Rachel: Ewe, "the daughter", "the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed
though beautiful younger daughter" of Laban, and one of Jacob's wives
(Genesis 29:6,28) He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was
Jacob's affection for her. She was the mother of Joseph
(Genesis 30:22-24)
Afterwards, on Jacob's departure from Mesopotamia, she took with her
her father's teraphim
(Genesis 31:34,35) As they journeyed on from Bethel,
Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin
(Genesis 35:18,19) and was buried
"in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar
upon her grave". Her sepulchre is still regarded with great
veneration by the Jews. Its traditional site is about half a mile
from Jerusalem. This name is used poetically by Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 31:15-17) to denote God's people mourning under their
calamities. This passage is also quoted by Matthew as fulfilled in the
lamentation at Bethlehem on account of the slaughter of the infants
there at the command of Herod
(Matthew 2:17,18)
