Save "Elokei Avraham, Rivkah and Yaakov?"
Elokei Avraham, Rivkah and Yaakov?
Connection to the Akeda

(כ) וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃ (כא) אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃ (כב) וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ (כג) וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃

(20) Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah too has borne children to your brother Nahor: (21) Uz the first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram; (22) and Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel”— (23) Bethuel being the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

(א) אחרי הדברים האלה ויגד וגו' בְּשׁוּבוֹ מֵהַר הַמּוֹרִיָה הָיָה אַבְרָהָם מְהַרְהֵר וְאוֹמֵר אִלּוּ הָיָה בְנִי שָׁחוּט כְּבָר, הָיַָה הוֹלֵך בְּלֹא בָנִים, הָיָה לִי לְהַשִׂיאוֹ אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת עָנַר אֶשְׁכּוֹל וּמַמְרֵא, בִּשְּׂרוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה רִבְקָה בַת זוּגוֹ, וְזֶהוּ הדברים האלה, הַרְהוֹרֵי דְבָרִים, שֶׁהָיוּ עַל יְדֵי עֲקֵידָה:
(1) אחרי הדברים האלה AFTER THESE THINGS [IT WAS TOLD ABRAHAM] etc. — When he returned from Mount Moriah Abraham was pondering and he said, “If my son had really been slain, he would have died without children! I must marry him to one of the daughters of Aner or Eshcol or Mamre”. The Holy One, blessed be He, therefore had the announcement made to him that Rebecca, the one fit to be his (Isaac’s) consort, had been born. This is what is meant by “after these things or words” — namely, “after the words” that expressed the thoughts aroused by the Binding of Isaac (Genesis Rabbah 57:3).
(ב) גם היא אַף הִיא הִשְׁוָת מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֶיהָ לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹת אַבְרָהָם י"ב מַה אַבְרָהָם י"ב שְׁבָטִים, שֶׁיָצְאוּ מֵיַעֲקֹב, ח' בְּנֵי הַגְּבִירוֹת וד' בְֵּני שְׁפָחוֹת, אַף אֵלּוּ ח' בְּנֵי גְבִירוֹת וְד' בְּנֵי פִּלֶּגֶשׁ:
(2) גם היא SHE ALSO — She also had a number of families equal in all respects to those which Abraham was to have — namely, twelve, and just as in the case of Abraham, of the twelve tribes born of Jacob) eight were the children of the principal wives and four those of the hand-maids, so here, also, eight were sons of the principal wife and four were sons of the concubine (Genesis Rabbah 57:3).
(א) ובתואל ילד את רבקה כָּל הַיִּחוּסִין הֲלָלוּ לֹא נִכְתְּבוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל פָּסוּק זֶה:
(1) ובתואל ילד את רבקה AND BETHUEL BEGAT REBECCA — The entire genealogical record is given only for the sake of this verse (i. e. to lead up to this verse).
(א) מלכה גם היא בעבור היותה בת הרן אחיו היתה בשורה לאברהם שנפקד אחיו הגדול בבנים רבים מבת אחיו המת ומלשון הכתוב נראה שלא ידע באחד מהם בלתי היום ואם היתה פקודתם בימי בחורותם אי אפשר שלא שמעו עד היום כי אין המרחק רב בין ארם נהרים ובין ארץ כנען והנה אברהם בצאתו מחרן בן ע"ה שנה וגם נחור זקן ואשתו איננה בחורה אבל עשה ה' להם נס שנפקדו בימי הזקנה וזה טעם "מלכה גם היא" ובדברי רבותינו (ילק"ש רמז תשסו) יאמר שנפקדה כאחותה

Since she (Milcah) was the daughter of Haran,(Avraham's) brother, this news was reported to Avraham; that his older brother had many (grand) children from the daughter of his dead brother. From the text it appears that he did not know of any of them until this day. If they were born earlier when she was young it would have been impossible that is was not known until today because the distance between Aram Naharaim and Canaan isn't so far. Also, Nahor was elderly and his wife was not a young woman anymore. Rather, God performed a miracle that in her elderly years she gave birth. This is why it is written ''Also Milcah'' and in the words of our Rabbis (Yilkut Shimoni 766) it says 'she gave birth like her sister'.

