destined to be the leader of Israel's tribes between exile and nationhood. This role is exemplified in the Biblical story of Joseph, who prepared the way in Egypt for his family's exile there.
After Joseph's birth, Jacob decided to return to the land of Canaan with his family. Fearing that Laban would deter him, he fled with his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and twelve children without informing his father-in-law. Laban pursued him and accused him of stealing his idols. Indeed, Rachel had taken her father's idols, hidden them inside her camel's seat cushion, and sat upon them. Laban had neglected to administer his daughters their inheritance .
Not knowing that the idols were in his wife's possession, Jacob pronounced a curse on whoever had them: "With whoever you will find your gods, he will non live" . Laban proceeded to search the tents of Jacob and his wives, but when he came to Rachel's tent, she told her father, "Let not my lord be angered that I cannot rise up ago you, for the way of women is upon me" . Laban left her alone, and the idols were not discovered.