What was the identity of the matriarchs of Israel?

The matriarchs of Israel are primarily identified as Rachel and Leah. They are significant figures in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where their stories unfold against the backdrop of the patriarch Jacob. Rachel and Leah were sisters and both became wives of Jacob, contributing to the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel through their children. Rachel is noted for her beauty and her struggle with infertility, while Leah, although initially less favored, bore more children. Together, they embody the foundational family dynamics and themes of love, rivalry, and divine intervention in the narratives of the early Israelites.

The other options represent important women in the biblical narrative but do not collectively symbolize the matriarchs of Israel in the same foundational way. Sarah, for example, is another matriarch but Hagar, as a secondary figure, complicates her role rather than establishing a direct lineage. Similarly, Rebecca and Abigail, while notable women, do not hold the same foundational status concerning the tribes of Israel. Deborah and Jael are vital figures in the context of Israel’s judges but do not fit the role of matriarchs.