Genesis 35:16-29

The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance[a] 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 1you have another son."
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;[b]2but his father called him Benjamin.[c]
19 So 3Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to 4Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is 5the 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 6lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
23 The sons of Leah: 7Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at 8Mamre, or 9Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years.
29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died 10and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And 11his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 35:16-29 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.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Genesis 30:24
  • 2. [Luke 1:59, 60]
  • 3. Genesis 48:7
  • 4. Ruth 1:2; Ruth 4:11; Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:6, 16-18
  • 5. 1 Samuel 10:2; [2 Samuel 18:18]
  • 6. Genesis 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1; [2 Samuel 16:22; 2 Samuel 20:3; 1 Corinthians 5:1]
  • 7. For ver. 23-26, see Genesis 46:8-27; Exodus 1:2-4
  • 8. Genesis 13:18; Genesis 23:19
  • 9. Genesis 23:2; Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13
  • 10. Genesis 15:15; Genesis 25:8
  • 11. Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:31

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or about two hours' distance
  • [b]. Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow, or son of my strength
  • [c]. Benjamin means son of the right hand
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.