Deborah (Genesis)


Deborah appears in the Hebrew Bible as the nurse of Rebecca. She is first mentioned by name in the Torah when she dies in a place called Alon Bachot, "Tree of Weepings", and is buried by Jacob, who is returning with his large family to Canaan.
According to Rashi, Deborah was sent by Laban to care for his sister Rebecca when the latter went to marry Isaac. 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.