And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave A sepulchral monument erected in memory of her; this according to Benjamin of Tudela
FOOTNOTES:
F5 was made of twelve stones, according to the number of the sons of Jacob, and over it was a vault or roof, supported by four pillars: that [is] the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day; it continued to the times of Moses, the writer of this history, and to the times of Samuel, as appears from ( 1 Samuel 10:2 ) ; and even travellers of late times affirm it to be seen still, to the north of Bethlehem, on the right hand of the way as you go from Bethlehem to Jerusalem; but the present sepulchral monument, as Mr. Maundrel says F6, can be none of that which Jacob erected, for it appears plainly to be a modern Turkish structure. Near the grave are found some little black stones, which strangers pick up, and are fancied to be helpful to women, to give them an easier birth, the same the above traveller says resemble peas. The Jews that pass by it were used to engrave their names on the stones, of the pillars F7. F5 ltinerar. p. 47. F6 Journey from Aleppo p. 87. F7 Benjamin. Itinerar. ib. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 19. Bunting's Travels, p. 75.
18
But she was dying, and as she breathed her last, she named her son Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
19
When Rachel died, she was buried beside the road to Ephrath, now known as Bethlehem.
20
Jacob set up a memorial stone there, and it still marks Rachel's grave to this day.
21
Jacob moved on and set up his camp on the other side of the tower of Eder.
22
While Jacob was living in that land, Reuben had sexual intercourse with Bilhah, one of his father's concubines; Jacob heard about it and was furious. Jacob had twelve sons.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.