(טז) וַיִּסְעוּ מִבֵּית אֵל וַיְהִי עוֹד כִּבְרַת הָאָרֶץ לָבוֹא אֶפְרָתָה וַתֵּלֶד רָחֵל וַתְּקַשׁ בְּלִדְתָּהּ. (יז) וַיְהִי בְהַקְשֹׁתָהּ בְּלִדְתָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמְיַלֶּדֶת אַל תִּירְאִי כִּי גַם זֶה לָךְ בֵּן. (יח) וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ בֶּן אוֹנִי וְאָבִיו קָרָא לוֹ בִנְיָמִין. (יט) וַתָּמָת רָחֵל וַתִּקָּבֵר בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶפְרָתָה הִוא בֵּית לָחֶם. (כ) וַיַּצֵּב יַעֲקֹב מַצֵּבָה עַל קְבֻרָתָהּ הִוא מַצֶּבֶת קְבֻרַת רָחֵל עַד הַיּוֹם.
(16) And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. (17) And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the mid-wife said unto her: ‘Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.’ (18) And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing—for she died—that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (19) And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath—the same is Beth-lehem. (20) And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Identify the elements which make this a tragic episode.
Who is Rachel, for you? How would you describe her as a character?
What effect does the ending of Rachel's story have on you? Does it complement or contradict your understanding of her character?
Who is Rachel, for you? How would you describe her as a character?
What effect does the ending of Rachel's story have on you? Does it complement or contradict your understanding of her character?
Rachel's Grave in the TaNaKh:
(ב) בְּלֶכְתְּךָ הַיּוֹם מֵעִמָּדִי וּמָצָאתָ שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים עִם קְבֻרַת רָחֵל בִּגְבוּל בִּנְיָמִן בְּצֶלְצַח וְאָמְרוּ אֵלֶיךָ נִמְצְאוּ הָאֲתֹנוֹת אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ לְבַקֵּשׁ וְהִנֵּה נָטַשׁ אָבִיךָ אֶת דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֹת וְדָאַג לָכֶם לֵאמֹר מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לִבְנִי.
(2) When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by the tomb of Rachel, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee: The donkeys which thou went to seek are found; and, lo, thy father hath left off caring for the donkeys, and is anxious concerning you, saying: What shall I do for my son?
(יד) כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע נְהִי בְּכִי תַמְרוּרִים רָחֵל מְבַכָּה עַל בָּנֶיהָ מֵאֲנָה לְהִנָּחֵם עַל בָּנֶיהָ כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ. (טו) כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי וְעֵינַיִךְ מִדִּמְעָה כִּי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם יְהוָה וְשָׁבוּ מֵאֶרֶץ אוֹיֵב.
(14) Thus said Adonai: A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are not. (15) Thus said Adonai: Refrain thy voice from weeping, And thine eyes from tears; For thy work shall be rewarded, said Adonai; And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
Rachel's Grave in other Jewish Texts:
Genesis Rabbah 82:10
Jacob saw with the spirit of divine inspiration that when the Israelites would set out to exile, they would pass through Bethlehem on the road to Ephrath, and so he buried Rachel there, so that she would pray for them. His prophecy was fulfilled, as Jer. 31:14–16 attests.
Jacob saw with the spirit of divine inspiration that when the Israelites would set out to exile, they would pass through Bethlehem on the road to Ephrath, and so he buried Rachel there, so that she would pray for them. His prophecy was fulfilled, as Jer. 31:14–16 attests.
Rashi on Genesis 48:7
And I did not take her even to Bethlehem to bring her into the Land, and I know that you hold it against me; but you should know that I buried her there by divine command, so that she would be of assistance to her children. When Nebuzaradan exiles them (the Israelites), and they pass by there, Rachel will emerge from her grave and weep and beg mercy for them, as it is said: “A voice is heard on high, [lamentation, bitter weeping, Rachel is weeping for her children]” (Jer. 31:14). And the Holy One, Blessed Be, answers her, “‘There is reward for your work,’ says the Lord,… ‘and the children shall return to their own border.’”
And I did not take her even to Bethlehem to bring her into the Land, and I know that you hold it against me; but you should know that I buried her there by divine command, so that she would be of assistance to her children. When Nebuzaradan exiles them (the Israelites), and they pass by there, Rachel will emerge from her grave and weep and beg mercy for them, as it is said: “A voice is heard on high, [lamentation, bitter weeping, Rachel is weeping for her children]” (Jer. 31:14). And the Holy One, Blessed Be, answers her, “‘There is reward for your work,’ says the Lord,… ‘and the children shall return to their own border.’”