Deaths of Rachel and Isaac
Genesis 35:16-29
Gen.35.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויסעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- כברת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לבוא: VERB,qal,inf
- אפרתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותלד: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- רחל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותקש: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בלדתה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,f,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 35:17-20 (structural): Immediate continuation of the episode: Rachel gives birth, dies in childbirth, and is buried at Ephrath (Bethlehem), completing the narrative begun in 35:16.
- Genesis 48:7 (allusion): Jacob’s later recollection identifies Rachel’s burial “on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),” echoing the location named in 35:16–19.
- Genesis 30:22-24 (thematic): Earlier account of Rachel’s barrenness and eventual conception/birth (of Joseph); thematically connects to the motif of Rachel’s struggle to bear children and her ultimate childbirth.
- Jeremiah 31:15 (allusion): Portrays Rachel weeping for her children—an image tied to Rachel’s burial at Bethlehem and used later to symbolize maternal sorrow over Israel’s suffering.
- Matthew 2:18 (quotation): New Testament citation of Jeremiah 31:15 applied to the massacre at Bethlehem; links the motif of Rachel’s weeping and the Bethlehem location associated with Gen 35:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they journeyed from Bethel, and there was still a stretch of land to come to Ephrath; and Rachel gave birth, and her labor was hard.
- And they journeyed from Bethel, and while there was still a stretch of land to go to Ephrath, Rachel gave birth, and she had hard labor in giving birth.
Gen.35.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בהקשתה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def,3,f
- בלדתה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,3,f
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- המילדת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- תיראי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- גם: ADV
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.35:16-20 (structural): Immediate narrative context: continuation of Rachel’s labor, birth of Benjamin, and Rachel’s death — clarifies the outcome of the midwife’s reassurance.
- Gen.30:22-24 (thematic): Earlier account of Rachel’s barrenness and subsequent conception (birth of Joseph); parallels theme of Rachel’s struggle with conception and God’s intervention in her childbearing.
- Gen.38:27-30 (verbal): Birth scene involving a midwife who speaks and acts during a difficult delivery (Tamar’s twins); parallels the presence and spoken role of a midwife at a tense childbirth.
- Exod.1:15-21 (thematic): Role and agency of midwives in Israelite birth narratives; emphasizes midwives’ pivotal part in childbirth and their moral/relational significance in Israel’s story.
- Isa.66:7-9 (allusion): Uses childbirth imagery and the motif of travail and deliverance; thematically echoes birth, sudden deliverance, and the prophetic significance of a childbearing event.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for this also is a son for you."
- And it happened, when her labor was hard, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for this also is a son for you."
Gen.35.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בצאת: PREP+VERB,qal,infc
- נפשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRONSUF,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- מתה: VERB,qal,cohort,1,f,sg
- ותקרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אוני: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRONSUF,1,sg
- ואביו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRONSUF,3,m,sg
- קרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בנימין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.29:31-35 (verbal): Leah's births and the mothers' spoken names (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah) — parallels Rachel's naming of her son according to her experience at birth.
- Gen.30:22-24 (verbal): Rachel's earlier experience of conception and her naming of Joseph ('May He add') — another example of a mother naming a son to express her situation and hopes.
- 1 Sam.1:20 (thematic): Hannah's birth and naming of Samuel as a word about the circumstances of his birth and dedication to God — parallels the motif of a mother's naming reflecting distress, petition, or vow.
- Gen.32:28 (structural): Jacob is given a new name (Israel) after a pivotal event — parallels Jacob's authority to rename Rachel's son from 'Ben‑Oni' to 'Benjamin' and the theological significance of renaming.
- Gen.17:5 (structural): God changes Abram's name to Abraham to signify a new role/identity — another instance where changing a name reinterprets origin or destiny, analogous to Jacob renaming Ben‑Oni.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, as her soul was departing—for she died—that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
- And it happened, as her life was departing—for she died—that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen.35.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותמת: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- רחל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותקבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אפרתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.48:7 (verbal): Jacob recounts the same tradition: Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem), repeating the burial detail in Genesis 35:19.
- Jer.31:15 (allusion): Rachel is portrayed weeping for her children — a maternal mourning motif tied to Rachel’s tomb and the sorrow associated with Israel’s losses; later traditions link this lament to Bethlehem/Ramah.
- Matt.2:18 (quotation): The Gospel cites Jeremiah 31:15 (Rachel weeping) in the context of Herod’s massacre of the infants at Bethlehem, connecting Rachel’s mourning to events at Bethlehem mentioned in Gen 35:19.
- Mic.5:2 (thematic): Refers to Bethlehem Ephrathah as the significant origin/seat of future leadership; thematically connects to Genesis’ identification of Ephrath/Bethlehem as Rachel’s burial place.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath—it is Bethlehem.