The Prophetess

(כב) וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־ה'׃

(22) But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?” She went to inquire of the LORD,

(ד) ותלך לדרוש לְבֵית מִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁם:
(4) ותלך לדרש AND SHE WENT TO ENQUIRE at the school of Shem (Genesis Rabbah 63:6).
(ה) לדרוש את ה’ שֶׁיַּגִּיד לָהּ מָה תְּהֵא בְּסוֹפָהּ:
(5) 'לדרש את ה, TO ENQUIRE OF THE LORD, that He might tell her what would happen to her at the end.
(א) ותאמר אם כן אחרי שהדבר כן שמתרוצצין ויש לחוש שימות אחד מהם ואסתכן אני בלידה כמנהג בלידת עובר מת.
(1) ותאמר אם כן, after it is a fact that these fetuses already are at each other’s throats I have reason to be afraid that one of them will die so that I endanger myself by giving birth to them, causing one of them to be stillborn.
(ב) למה זה אנכי. למה זה התאוו קרובי שתהיה אני אם הזרע באמרם את הה' לאלפי רבבה וכן בעלי שהתפלל עלי בזה:
(2) למה זה אנכי, why were my relatives so concerned that it would be I who provide the seed for Yitzchok when they said את היי לאלפי רבבה, “may it be you who will be the source of millions.” (24,60) Also, why did my husband insist that I become the mother of his children?
(ס) וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו׃

(60) And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “O sister! May you grow Into thousands of myriads; May your offspring seize The gates of their foes.”

(א) את הה' לאלפי רבבה אַתְּ וְזַרְעֵךְ תְּקַבְּלוּ אוֹתָהּ בְּרָכָה שֶׁנֶאֳמַר לְאַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲךָ וגו', יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיְּהֵא אוֹתוֹ הַזֶּרַע מִמֵּךְ וְלֹא מֵאִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת:
(1) את היי לאלפי רבבה MAYEST THOU BECOME THOUSANDS OF MYRIADS —May you and your seed receive that blessing which was promised to Abraham on Mount Moriah, (Genesis 22:17) “I will greatly multiply thy seed … [and let thy seed possess the gates of their enemies]”. May it be God’s will that that seed may proceed from you and not from another woman”.
(טז) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בִּ֥י נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי נְאֻם־ה' כִּ֗י יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וְלֹ֥א חָשַׂ֖כְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֥ אֶת־יְחִידֶֽךָ׃ (יז) כִּֽי־בָרֵ֣ךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ֗ וְהַרְבָּ֨ה אַרְבֶּ֤ה אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכַח֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֣ת הַיָּ֑ם וְיִרַ֣שׁ זַרְעֲךָ֔ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר אֹיְבָֽיו׃
(16) and said, “By Myself I swear, the LORD declares: Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your favored one, (17) I will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore; and your descendants shall seize the gates of their foes.
(א) את וזרעך תקבלו אותה ברכה וכו'. לכך נקט זרעך דהא הברכות ליצחק נתנה ולא לה והא דכתיב את והיא לא היתה בכלל הברכה אלא מכיון שזרעה זוכה בה הוי כאילו היא עצמה זכתה בה:
(1) May you and your descendants receive the same blessing... Rashi said, “May it be His will that those descendants...” [but did not speak directly of her,] because the blessings were given to Yitzchok, not to Rivkah. [You might ask:] Is it not written [that they said to her, “May you become thousands of myriads,” even though she was not included in the blessings [to Yitzchok]? The answer is: If her descendants receive the blessing, it is considered as though she received it herself.
(ב) תהיי לאלפי רבבה ויירש זרעך כמו שנשבע האל ית' לזרעו של אברהם:
(2) לאלפי רבבה ויירש זרעך, as the G’d in heaven has blessed the descendants of Avraham.

(א) את הה' לאלפי רבבה ויירש זרעך - ממך יצאו אותם הבנים שנאמר בהם בשעת עקידה ויירש זרעך את שער אויביו.

