Genesis 35:20

20 And Jacob builded a memorial upon the sepulchre of her; this is the memorial of the burial of Rachel unto this present day. (And Jacob put up a sacred pillar on her sepulchre; this is the same pillar that is on Rachel's grave unto this present day.)

Genesis 35:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 35:20

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave
A sepulchral monument erected in memory of her; this according to Benjamin of Tudela

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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.

Genesis 35:20 In-Context

18 Forsooth while the soul passed from her for sorrow, and death nighed then, she called the name of her son Benoni, that is, the son of my sorrow; forsooth his father called him Benjamin, that is, the son of the right side. (But as her soul passed away from her, and death neared, she named her son Benoni, that is, The son of my sorrow; but his father called him Benjamin, that is, The son of my right hand.)

19 Therefore Rachel died, and was buried in the way that leadeth to Ephratah, that is Bethlehem. (And so Rachel died, and was buried on the way that leadeth to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.)

20 And Jacob builded a memorial upon the sepulchre of her; this is the memorial of the burial of Rachel unto this present day. (And Jacob put up a sacred pillar on her sepulchre; this is the same pillar that is on Rachel's grave unto this present day.)

21 Jacob went from thence, and setted a tabernacle over the tower of the flock. (And then Jacob went from there, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder/beyond Migdaleder.)

22 And while he dwelled in that country, Reuben went, and slept with Bilhah, the secondary wife of his father, which thing was not hid from him (which was told to Jacob). Forsooth the sons of Jacob were twelve;