Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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therefore he did not bring her to the burying-place of his family. If the soul be at rest after death, it matters little where the body lies. In the place where the tree falls, there let it be. No mention is made of the mourning that was at her death, because that might easily be taken for granted. Jacob, no doubt, was a true mourner. Note, Great afflictions sometimes befall us immediately after great comforts. Lest Jacob should be lifted up with the visions of the Almighty with which he was honoured, this was sent as a thorn in the flesh to humble him. Those that enjoy the favours peculiar to the children of God must yet expect the troubles that are common to the children of men. Deborah, who, had she lived, would have been a comfort to Rachel in her extremity, died but a little before. Note, When death comes into a family, it often strikes double. God by it speaks once, yea, twice. The Jewish writers say, "The death of Deborah and Rachel was to expiate the murder of the Shechemites, occasioned by Dinah, a daughter of the family."
7. Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave, so that it was known, long after, to be Rachel's sepulchre (1Sa 10:2), and Providence so ordered it that this place afterwards fell in the lot of Benjamin. Jacob set up a pillar in remembrance of his joys (Ge 35:14), and here he sets up one in remembrance of his sorrows; for, as it may be of use to ourselves to keep both in mind, so it may be of use to others to transmit the memorials of both: the church, long afterwards, owned that what God said to Jacob at Bethel, both by his word and by his rod, he intended for their instruction (Ho 12:4), There he spoke with us.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife
said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died,)
that she called his name Benoni [the son of my sorrow]: but his father called him Benjamin [the son of the right hand].
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is
Bethlehem.
20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s
grave unto this day.
21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.