(1) את היי לאלפי רבבה ויירש דרעך, may all these children originate from you, as it had been said to Avraham at the time of the binding of Yitzchok: “your descendants will conquer the gates of their enemies” (22,17)

Irmtraud Fischer, "Genesis 12-50: The Story of Israel's Origins as a Women's Story" in Feminist Biblical Interpretation
"Abraham imposes only one condition on the servant's assignment: the woman must be willing to leave her country, her relatives, and her family, as he himself once did (24:5-8; cf. 12:1-4a). When the servant arrives in the town of Nahor, he sits down by the well, which in ancient Oriental towns was the meeting place for women. He find what he was looking for in Rebekah, whose introduction in the narrative is constructed like an appearance. "Behold, Rebekah came out" (v. 15). Rebekah is not only the woman who matches the patriarchal ideals that the servant obviously understands to be the criteria for G-d's choice (vv. 14, 42-44). She is the woman of the right family to which the genealogy in 22:20-24 had already pointed: the family tree of Milcah and Nahor culminates in 22:23a in the brief note of conception (!) of Rebekah. Her story is made to be parallel to that of Abraham because she, like him, leaves her people, her relatives, and her family and announces her decision with "I will go" (24:58), just like Abraham, who in days gone by followed G-d's voice and left (cf. 12:4). Not Isaac but Rebekah is portrayed as the adequate link in the promise of the Abrahamic line. This becomes clear in the bridal blessing for Rebekah: "May your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes" (24:60), which is almost the exact wording of the last promise to Abraham after his successful test in 22:17. Isaac, on the other hand, is linked with the tradition of Abraham's failure when he, like his father before him, lies to Abimelech saying that his wife is his sister (26:1-11).

אברבנל על פרשת חיי שרה

אמנם נתנו לה ברכה מעליא שאמרו לה אחותנו את הה' לאלפי רבבה ויירש זרעך את שער שונאיו. כי הנה ברכוה בב' דברים הא' ברבוי הזרע את הה' לאלפי רבבה. והב' בכבודו ומעלתו וזהו ויירש זרעך את שער שונאיו. ונראים הדברים שהם דברי אל חי ששם אותם בפיהם כי בזה הלשון עצמו נאמר לאברהם בשעת העקדה ויירש זרעך את שער שונאיו

Abarbanel on Parashat Chaye Sarah

Really, she was given the greater bracha as they said to her: "“O sister! May you grow Into thousands of myriads; May your offspring seize The gates of their foes.” Here, she was given two blessings: First with the abundance of her offspring and the second that your offspring will conquer the gates of their enemies. These words are the words of the Living God who placed them into their mouths. We know this because these same words were told by God to Avraham at the time of the Akeda.

Mother of Judeo-Christian World
(כג) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ה' לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גיים [גוֹיִם֙] בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃

(23) and the LORD answered her, “Two nations are in your womb, Two separate peoples shall issue from your body; One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”

