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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:16-20

We have here the story of the death of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob. 1. She fell in travail by the way, not able to reach to Bethlehem, the next town, though they were near it; so suddenly does pain sometimes come upon a woman in travail, which she cannot escape, or put off. We may suppose Jacob had soon a tent up, convenient enough for her reception. 2. Her pains were violent. She had hard labour, harder than usual: this was the effect of sin, Gen. 3:16. Note, Human life begins with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, for she died ,.... In childbirth; she had most passionately desired children, without which she could not live with ease and peace of mind, and now she dies by having one; see Genesis 30:1 ; and by this account of her death it appears, that death is the separation and disunion of soul and body; that at death the soul departs from the body; that the soul does not die with it, but goes elsewhere, and lives in a separate state, and never... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:19

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem . Hence called Bethlehem Ephratah, Micah 5:2 ; with great pertinency is Rachel represented as if risen from her grave, and weeping for her children, when the children of Bethlehem, and thereabout, were slain by Herod, she being buried so near that place, Matthew 2:16 ; at what age she died is not said. Polyhistor, out of Demetrius F4 Apnd Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 21. p. 424. , reports, that she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:20

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave ,.... A sepulchral monument erected in memory of her; this according to Benjamin of Tudela F5 ltinerar. p. 47. was made of twelve stones, according to the number of the sons of Jacob, and over it was a vault or roof, supported by four pillars: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day ; it continued to the times of Moses, the writer of this history, and to the times of Samuel, as appears from 1 Samuel 10:2 ; and even travellers of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:18

As her soul was in departing - Is not this a proof that there is an immortal spirit in man, which can exist separate from and independent of the body? Of Rachel's death it is said, נפשה בצאת betseth naphshah , in the going away of her soul; her body did not go away, therefore her soul and body must have been distinct. If her breath only had been in tended, נשמה neshamah or רוח ruach would have rather been used, as the first means breath, the latter breath or spirit indifferently.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:20

Jacob set a pillar upon her grave - Was not this the origin of funeral monuments? In ancient times, and among rude nations, a heap of stones designated the burial place of the chief; many of these still remain in different countries. Afterwards a rude stone, with a simple inscription, was used, containing only the name of the deceased, and that of his father. But where arts and sciences flourished, superb monuments were erected highly decorated, and pompously inscribed. It is very likely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:16-29

These family records mingle well with the story of God's grace. The mothers " Ben-oni " is the father's " Benjamin ." Out of the pain and the bereavement sometimes comes the consolation. A strange blending of joy and sorrow is the tale of human love. But there is a higher love which may draw out the pure stream of peace and calm delight from that impure fountain. Jacob and Esau were separated in their lives, but they met at their father's grave. Death is a terrible divider, but a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing ,—literally, in the departing of her soul; not into annihilation, but into another (a disembodied) state of existence ( vide Genesis 25:3 )— for she died (a pathetic commentary on Genesis 30:1 ), that she called his name Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow,'' as a memorial of her anguish in bearing him, and of her death because of him): but his father called him Benjamin —"son of my right hand;" either "the son of my strength" (Clericus,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:19

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem —or House of Bread, about seven miles south of Jerusalem. It afterwards became the birthplace of David ( 1 Samuel 16:18 ) and of Christ ( Matthew 2:1 ). The assertion that this clause is a later interpolation (Lunge) is unfounded (Kalisch, Kurtz). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:20

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave ( vide on Genesis 35:14 ): that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day i.e. unto the times of Moses; but the site of Rachel's sepulcher was known so late as the age of Samuel ( 1 Samuel 10:2 ); and there seems no reason to question the tradition which from the fourth century has placed it within the Turkish chapel Kubbet Rachil, about half-an-hour's journey north of Bethlehem. read more

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