Genesis 35:21

Israel's Sons

21 Israel set out again and pitched his tent beyond the tower at Eder.[a]

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.''

FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 35:21 In-Context

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a marker on her grave; it is the marker at Rachel's grave to this day.
21 Israel set out again and pitched his tent beyond the tower at Eder.
22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had 12 sons:
23 Leah's sons were Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

Footnotes 1

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