(א) ויאמר ה’ לה עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ; לְשֵׁם נֶאֱמַר בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהוּא אָמַר לָהּ (בראשית רבה):
(1) ויאמר ה' לה AND THE ETERNAL SAID UNTO HER through a messenger: it was told to Shem by holy inspiration and he told it to her (Genesis Rabbah 63:7).
(א) ויאמר ה' לה - ע"י נביא.
(1) ויאמר ה' לה, G’d’s answer was provided by the prophet.
(ד) ורב יעבוד צעיר - ולכן אהבת את יעקב שאהבו הקב"ה, וכדכתיב: ואהב את יעקב.
(4) ורב יעבוד צעיר, that the younger one would in fact be senior to the older one; as a result of this prophecy Rivkah loved Yaakov more than Esau already from birth.
(א) ויאמר ה' לה שני גוים בבטנך. הפך ממה שחשבת אלא רשות אחד יש, אמנם ב' ילדים בבטנך אחד יהיה עובד ה' ואחד עובד ע״ג ולעולם ה' אחד ואין זולתו. וי״א שנאמר ויעתר יצחק לה' לנוכח אשתו, לפי שהוא היה צדיק בן צדיק על כן היה מובטח שמצדו יהיה לו זרע הגון, אך היה ירא מצד אשתו כי היא בת בתואל ואחות לבן שלא יצא ממנה איזו זרע פסול שהרי עקרה היא, ממנה נמשך העקרות על כן היה ירא פן יצא ממנה זרע בלתי הגון כמו שיצא ישמעאל מהגר ואולי זה סיבת עקרותה. וכאשר נתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה אחד מפרכס לצאת על פתח ביהמ״ד ואחד מפרכס לצאת על פתח ע״ג בזה הרגישה שודאי אחד יהיה צדיק ואחד רשע על כן אמרה למה זה אנכי, כי כמוני כהגר ומה אנכי טוב ממנה ולמה זה התפללתי ותלך לדרוש את ה' מה הועילה תפלתי ויאמר ה' לה שני גוים בבטנך זה רבי ואנטונינוס, והועילה תפלתה שגם עשו יצא ממנו זרע כשר כאנטונינוס ושאר גרי צדק, מה שאין כן בישמעאל ובזה את טובה מהגר.
(1) "ha-Shem said to her: two nations are in your womb." This was the opposite of what she had thought [as described in the previous commentary], that there is only one authority [God]. Rather, there are two children in your womb, one that will serve ha-Shem and one that will serve idols. Yet ha-Shem is always one, there is no other. There are those who interpret, "Yizchak entreated ha-Shem opposite his wife," that since he was a tzadik, the son of a tzadik, therefore it was certain that from his side he could only have suitable descendants. But he feared that from his wife's side, since she was the daughter of Betuel and the sister of Laban, that in order to prevent her having any kind of unsuitable descendants, she was therefore barren. Since her barrenness continued, therefore he was afraid lest she have a descendant without suitability, just like when Yishmael descended from Hagar, and thus perhaps this was the explanation for her barrenness. When "the children agitated within her", one struggled to come out near the entrance to the Beit Midrash and one struggled to come out near the entrance to the house of idols. By this she felt certain that one would be righteous and one evil. About this the text says, "why am I thus?". For I am just like Hagar! In what way am I better than she? And for what purpose did I pray? "And she went to inquire of ha-Shem", what difference did my prayer make? "ha-Shem said to her: two nations are in your womb" -- these are Rebbi [Yehudah ha-Nasi, and his friend, the Roman emperor] Antoninus! This was the difference her prayer made, that Esav would also have kosher descendants like Antoninus [since Esav is the progenitor of Rome], and all the other righteous converts. This was not true of Yishmael, and in this respect, you are better than Hagar.
(א) ויאמר ה' לה. על ידי נביא או אברהם בעצמו כי לא מת עד שהיו בניה בני ט''ו שנה

...through a prophet or Avraham himself, for he had not died until her sons were fifteen years old.

(ו) אֶל הָאִשָּׁה אָמַר הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה עִצְּבוֹנֵךְ וְהֵרֹנֵךְ (בראשית ג, טז), רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן, מֵעוֹלָם לֹא נִזְקַק הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהָשִׂיחַ עִם אִשָּׁה, אֶלָּא עִם אוֹתָהּ הַצַּדֶּקֶת וְאַף הִיא עַל יְדֵי עִלָּה. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר כַּמָּה כִּרְכּוּרִין כִּרְכֵּר בִּשְׁבִיל לְהָשִׂיחַ עִמָּהּ (בראשית יח, טו): וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ, וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית טז, יג): וַתִּקְרָא שֵׁם ה' הַדֹּבֵר אֵלֶיהָ, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אִידֵי אָמַר עַל יְדֵי מַלְאָךְ, וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית כה, כג): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לָהּ, רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר עַל יְדֵי מַלְאָךְ, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זִמְרָא אָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֵׁם.

Woman (Eve) was told: "you will suffer greatly in childbirth" (Genesis 3:16). Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of R. Simon and R.Yochanan in th ename of R.Eliezer son of R. Simon: God is never obligated to speak with a woman except for that Tzadeket (Sarah) and even in her case it was through a higher source. R.Aba son of Bar Cahana said in the name of R.Yitzchak how much difficulty (lit. dancing wildly) was needed to speak with her. "He said: You were laughing (Genesis 16:13). "She called the name of God Whom was speaking to her". RYBRN said in the name of R.Idi in Genesis 25:23, God spoke to her through an angel, others say it was told to her by Shem.

