seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 35:16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” 18 As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.
21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.
Jacob had twelve sons:
23 The sons of Leah:
Reuben the firstborn of Jacob,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.
24 The sons of Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah:
Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah:
Gad and Asher.
These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Here's the link I use to study these verses.Rachel died and was buried: Rachel’s death was a tragic fulfillment of the curse Jacob himself pronounced on the one who stole the idols of Laban (Genesis 31:32).
In Genesis 30:1, Rachel pleaded with Jacob, Give me children, or else I die! As it happened, both became true. She had children and she died as a result.
Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: Reuben was the firstborn. We might expect the best conduct from him, and might expect him to most seriously receive the covenant of his fathers. Yet here, he sinned in a most offensive way against his father and entire family.
However, we don’t have to wonder about where this sinful conduct came from. In a home so filled with strife, contention, competition, and the pursuit of the flesh, it was almost to be expected.
Israel heard about it: Through their sin Reuben, Simeon, and Levi seemed to disqualify themselves from the high calling of Abraham’s blessing. It will be up to the fourth son, Judah, to bring forth the Messiah.
What a sad set of verses. Yesterday I read that Rebekah's nurse died. But I haven't read about Rebekah's demise. I googled it... there are no verses on the subject. Rebekah helped Jacob [Israel] run from Esau. I don't think she ever saw her son again. She should never have helped Jacob [Israel] steal from her other son Esau. Her funeral isn't discussed, I don't think. Poor woman, probably never saw her son again.
About twenty years before these verses, Esau vowed to kill Jacob [Israel] as soon has the "proper mourning time" had passed.
Esau met Jacob [Israel] on the road. Esau had 400 men with him. Jacob [Israel] must have thought he was a dead man. But Esau didn't kill him then.
Jacob [Israel] went to Shechem [to avoid Esau and his 400 men] and Dinah was defiled, and Simeon and Levi murdered all the men in Shechem over it.
After that... Jacob [Israel] went back to Canaan where he was supposed to go in the first place.
Rachel, Jacob's favorite wife, got pregnant again. She died in childbirth. Jacob [Israel] named his youngest son, Rachel's baby, Benjamin.
And now... Isaac has died. The sons will work together to bury their father. I wonder.... is Esau being civil because the "proper mourning time" had yet to pass?
Jacob [Israel] now has twelve sons and a daughter.
This is...
The Twelve Tribes of Israel.
