Genesis 35:21

21 Israel continued his trip and pitched his tent farther on near the tower of Eder.

Genesis 35:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 35:21

And Israel journeyed
Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months ^F8; 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, and is supposed to be the place where the shepherds were watching their flocks, when the angel reported to them the birth of Christ, ( Luke 2:8 ) ; pretty remarkable are the words added here in the Targum of Jonathan,

``the place from whence the King Messiah will be revealed in the end of days.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2.
F9 Bunting's Travels, p. 76.

Genesis 35:21 In-Context

19 Rachel died and was buried near the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem.

20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. It's the pillar on Rachel's tomb that's still there today.

21 Israel continued his trip and pitched his tent farther on near the tower of Eder.

22 While Israel stayed in that place, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah his father's secondary wife, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons.

23 The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's oldest son, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.