- And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Gen.35.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצב: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מצבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- קברתה: NOUN,m,sg,abs,suff3f
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- מצבת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- קברת: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- רחל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Genesis 35:14 (verbal): Same chapter and verb: Jacob 'set up a pillar' (matzevah) earlier at the place of divine encounter (Bethel), showing the repeated practice of erecting stones as sacred memorials.
- Genesis 28:18-22 (verbal): Jacob sets up a stone pillar at Bethel after his dream and makes a vow — same terminology and function (pillar as a sacred memorial and marker of a covenant experience).
- Genesis 31:45-52 (thematic): Jacob and Laban set up a heap and pillar (Galeed/Mizpah) as a witness between them — parallel use of stones/pillars as boundary/witness and public memorials.
- Joshua 24:26 (thematic): Joshua takes a great stone and sets it up under an oak by the sanctuary as a witness to the covenant — analogous practice of erecting stones to mark covenantal or commemorative events.
- 1 Samuel 7:12 (thematic): Samuel sets up a stone called Ebenezer ('stone of help') to commemorate divine assistance — another instance of erecting a stone monument to record and remember a significant divine act.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
- And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
Gen.35.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויסע: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מהלאה: PREP
- למגדל: PREP
- עדר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 33:18 (verbal): Jacob 'came to Shalem... and pitched his tent' — a parallel verbal/structural motif of Jacob/Israel encamping in the land (pitched his tent).
- Micah 4:8 (verbal): The verse names the 'tower of the flock' (Migdal Eder) explicitly — the same Hebrew phrase as Genesis 35:21, creating a direct lexical link and prophetic association with that place.
- Micah 5:2 (thematic): Foretells a ruler coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah; thematically connects the Bethlehem area (near Migdal Eder) with messianic and shepherd imagery.
- Luke 2:8-20 (thematic): Shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus; Christian tradition links these shepherds and the nativity scene to Migdal Eder (tower of the flock), creating thematic resonance with Genesis' location.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond Migdal-eder.
- And Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond Migdal-eder.
Gen.35.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בשכן: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ראובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישכב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בלהה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פילגש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
Parallels
- Gen.49:3-4 (allusion): Jacob’s later blessing condemns Reuben for 'defiling his father's bed' and calling him 'unstable as water,' directly alluding to the incident in Gen 35:22.
- 1 Chr.5:1-2 (allusion): Chronicles summarizes Reuben’s loss of primogeniture because he 'uncovered his father's couch' (or slept with his father's concubine), echoing and interpreting Gen 35:22.
- Lev.18:8 (verbal): The law forbids uncovering the nakedness of one's father's wife; this legal prohibition provides a later textual framework that morally and legally frames Reuben’s action in Gen 35:22.
- 2 Sam.13:12-14 (thematic): Amnon’s sexual violation of Tamar (a close kinship sexual offense within the household) parallels the motif of intra-family sexual transgression and its destructive consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.
- And it happened, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine; and Israel heard. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.
Gen.35.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- לאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בכור: NOUN,m,sg,const
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ראובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושמעון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולוי: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויהודה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויששכר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וזבולן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 29:31-35 (verbal): Earlier birth-narrative in which Leah bears Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun — same names and order as the list in Gen 35:23.
- Genesis 46:8 (verbal): When Jacob's family goes to Egypt the sons of Leah are again listed (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun), repeating the same group as tribal ancestors.
- Exodus 1:1-5 (structural): The opening genealogy of Israel names Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun among Jacob's sons — the same tribal heads descended from Leah, emphasizing their continuity.
- 1 Chronicles 2:1-2 (verbal): Chronicles' genealogical summary reiterates the sons of Jacob by Leah (Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun), preserving the same roster of Leah's children.
Alternative generated candidates
- The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun.
- The sons of Leah: Jacob's firstborn Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Gen.35.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- רחל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובנימן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 30:22-24 (structural): Birth narrative of Joseph: Rachel conceives and bears Joseph — background to identifying Rachel’s sons.
- Genesis 35:16-20 (verbal): Narrative of Rachel’s labor and the birth (and death) of Benjamin — directly connected to the listing of Rachel’s sons.
- Exodus 1:2 (quotation): Later genealogical enumeration of Jacob’s sons includes Joseph and Benjamin — a parallel listing of Rachel’s offspring.
- Genesis 49:22-27 (thematic): Jacob’s blessings for Joseph and Benjamin reflect their tribal destinies and significance as Rachel’s sons.
Alternative generated candidates
- The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
- The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
Gen.35.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בלהה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שפחת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- רחל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- דן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונפתלי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 30:6 (verbal): Direct account of Dan's birth to Bilhah, Rachel's maid; repeats the name and parentage found in Gen 35:25.
