Genesis 35:16-22

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:21-29

Here is, 1. Jacob's removal, Gen. 35:21. He also, as his fathers, sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, and was not long in a place. Immediately after the story of Rachel's death he is here called Israel (Gen. 35:21, 22), and not often so afterwards: the Jews say, ?The historian does him this honour here because he bore that affliction with such admirable patience and submission to Providence.? Note, Those are Israels indeed, princes with God, that support the government of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:16

And they journeyed from Bethel ,.... Jacob and his family; how long they stayed there is not certain, some say four months F26 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 1. ; hence they removed towards Bethlehem, which was twelve miles from Bethel F1 Bunting's Travels, p. 72. , in their way to Hebron: and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath ; or Bethlehem, as it was also called, Genesis 35:19 ; a mile off of it, according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jerusalem; or about a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:17

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour ,.... In the midst of it, and at the worst: that the midwife said unto her, fear not ; for Rachel big with child, it was necessary to take a midwife with them in the journey; and perhaps this might be one that was always kept in the family, and had been assisting to all Jacob's wives and concubines at their labours; and this seems probable from what follows, since she not only bids her be of good courage, and not fear, comforting her under... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:21

And Israel journeyed ,.... Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months F8 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. ; this is the first time Jacob is by Moses called Israel, after this name, was given him; the reason of which the Jews say is, because he bore the death of Rachel with so much patience: and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder ; which was a place of pasturage, and fit for his flocks, see Micah 4:8 ; it was about a mile from Bethlehem to the south F9 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land ,.... In that part of it near Bethlehem: that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine ; his concubine wife; she was the maid that Rachel gave him, and this added to his affliction, and made it double, to lose Rachel by death, and to have her favourite maid, his concubine, defiled by his own son, and whom it is highly probable he abstained from hereafter. This, though a very heinous sin of his son's, yet might be suffered... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:16

There was but a little way to come to Ephrath - The word כברת kibrath , translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Genesis 48:7 , and 2 Kings 5:19 ; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its... read more

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