GENESIS 35
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it. – Genesis 35:16-22
GENESIS 35 RACHEL DIES GIVING BIRTH TO BENJAMIN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After Jacob set up an altar in Bethel, they continued their journey
Rachel was with child during this travel and was suffering
Before they arrived in Ephrath, Rachel went into labor
She had a very difficult childbirth; then a son was born to her
Rachel didn’t make it but the child did and she called him Ben-oni
Jacob called him Benjamin instead, which means son of my right hand.
We hear two deaths in Jacob’s household, one after the other. First it was the nurse of Rachel, Deborah who died, and then Rachel herself followed after giving birth to Benjamin. Perhaps the loss of Deborah and Rachel couldn’t be a payoff for the slaughter of men of Shechem by Simeon and Levi, but sins always have a consequence when they are born. Rachel, before she died, called her son Ben-oni which means “the son of my sorrows.” From a commentary Jacob would probably remember Rachel’s sorrows if he called him Ben-oni, which is why he called him Benjamin instead. I think it was God inspired as we know that the right hand in the bible is symbolic of power and strength.
Rachel was buried where she died nearby Bethlehem. It is interesting that Mary, the mother of Jesus was also traveling when she gave birth to Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.
God surely planned all these events.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think Moses omitted Jacob’s mourning for Rachel in this account?
