Deborah was in all likelihood a slave in the house of Nahor, brother to Abraham. It became her duty to care for his daughter Rebekah. When Rebekah left home to become the wife to her cousin Isaac, Abraham's son, she most likely served as nurse to Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Years later, after staying with her mistress as her sons moved away, she is found to be with Jacob's family when she died. This was after the birth of eleven children to Jacob by his wives and concubines. Based on this fact, it is probable that she assisted in the care of these children as they grew up.