Genesis 35:16-26

Rachel's Death

16 They set out from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for this is another son for you."
18 With her last breath-for she was dying-she named him Ben-oni,[a] but his father called him Benjamin.[b]
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).[c]
20 Jacob set up a marker on her grave; it is the marker at Rachel's grave to this day.

Israel's Sons

21 Israel set out again and pitched his tent beyond the tower at Eder.[d]
22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.[e] Jacob had 12 sons:
23 Leah's sons were Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 Rachel's sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Rachel's slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Leah's slave Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 35

This chapter gives an account of Jacob's going to Bethel, and building an altar there by the order and direction of God, Ge 35:1-7, where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried, Ge 35:8, and where God appeared to Jacob, confirmed the new name of Israel he had given him, and renewed to him the promises of the multiplication of his seed, and of their inheriting the land of Canaan, Ge 35:9-13; all which is gratefully acknowledged by Jacob, who erected a pillar in the place, and called it Bethel, in memory of God's gracious appearance to him there, Ge 35:14,15; from hence he journeyed towards his father's house, and on the way Rachel his wife fell in travail, and bore him a son, and died, and was buried near Ephrath, Ge 35:16-21; near this place Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, Ge 35:22, and the names of the twelve sons of Jacob are given, Ge 35:23-26; and the chapter is closed with an account of Jacob's arrival at his father's house, of the death of Isaac, and of his burial at the direction of his two sons, Ge 35:27-29.

Footnotes 5

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