At Bethel, Jacob was called to mourn the loss of one who had long been an honored member of his father's family--Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, who had accompanied her mistress from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan. The presence of this aged woman had been to Jacob a precious tie that bound him to his early life, and especially to the mother whose love for him had been so strong and tender. Deborah was buried with expressions of so great sorrow that the oak under which her grave was made, was called "the oak of weeping." It should not be passed unnoticed that the memory of her life of faithful service and of the mourning over this household friend has been accounted worthy to be preserved in the word of God.

I Betel måtte Jakob begræde tabet af en, der længe havde været et agtet medlem af hans faders familie, nemlig Rebekkas amme, Debora, der havde ledsaget sin frue fra Mesopotamien til Kanaans land. Denne gamle kvindes tilstedeværelse havde for Jakob været et dyrebart bånd, der knyttede ham til fortiden, især til moderen, hvis kærlighed til ham havde været så stærk og øm. Deboras død vakte så stor sorg, at den eg, hvorunder hun blev begravet, blev kaldt grædeegen. Man bør ikke undlade at lægge mærke til, at mindet om hendes tro tjeneste og sorgen over denne ven af husstanden fandtes værdig til at omtales i Guds ord.