Genesis 48:7

7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath, the same [is] Beth-lehem.

Genesis 48:7 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 48:7

And as for me, when I came from Padan
From Syria, from Laban's house: Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan;
his beloved wife, the mother of Joseph, on whose account he mentions her, and to show a reason why he took his sons as his own, because his mother dying so soon, he could have no more children by her; and she being his only lawful wife, Joseph was of right to be reckoned as the firstborn; and that as such he might have the double portion, he took his two sons as his own, and put them upon a level with them, even with Reuben and Simeon. By this it appears, as by the preceding account, that Rachel came with him into the land of Canaan, and there died: in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath;
about a mile, or two thousand cubits, as Jarchi observes: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath;
where she died, and dying in childbed, could not be kept so long as to carry her to Machpelah, the burying place of his ancestors; and especially as he had his flocks and herds with him, which could move but slowly; and what might make it more difficult to keep her long, and carry her thither, it might be, as Ben Melech conjectures, summertime; and the Vulgate Latin adds to the text, without any warrant from the original, "and it was springtime"; however, she was buried in the land of Canaan, and which is taken notice of, that Joseph might observe it: it follows, the same [is] Bethlehem;
that is, Ephrath; and so Bethlehem is called Bethlehem Ephratah, ( Micah 5:2 ) ; whether these are the words of Jacob, or of Moses, is not certain, but said with a view to the Messiah, the famous seed of Jacob that should be born there, and was.

Genesis 48:7 In-Context

5 And now, thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt, before I came to thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, [and] shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath, the same [is] Beth-lehem.

8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who [are] these?

9 And Joseph said to his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, to me, and I will bless them.