It is difficult to identify which tribe Mary of Nazareth would have called her own.
According to Luke’s Gospel, Mary’s relative Elizabeth is from the tribe of Levi. Mary may be a Levite, too, depending on how close their families are. If so, Christ is the Great High Priest whose mother traces her ancestry to the priestly tribe. However, Hebrews chapter 7 seems to say that Jesus was a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not the order of Levi. Even if Mary was a daughter of Levi, Christ’s genealogy could be traced through his adoptive father Joseph from Judah’s tribe.
Church tradition says that Joseph and Mary are from the tribe of Judah. It would seem fitting that Jesus would be from the royal tribe by biology (Mary) and adoption (Joseph). When the Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus descended from David “according to the flesh,” (Romans 1:3), the “flesh” would be Mary’s, which would make her a daughter of Judah. If tradition is right, then the Messiah’s tribe would be royal and his priestly order would be more ancient than Levi’s.
Either way, we know Mary is not from the tribe of Joseph or Benjamin. And that fact means Rachel is not one of Mary’s biological ancestors. In this series, we have covered women in the book of Genesis who have connections to Mary. So far, the stories of Eve, Sarah, and Rebekah resonate with the Messiah’s mother. However, we now see a genealogical disconnect. Does the biological disconnect mean that there is no literary connection?
The short answer is no. The long answer is below.
I think the two matriarchs are connected foremost by Jacob and Jesus. The similarities between Rachel’s husband and Mary’s son are difficult to ignore:
Jacob has twelve sons and Jesus has twelve disciples.
Jacob “rolls away the large stone” in front of a well. Jesus “rolls away the large stone” on Easter Sunday.
Jacob meets Rachel his future wife at a well. Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John chapter 4. The Samaritan woman symbolizes the church, Christ’s bride.
Jacob opens a well with running water to quench the sheep’s thirst. Jesus promises us if we drink His living water we will never thirst again. The water He gives them will “become in us a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We are the sheep and He is our true shepherd.
Jacob wrestles with God in the darkness. God humbled Himself, allowing Jacob to “win” the wrestling match and Jacob thereby receives a new name, “Israel.” On Good Friday, we see Jesus, God-in-flesh, wrestling with mankind, and allowing mankind to “win” the match. However, when Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross, “God therefore exalted him to the highest place” and
Jesus received “the name above every name” (Philippians 2).
Jacob receives a wound in his leg; Jesus receives multiple wounds in His body.
After wrestling with God, Jacob reconciles with Esau. After wrestling with man, Jesus reconciles with His ‘brothers,’ the apostles.
Jacob sees heaven open and angels travel on a ladder connected to earth. Jesus claims to be the ladder upon which angels ascend and descend (see John chapter 1 for this connection).
The Samaritan woman summarized the truth well: Jesus is “greater than our father Jacob.” If so, how is Mary the new Rachel?
Mary and Rachel are both prominent mothers in the Bible. They are not only mothers of individuals, but also matriarchs of peoples. Rachel is the mother of two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. She is also considered a matriarch of the Jews as a nation (see Ruth chapter 4). Mary is the mother of the Messiah Jesus and the Church is depicted as “the rest of her offspring” in Revelation chapter 12.
Rachel is gives birth near Bethlehem. Jacob names the son she bore “Benjamin,” whose descendant Saul becomes the first king of Israel. David, son of Jesse, is also born in Bethlehem (according to 1 Samuel 16). Mary is also famous for giving birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. Mary’s Son becomes the King of Israel and the King of all Kings. Bethlehem is a modest place that gives birth to kings.
Recall that the prophet Samuel told the anointed Saul to go to Rachel’s tomb near Bethlehem. The new king will be found by his father who is searching for him. Do you remember where the magi found the hidden king, the Christ Child? In Bethlehem, near Rachel’s tomb. Missing kings are found near Rachel’s tomb.
Rachel also has twelve grandsons through Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 46:22). Does Mary have twelve grandsons? If you consider Christ’s twelve apostles as her son’s “little children,” then Mary does have twelve grandsons! These grandsons would shed light on Mary’s crown in Revelation chapter 12. The crown of twelve “stars” symbolizes each “son” of Jesus and each tribe of Jacob. The Twelve Apostles and Twelve Tribes are Mary’s “crown jewels.”
The prophet Jeremiah depicts Rachel as weeping for the Israelites going into exile. A later Jewish tradition claimed she continued to pray for the Jews after her death. To this day, some Jews visit Rachel’s tomb and ask for her prayers. Simeon warns Mary that a “sword will pierce her soul,” a prophecy that is fulfilled when she sees her Son die on the cross. Both women are associated with great sorrow for their children. Benjamin means “son of sorrow.” Jesus is the “man of sorrows” acquainted with grief.
The Gospel of Matthew connects Rachel and Mary. When Mary escapes from Herod’s deadly soldiers, who does Matthew mention? What prophet is fulfilled? Jeremiah’s prophecy: Rachel is crying for the boys of Bethlehem who are killed. There is a tragic repetition: Rachel’s children are punished twice over. First, by exile, and second, by massacre. Both women are forever identified with the suffering of innocents.
