Rachael’s Death

Genesis 35:16-20

“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.” (Genesis 35:16-17)

Abortion proponents view pregnancy as almost as bad as cancer, but even the medical establishment treats it more as a disease than as a natural and necessary part of life. One is left with the impression that no mother or child would ever survive childbirth if it were not for the doctors. God designed the woman’s body to give birth efficiently and with little risk. For thousands of years, women had babies without doctors present, and still do. Many of the present day problems with childbirth are the result of the modern lifestyle rather than inherent risk. Both the pain and the risks involved can be reduced by changes in lifestyle.

Though it is a completely natural process, things can go wrong. Rachael was at least fifty and probably well into her sixties by this time. Women are more likely to have problems giving birth after the age of about forty five or fifty, and she had problems delivering the baby. The midwife, who was there to minister to the baby advised her tha the baby would survive.

“And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.” (Genesis 35:18)

About ten years after Joseph’s birth, Benjamin was born. Rachael called him “the Son of My Sorrow” because she would not be there to see hjm grow, but Jacob called him “the Son of The Right hand,” referring to his relationship to Rachael. Benjamin would always be extra special to Jacob as the last thing Rachael had given him.

“And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.” (Genesis 35:19-21)

Jacob did not take Rachael to Machpelah where Sarah and Abraham were buried, but buried her near present day Bethlehem. As a memorial, he set up a pillar similar to what he had erected at Bethel. He then continued his journey, caring for the rest of his family.

“And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it.” (Genesis 35:22a)

Years of conflict and favoritism combined with a attitude that cheating was okay had resulted in a lack of confidence and moral standards in Reuben. Genesis 49:4 tells us that it was that the resulting instability that led to his sin and would always prevent his attaining his potential. Though he was the eldest son, he was never the leader, always upstaged by his brothers.

“…Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.” (Genesis 35:22b-26)

*Note that once again we have a situation where those who added the verse divisions ignored the punctuation and meaning of the text. The first part of verse 22 concludes with a period. The last part clearly is related to the following verses and concludes with a colon clearly indicating the sentence and thought are not complete.

“And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” (Genesis 35:27-29)

As a child and young man Jacob had been much closer to his mother than to his father. That Deborah was with Jacob’s family at Bethel indicates there had bee contact between them, but this is the first time Jacob had moved his entire group to see them. They stayed in the area for a considerable period and Jacob spent time with Isaac before he died.

Isaac was a hundred eighty years old at his death, between five and six hundred years after the flood. Shem died five hundred and two years after the flood so his life overlapped that of Isaac and probably Jacob. Notice the decreasing lifespan. God had said man’s lifespan would be a hundred twenty years in Genesis 6:3.