The missing 'ו'
(כה) וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ אַדְמוֹנִ֔י כֻּלּ֖וֹ כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת שֵׂעָ֑ר וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵשָֽׂו׃ (כו) וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּלֶ֥דֶת אֹתָֽם׃
(25) The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. (26) Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
(ג) ויקראו שמו עשו הַכֹּל קָרְאוּ לוֹ כֵן, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִגְמָר בִּשְׂעָרוֹ כְבֶן שָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה:
(3) ויקרא שמו עשו AND THEY CALLED HIS NAME ESAU — every one called him thus because he was made (עשה means to make) and fully developed with hair as a lad several years old.
(ג) ויקרא שמו יעקב הַקָּבָּ”ה; דָּ"אַ אָבִיו קָרָא לוֹ יַעֲקֹב עַל שֵׁם אֲחִיזַת הָעָקֵב:

(3) ויקרא שמו יעקב AND HE CALLED HIS NAME JACOB — The Holy One, blessed be He, thus named him. Another explanation is: his father called him Jacob because he was grasping Esau’s heel

(ג) הקב"ה כו'. דקשה לרש"י למה לא כתיב מי קרא אותו ועוד כיון דכתיב ויצחק בן ששים שנה ש"מ דעד השתא לאו ביצחק משתעי קרא לכן פי' הקב"ה קראו:
(3) God called him... Rashi is answering the question: Why is it not written who named him? Furthermore, since it says [right afterward], “Yitzchok was sixty years old,” it is implied that until now the verse was not speaking of Yitzchok. Thus Rashi explains that Hashem named him.
(ד) ד"א אביו קראו. ולמה לא כתיב יצחק שלא יאמרו העובדי אלילים אביו קראו יעקב כי ידע שיעקבהו פעמים. [מהרש"ל]:
(4) Another explanation: his father called him... [Question: If so,] why is Yitzchok not written? [The answer is:] So the gentiles will not say that Yaakov’s father called him so because he knew Yaakov would deceive Eisov twice.
(ג) ויקראו - כל העולם.
(3) ויקראו, they all called him
(א) ויקרא שמו. הקורא או יצחק אביו
Why didn't Rivkah name her son Yaakov?
Dedicated to the Prophecy
(כח) וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יִצְחָ֛ק אֶת־עֵשָׂ֖ו כִּי־צַ֣יִד בְּפִ֑יו וְרִבְקָ֖ה אֹהֶ֥בֶת אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃
(28) Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah favored Jacob.
(ב) ורבקה אוהבת את יעקב לבדו מפני שהכירה ברשעו של עשו:
(2) ורבקה אוהבת את יעקב, she only loved Yaakov, recognising the wickedness of Esau.
(ב) אוהבת את יעקב - שהייתה מכרת בתומתו וגם ממה שאמר הקב"ה: ורב יעבוד צעיר והוצרך להקדים כאן אהבת יצחק לעשו ורבקה אוהבת את יעקב, להודיע מה שכתב לפנינו יצחק רצה לברך את עשו ורבקה הערימה לברך את יעקב.
(2) אוהבת את יעקב, for she was aware of his perfection, also because the prediction to her of the prophet had been that the senior son would be subservient to the junior one. The Torah had to mention first that Yitzchok loved Esau in order for us to understand what had motivated to bless Esau, and what had motivated Rivkah to deceive him into blessing Yaakov.
Plot to Save Yaakov

(מב) וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְרִבְקָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנָ֣הּ הַגָּדֹ֑ל וַתִּשְׁלַ֞ח וַתִּקְרָ֤א לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּנָ֣הּ הַקָּטָ֔ן וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יךָ מִתְנַחֵ֥ם לְךָ֖ לְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃ (מג) וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י וְק֧וּם בְּרַח־לְךָ֛ אֶל־לָבָ֥ן אָחִ֖י חָרָֽנָה׃ (מד) וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ עִמּ֖וֹ יָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֑ים עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֖וּב חֲמַ֥ת אָחִֽיךָ׃ (מה) עַד־שׁ֨וּב אַף־אָחִ֜יךָ מִמְּךָ֗ וְשָׁכַח֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֖י וּלְקַחְתִּ֣יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם לָמָ֥ה אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל גַּם־שְׁנֵיכֶ֖ם י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃

(42) When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. (43) Now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to Haran, to my brother Laban. (44) Stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury subsides— (45) until your brother’s anger against you subsides—and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will fetch you from there. Let me not lose you both in one day!”

