Topical Encyclopedia Rachel's Tomb is a significant biblical site traditionally believed to be the burial place of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The tomb is mentioned in the Old Testament and holds considerable historical and religious importance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.Biblical Account The account of Rachel's death and burial is found in the Book of Genesis. As Jacob and his family journeyed from Bethel, Rachel went into labor and suffered a difficult childbirth. She gave birth to her second son, Benjamin, but tragically died during the process. Genesis 35:19-20 records, "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb." Rachel's death and burial are also mentioned in Genesis 48:7 , where Jacob recounts, "As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan, while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." Location and Historical Significance Rachel's Tomb is traditionally located near Bethlehem, on the ancient road connecting Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The site has been venerated for centuries and is considered a place of pilgrimage and prayer. The tomb is marked by a small domed structure, which has been renovated and expanded over the years. The location of Rachel's Tomb has been a subject of debate among scholars and historians. Some suggest that the biblical description places the tomb closer to Ramah, north of Jerusalem. However, the traditional site near Bethlehem has been widely accepted and revered throughout history. Religious and Cultural Importance Rachel is a significant figure in the Bible, known for her beauty, her deep love for Jacob, and her role as the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Her account is one of love, longing, and sorrow, as she struggled with infertility before giving birth to her sons. Rachel's Tomb has become a symbol of hope and intercession, particularly for those seeking fertility and maternal blessings. The site is often visited by women praying for children, drawing on Rachel's own experiences and the belief in her intercessory power. Tradition and Pilgrimage Throughout history, Rachel's Tomb has been a site of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jewish tradition holds that Rachel weeps for her children, as referenced in Jeremiah 31:15 : "This is what the LORD says: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.'" The tomb is a place of prayer and reflection, where visitors come to seek comfort and guidance. It is also a site of cultural heritage, reflecting the shared history and reverence among the Abrahamic faiths. Modern Context Today, Rachel's Tomb is located in a politically sensitive area, near the border between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Access to the site is controlled, and it remains a focal point of religious devotion and cultural identity. Despite the challenges, Rachel's Tomb continues to be a place of pilgrimage and spiritual significance, drawing visitors from around the world who seek to connect with the biblical legacy of Rachel. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Rachel's TombRACHEL'S TOMB (matstsebheth qebhurath rachel): In Genesis 35:20 we read: "Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day," i.e. the time of the writer. Though the pillar, i.e sepulchral monument, has long disappeared, the spot is marked until this day, and Christians, Jews and Mohammedans unite in honoring it. The present tomb, which, apparently, is not older than the 15th century, is built in the style of the small-domed buildings raised by Moslems in honor of their saints. It is a rough structure of four square walls, each about 23 ft. long and 20 ft. high; the dome rising 10 ft. higher is used by Mohammedans for prayer, while on Fridays the Jews make supplication before the empty tomb within. It is doubtful, but probable, that it marks the exact spot where Rachel was buried. There are, apparently, two traditions as to the location of the place. The oldest tradition, based upon Genesis 35:16-20; Genesis 48:7, points to a place one mile North of Bethlehem and 4 miles from Jerusalem. Matthew 2:18 speaks for this place, since the evangelist, reporting the slaughter of the innocents of Bethlehem, represents Rachel as weeping for her children from her neighboring grave. But according to 1 Samuel 10:2;, which apparently represents another tradition, the place of Rachel's grave was on the "border of Benjamin," near Beth-el, about 10 miles North of Jerusalem, at another unknown Ephrath. This location, some believe, is corroborated by Jeremiah 31:15, where the prophet, in relating the leading away of the people of Ramah, which was in Benjamin, into captivity, introduces Rachel the mother of that tribe as bewailing the fate of her descendants. Those that believe this northern location to be the place of Rachel's grave take the words, "the same is Beth-lehem," in Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7, to be an incorrect gloss; but that is a mere assumption lacking sufficient proof.o, following J. P. Peters, rearranges the text by transferring the clause "and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council" to the end of the preceding verse (Encyclopaedia Biblica, IV, cols. 4001). There certainly does not seem to be trustworthy external evidence to prove that the terms "the judgment," "the council," "the Gehenna of fire" stand to each other in a relation of gradation, as lower and higher legal courts, or would be so understood by Christ's hearers. What is beyond dispute is that Christ condemns the use of disparaging and insulting epithets as a supreme offense against the law of humanity, which belongs to the same category as murder itself. It should be added, however, that it is the underlying feeling and not the verbal expression as such that constitutes the sin. Hence, our Lord can, without any real inconsistency, address two of His followers as "foolish men" (Luke 24:25, anoetoi, practically equivalent to Raca, as is also James's expression, "O vain man," James 2:20). Library Chapter xxxv How Samuel Found a Leader Chapter xxxiv Rachel's Refuge The Tomb of the Pharaoh The Treasure Cave Letter cviii. To Eustochium. Light after Darkness Night God, the All-Seeing One Resources What is the birth order of Jacob's thirteen children? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Reuben in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Dan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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