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