- Genesis 30:8 (verbal): Direct account of Naphtali's birth to Bilhah; parallels the naming and parentage in Gen 35:25.
- Genesis 49:16-21 (thematic): Jacob's blessing/prophecy concerning Dan and Naphtali reflects later tribal character and destiny, developing the identities introduced by their births.
- Exodus 1:1-5 (structural): Listing of Jacob's sons who went down to Egypt includes Dan and Naphtali, showing the continuation of the same tribal names in later genealogical/tribal lists.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant: Dan and Naphtali.
- And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant: Dan and Naphtali.
Gen.35.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- זלפה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שפחת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- לאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גד: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בפדן: PREP+NOUN,prop,sg
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.30:9-13 (verbal): Earlier account: Leah gives her maid Zilpah to Jacob; Zilpah bears Gad and Asher — same birth report as Gen 35:26.
- Gen.46:15-18 (structural): Later listing of Jacob’s household who went to Egypt, naming Gad and Asher among the sons and using the same formula 'these are the sons of Jacob'.
- Exod.1:1-5 (thematic): Opening list of Jacob’s sons who came to Egypt (includes Gad and Asher), parallel to genealogical enumeration of Jacob’s offspring.
- Num.26:15-18 (thematic): Census/genealogical material that continues the tribal lines of Jacob’s sons (including the families of Gad and Asher), linking the individuals named in Genesis to later tribal records.
- 1 Chron.7:30-40 (structural): Chronicler’s genealogies for Asher (and related tribal lists) expanding the descendants of the son named here, reflecting the same tribal origin.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
- And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
Gen.35.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ממרא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- הארבע: ART+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- חברון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- גר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שם: ADV
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצחק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.13:18 (verbal): Abram/Abraham 'dwelt by the oaks (or plain) of Mamre, which is in Hebron' — same place-name (Mamre/Kiriath‑arba/Hebron) establishing the patriarchal residence connection.
- Gen.23:2 (thematic): Sarah dies 'in Kiriath‑arba (that is, Hebron)' — underscores Hebron as a family center and burial/residence site for the patriarchs, echoed in 35:27.
- Gen.25:9-10 (verbal): Abraham is buried in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre/Hebron; the passage links Abraham (and Isaac) to Hebron, which 35:27 explicitly cites as where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
- Gen.31:3 (thematic): God commands Jacob to 'return to the land of your fathers' — thematically parallels Jacob's return home and reunion with his father in 35:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre, Kiriath-arba—it is Hebron—where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
- And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
Gen.35.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושמנים: CONJ+NUM,card,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.25.7 (verbal): Uses the same formula reporting a patriarch's total years — Abraham lived 175 years (’the days of the years of Abraham’s life’).
- Gen.47.28 (structural): Parallel narrative pattern: statement of a patriarch’s total years immediately before account of his death — Jacob lived 147 years.
- Gen.50.26 (structural): Same life-span formula applied to another patriarch at death — Joseph lived 110 years; follows the same Genesis pattern of age → death/closure.
- Ps.90.10 (thematic): Reflects the biblical theme of human lifespan and its limits (’the days of our years are threescore years and ten…’), thematically related to reporting a life’s span.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years.
- And the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
Gen.35.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגוע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויאסף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- עמיו: NOUN,m,sg,cstr+pr,3,m,sg
- זקן: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ושבע: NUM,m,sg,abs
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויקברו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ויעקב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בניו: NOUN,m,pl,cs
Parallels
- Gen.25:8-9 (verbal): Abraham’s death/burial uses the same language — he 'gave up the ghost... and was gathered to his people, an old man, and full of years,' and his sons (Isaac and Ishmael) bury him, paralleling Isaac’s formula and burial by his sons.
- Gen.49:33 (verbal): The death formula for Jacob: 'he yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people' — a near-identical verbal formula tying patriarchal deaths together.
- Gen.50:12-13 (structural): Account of Jacob’s burial by his sons/brothers; structurally parallels Esau and Jacob burying Isaac and the motif of interment in the family tomb.
- Deut.34:5-6 (thematic): Moses’ death and burial (leader’s end and interment) provide a thematic parallel — the narrative pattern of a prominent figure dying and being buried concludes a life of service.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
- And Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
And they journeyed from Bethel, and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel gave birth; and she had hard labor. And it happened, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for you have another son." And as her soul was departing—for she died—she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath—that is Bethlehem. And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day. And Israel journeyed, and he pitched his tent beyond Migdal-eder. And it happened, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine; and Israel heard. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.
The sons of Leah: Jacob's firstborn, Reuben; and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun.
The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant: Dan and Naphtali. And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre, Kiriath-arba—that is Hebron—where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. And the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. And Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.