RACHEL

Ewe or sheep, Ru 4:11, the younger sister of Leah, daughter of Laban, and the chosen wife of Jacob, though her sister was favored with more children. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and died soon after the birth of the latter. See her history in Ge 29:1-35:29. Her sepulchre, half an hour’s walk north of Bethlehem, is shown unto this day, the spot being marked by a Mohammedan wely or tomb, a stone enclosure and a dome. The prophecy, Jer 31:15, representing her as mourning over her posterity, the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, is quoted in Mt 2:18, in reference to the massacre at Bethlehem, in which undoubtedly many of her descendants suffered. It is supposed that one of the many places called Ramah was adjacent to Bethlehem.

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Rachel. Rachel
Ewe, “the daughter”, “the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter” of Laban, and one of Jacob’s wives (Gen. 29:6, 28). He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was Jacob’s affection for her. She was the mother of Joseph (Gen. 30:22-24). Afterwards, on Jacob’s departure from Mesopotamia, she took with her her father’s teraphim (31:34, 35). As they journeyed on from Bethel, Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (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 (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 (Matt. 2:17, 18).

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Rachel. sheep

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RACHEL. → (Daughter of Laban and the favorite wife of Jacob) → Meets Jacob at a well Ge 29:9-12 → Jacob serves Laban for an additional seven years to obtain her as his wife Ge 29:15-30 → Sterility of Ge 29:31 → Her grief in consequence of her sterility; gives her maid, to Jacob in order to obtain children in her own name Ge 30:1-8,15,22-34 → Later productiveness of; becomes the mother of
* Joseph Ge 30:22-25
* Benjamin Ge 35:16-18,24

→ Steals the household images (teraphim, legal deed) of her father Ge 31:4,14-19,33-35 → Her death and burial Ge 35:18-20; 48:7; 1Sa 10:2

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daughter of Laban, married to Jacob Ge 29:6,18; 30:1,22; 33:2; 35:19; Ru 4:11; Jer 31:15; Mt 2:18