(א) ויגד לרבקה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ הֻגַּד לָהּ מַה שֶּׁעֵשָׂו מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ:
(1) ויגד לרבקה WERE TOLD TO REBEKAH — It was told her by the Holy Spirit what Esau was thinking in his heart (Genesis Rabbah 67:9).
(ב) גם שניכם אִם יָקוּם עָלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה תַהַרְגֶּנּוּ יַעַמְדוּ בָנָיו וְיַהַרְגּוּךָ; וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִזְרְקָה בָהּ וְנִתְנַבְּאָה, שֶׁבְּיוֹם א' יָמוּתוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפוֹרָשׁ בְּפֶרֶק הַמְקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ:
(2) גם שניכם OF YOU BOTH — If he attacks you and you kill him his children will rise and kill you. The Holy Spirit poured itself forth upon her and she prophesied (had a presage) that they would both die on one day just as it is stated in the Chapter המקנה לאשתו (Sotah 13a).
(א) למה אשכל. פחדה שמא יהרוג זה את זה. או יהרגוהו אם יהרוג אותך. ויש דרש שביום אחד מתו שניהם

Why should I lose...: she feared that Esav and Yaakov might kill each other or that Esav might get killed for killing Yaakov. There is a midrash that both died on the same day.

Relationship with Yitzchak

(מו) וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רִבְקָה֙ אֶל־יִצְחָ֔ק קַ֣צְתִּי בְחַיַּ֔י מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנ֣וֹת חֵ֑ת אִם־לֹקֵ֣חַ יַ֠עֲקֹב אִשָּׁ֨ה מִבְּנֽוֹת־חֵ֤ת כָּאֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִבְּנ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ לָ֥מָּה לִּ֖י חַיִּֽים׃

(46) Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am disgusted with my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries a Hittite woman like these, from among the native women, what good will life be to me?”

(א) קצתי בחיי מָאַסְתִּי בְחַיַּי:
(1) קצתי בחיי means I AM DISGUSTED WITH MY LIFE.
(א) אם לקח יעקב - דרך חכמה אמרה רבקה ליצחק, להרחיק יעקב מעשו ולא גילתה לו שבשביל שטימת אחיו עשתה כן.

She said this with intelligence to Yitzchak in order to distance Yaakov from Esav and not to reveal to him (Yitzchak) that it was because of the Esav's hatred that this was necessary.

Mysterious Death

(ח) וַתָּ֤מָת דְּבֹרָה֙ מֵינֶ֣קֶת רִבְקָ֔ה וַתִּקָּבֵ֛ר מִתַּ֥חַת לְבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הָֽאַלּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ אַלּ֥וֹן בָּכֽוּת׃ (פ)

(8) Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and was buried under the oak below Bethel; so it was named Allon-bacuth.

(ג) תחת האלון וְאַגָּדָה נִתְבַּשֵּׂר שָׁם בְּאֵבֶל שֵׁנִי, שֶׁהֻגַּד לוֹ עַל אִמּוֹ שֶׁמֵּתָה (בראשית רבה), וְאַלּוֹן בְּלָשוֹן יְוָנִי אַחֵר, וּלְפִי שֶׁהֶעֱלִימוּ אֶת יוֹם מוֹתָהּ, שֶׁלֹּא יְקַלְלוּ הַבְּרִיּוֹת כָּרֶס שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ עֵשָׂו, אַף הַכָּתוּב לֹא פִרְסְמָהּ:

(3) תחת האלון UNDER THE OAK —An Agada (Genesis Rabbah 81:5) states that he there received news of another mourning for he was informed that his mother had died. — In Greek allon means “another”. — Because the time of her death was kept secret in order that people might not curse the mother who gave birth to Esau, Scripture also does not make open mention of her death (Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 4).

(א) ותמת דבורה מינקת רבקה ...והקרוב מה שאמרו רבותינו (ב"ר פא ה) שירמוז למיתת רבקה ולכן קרא שם המקום ההוא אלון בכות כי אין בכי ואנקה על המינקת הזקנה שיקרא שם המקום עליו אבל יעקב בכה והתאבל על אמו הצדקת אשר אהבתהו ושלחה אותו שם ולא זכתה לראותו בשובו ולכן נגלה אליו האלקים וברך אותו לנחמו כאשר עשה ליצחק אביו אחרי מות אברהם (לעיל כה יא)

Our Rabbis taught that this is a hint to the death of Rivka. that it why the name of the place is Alon Bachut because the crying was not for the elderly nursemaid, they did not name the site after her. Rather, Yaakov was crying and mourning over his mother, the Tzadeket whom he loved. She sent him there (to Charan) and she did not merit to see him on his return. Therefore, God revealed to him and blessed him to comfort him in which he did to Yitzchak, his father after Avraham died.

