Genesis 35:21

21 Yisra'el journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of `Eder.

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.''

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 35:21 In-Context

19 Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Efrat (the same is Beit-Lechem).

20 Ya`akov set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.

21 Yisra'el journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of `Eder.

22 It happened, while Yisra'el lived in that land, that Re'uven went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Yisra'el heard of it. Now the sons of Ya`akov were twelve.

23 The sons of Le'ah: Re'uven (Ya`akov's firstborn), Shim`on, Levi, Yehudah, Yissakhar, and Zevulun.