Genesis 35:21

21 Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-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 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

20 Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.

21 Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder.

22 While he was living there, Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Jacob soon heard about it. These are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob:

23 The sons of Leah were Reuben (Jacob’s oldest son), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Israel; also in 35:22a . The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.