(א) ותמת דבורה מינקת רבקה. ומה שיחזק זה אמרו בסמוך ויבא יעקב אל יצחק אביו ממרא קרית הארבע, ואילו היתה רבקה אמו בחיים היה לו לומר ויבא יעקב אל יצחק אביו ואל אמו, שהרי היא שלחה אותו שם ויצחק צוה לו כן בעצתה, אבל מפני שמתה שלא לכבודה העלים הכתוב מיתתה. (ב) וכך אמרו במדרש אתה מוצא כשמתה רבקה אמרו מאן יפוק קמה, אברהם מת יצחק יושב בבית ועיניו כהות, יעקב הלך לפדן ארם, מאן יפוק קמה, עשו רשיעא וימרון ברייתא לייטין בזייתא דהא כדין ינקין, מה עשו הוציאו מטתה בלילה. א"ר יוסי בר חנינא לפי שהוציאו מטתה בלילה לא פרסמו הכתובים מיתתה אלא מן הצד. הדא הוא דכתיב ויקרא שמו אלון בכות שתי בכיות, פירוש אחת על מיתתה ואחת שמתה שלא לכבודה.

(1) ותמת דבורה מינקת רבקה, “Devorah, Rivkah’s nursemaid died.”

(2) Nachmanides quotes a Midrash (Tanchuma Ki Tetze 4) where the matter is explained. Although G’d promised Avraham that he would die of a ripe old age, he died at 175 years of age, 5 years younger than his son Yitzchak. The reason was in order to save him the mental anguish of seeing his grandson Esau become corrupt. In the case of Yitzchak, the latter was blind and could not see what his son Esau was up to. According to this Midrash, both Avraham, Yitzchak, and Rivkah ended their lives experiencing a degree of shame. Rivkah’s funeral lacked the presence of her loving son Yaakov, and presumably the presence of her son Esau who hated her. When she died, people cursed the passing of a woman who had nursed an evil person such as Esau. For these and other reasons G’d decided to console Yaakov by blessing him at this time. The plural form בכות, “weeping,” is accounted for because as soon as Yaakov was about to weep for the death of Devorah, he received word that his mother had died. His weeping was for the passing of both these women.

(לא) שָׁ֣מָּה קָֽבְר֞וּ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֗ם וְאֵת֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ שָׁ֚מָּה קָבְר֣וּ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק וְאֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְשָׁ֥מָּה קָבַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־לֵאָֽה׃
(31) there Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried; there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried; and there I buried Leah—

(א) שמה קברו את יצחק ואת רבקה אשתו: ,,, נראה מכאן כי רבקה מתה בעוד יעקב בבית לבן, לפיכך לא היה יכול לומר קברתי את רבקה, ולפיכך סתם ואמר שמה קברו.

There they buried Yitzchak and Rivkah, his wife... it appears from here that Rivkah died when Yaakov was still in the house of Lavan. Therefore, he was unable to state "I buried Rivkah" rather it states "she was buried"

QUESTION: In many machzorim this statement is written in four lines of three words each to show that the first letter of the second word of each line forms an acrostic of the name “Yitzchak.” Additionally, the third letter of the final word of each line forms an acrostic of the name “Rivkah.”
What is the significance of this?
ANSWER: The combined numerical value of Yitzchak and Rivkah (יצחק רבקה) is 515, which is also the numerical value of the word Tefillah — prayer (תפלה). They are the only couple that the Torah mentions prayed together (see Bereishit 24:2 Rashi).
English
'Rivkah' uses the same Hebrew letters as 'Hakever'. Whose grave? Clearly Sarah's as Rivkah is introduced following the death of Sarah. Yitzchak is only comforted after his mother's death once marrying Rivkah. Rivkah is the same soul as Sarah. Rivkah carries on Sarah's legacy. - R.Riskin