Both women are noted for their fame. When Boaz’s hometown of Bethlehem praises Ruth, the citizens pray for Ruth to be as famous as Rachel. Mary goes to the hill country of Judea and her relative Elizabeth says all generations will call her “blessed.” Both Rachel and Mary became known among Jews and Christians for giving birth. They are not simply one more mom in the story. They stand out. They are women of repute. So said Paul: the woman is the glory of man (1 Cor 11:7).
They both experience life outside the Promised Land. Rachel grew up in Paddam Aram, but after fleeing Laban’s house, she moved to Canaan. Mary grew up in Canaan but had to flee to Egypt for safety. Eventually, God provides a way for Mary and her family to return to the land. They both experienced a kind of “exile” from the land, but both returned. If it is true that Mary moved with John to Ephesus, I wonder if she came back to Canaan. There is a church in Jerusalem that claims to be the spot where Mary’s journey came to an end. Who knows? They both are women of exile and return. They are both women of the Promised Land.
If Rachel is a shepherdess, can we say the same about Mary? Her Son Jesus is the True Shepherd and Mary is present for the gathering flock of disciples for Pentecost. Mary was not an apostle, to be sure, but she is in prayer for the church, which is Christ’s flock. I don’t think it is unfitting to describe Mary as a shepherdess like Rachel.
Rachel is known for her beauty; Mary is known for her grace. According to Gabriel, Mary was “full of grace” or “highly favored” or however you think the Greek word “κεχαριτωμένη” should be translated. Whatever Rachel had in outer appearance, Mary had in her soul. The Lord was “with Mary” and she had been “graced” by God.
Jacob weeps when he meets Rachel. I wonder if Jesus wept on the cross for His mother. We know His last action before His last breath was to provide a caretaker for her. I cannot imagine what it was like for Mary to outlive her Son and watch Him die such a painful death. But surely, if Jesus wept for Lazarus and Jerusalem, He would have shed a tear for the new Rachel, the Daughter of Zion named Mary. It is hard for me to imagine that the Son of David would be cold-hearted about the gebirah, the Queen Mother of Israel.
Unlike Jacob who may have drank his way into oblivion on his wedding day, Jesus refused the wine that was offered to Him to dull the pain of the cross (Mark 15:23). Jesus offered His body on the cross to His bride, the Church. Unlike Jacob, Jesus knew exactly who He was marrying on Good Friday. Unlike Jacob, Jesus does not have two wives. He has one bride, the Church, which includes both Jews and Gentiles. His bride includes Mary and the Samaritan woman. And His bride is fruitful, giving birth to new Christians every day in the waters of baptism.
Mary and Rachel may not be directly connected by genealogy, but their stories are connected. Consider this final similarity and tell me if you think it’s a coincidence:
Rachel has two biological sons. How many sons does Mary have? Christians tend to disagree about the answer. Let me propose that Mary has two sons and then explain.
Mary’s firstborn Jesus is very similar to Joseph, Rachel’s firstborn. Jesus and Joseph are betrayed for silver coins by a ‘brother’ named Judah/Judas. They are both exalted to the right hand of a great power. They are both used to feed hungry people with bread. Jesus is the New and Greater Joseph, the firstborn son of the New Rachel.
But is anyone else called Mary’s son? I’m not asking if anyone is called a “brother” of Jesus. Many people are called brothers of Christ. I am one of them and so are you. According to Hebrews 2:11, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. My question is: can you point to an individual other than Jesus in the four gospels and call him a son of Mary? There is only one candidate.
Think about what happens at the foot of the cross. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is there. The “mother of Zebedee’s sons” is also at the foot of the cross (Matt 27:56). We also know that the “beloved disciple” is standing there. If that disciple is John, the brother of James and son of Zebedee, then John is standing next to his biological mother when something amazing happens.
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-27).
Jesus is the one who gives Mary a second son! She has one biological son (named Jesus) and one adopted (John the Beloved disciple). This connection is key to our understanding. An exchange of lives happens at key moments. Rachel dies so that Benjamin can live and Jacob can have a second son through her. Jesus dies and gives John to Mary so she can have a second son after He is gone.
Think about how bizarre it would be if you were John’s mother! You are watching the Messiah crucified by the Romans. Then Jesus tells his biological mother that your biological son is going to enter into a special relationship with her. It is now John’s responsibility to take care of Christ’s mother. Mary can truly call John her “son.” How strange! Was John’s mother honored? Was she confused? We do not know.
This scene has a deeper connection between John and Benjamin. According to Deuteronomy 33:12, Jacob said about Benjamin, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” Do you remember what the beloved disciple did the night before Jesus died? He leaned on the bosom of Jesus between His shoulders (John 13:24). That means Benjamin dwells between the Lord’s shoulders and John dwelled between Jesus’ shoulders.
If Mary is the New Rachel…
and Jesus is the New Joseph…
John the Beloved is the New Benjamin.
Mary has two sons. And so did Rachel.