MPV Commentary

Birth of Benjamin--Death of Rachel, &c.

16. The family journeyed from Beth-el, where they had undoubtedly experienced great joy and spiritual enrichment through their worship and recollections of Jacob's glorious vision. As they departed, they traveled southward to Ephrath, but their arrival was marked by tragedy: the death of Rachel in childbirth, leaving behind a posthumous son (Genesis 35:18). This event was particularly poignant given Rachel's deep longing for children (compare Genesis 30:1).

18. The dying mother named her child Ben-oni, which reflected her circumstances, but Jacob later changed the name to Benjamin. Some interpret this original name as "son of days" or "of old age," while others see it as "son of the right hand," meaning a particularly dear and precious son.

19. Ephrath is an older name for Bethlehem, signifying "house of bread." This location would later become significant in Israel's history.

20. Jacob set up a memorial pillar on Rachel's grave, which remains marked to this day about a mile from Bethlehem. The original monument was likely a pyramid of stones, but it has since been replaced by a Mohammedan structure.

26. The text lists the sons of Jacob born to him in Padan-aram, but this statement applies primarily to those born outside Canaan (compare Matthew 19:28; John 20:24; Hebrews 11:13). Benjamin, however, was born in Canaan (Genesis 35:16-18).

Death of Isaac.

28, 29. The death of Isaac is recorded here before it actually occurred, fifteen years after Joseph's disappearance. Despite his physical frailty and blindness, Isaac lived a long life, and the fact that Esau and Jacob met at Mamre to perform their father's funeral rites is a testament to their reconciliation.