And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Verse 20. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave] Was not this the origin of funeral monuments? In ancient times, and among rude nations, a heap of stones designated the burial place of the chief; many of these still remain in different countries. Afterwards a rude stone, with a simple inscription, was used, containing only the name of the deceased, and that of his father. But where arts and sciences flourished, superb monuments were erected highly decorated, and pompously inscribed. It is very likely from the circumstances of Jacob that a single stone constituted the pillar in this case, on which, if writing did then exist, the name, or rather some hieroglyphical device, was probably inscribed. That which is now called Rachel’s pillar is allowed, by those who have examined it, to be a comparatively modern structure.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jacob set a pillar, as a monument or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection.
Unto this day, i.e. unto the time wherein Moses writ this book, and long after. See 1Sa 10:2; Jer 31:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. and Jacob set a pillar on hergrave . . . unto this dayThe spot still marked out as thegrave of Rachel exactly agrees with the Scriptural record, beingabout a mile from Beth-lehem. Anciently it was surmounted by apyramid of stones, but the present tomb is a Mohammedan erection.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave,…. A sepulchral monument erected in memory of her; this according to Benjamin of Tudela e was made of twelve stones, according to the number of the sons of Jacob, and over it was a vault or roof, supported by four pillars:
that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day; it continued to the times of Moses, the writer of this history, and to the times of Samuel, as appears from 1Sa 10:2; and even travellers of late times affirm it to be seen still, to the north of Bethlehem, on the right hand of the way as you go from Bethlehem to Jerusalem; but the present sepulchral monument, as Mr. Maundrel says f, can be none of that which Jacob erected, for it appears plainly to be a modern Turkish structure. Near the grave are found some little black stones, which strangers pick up, and are fancied to be helpful to women, to give them an easier birth, the same the above traveller says resemble peas. The Jews that pass by it were used to engrave their names on the stones, of the pillars g.
e ltinerar. p. 47. f Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 87. g Benjamin. Itinerar. ib. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 19. Bunting’s Travels, p. 75.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) That is the pillar of Rachels grave unto this day.This is a later addition, but whether inserted by Moses or Ezra we cannot tell. Its site was known in the days of Samuel (1Sa. 10:2); and as the pillar would be a mass of unwrought stone, with which the natives would have no object in interfering, its identification upon the conquest of Canaan would not be difficult.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. A pillar unto this day An oak marked Deborah’s tomb, (Gen 35:8,) a pillar Rachel’s. The place was known in Samuel’s time, (1Sa 10:2,) and there appears no sufficient reason to doubt that the modern Moslem tomb a little northwest of Bethlehem, known as Kubbet Rahil, occupies the spot of Jacob’s memorial tablet of his beloved wife.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.’
The loss of Rachel is a deep blow and when she is buried he sets up a memorial stone. The setting up of such stones was a custom widely practised in Canaan in those days. The significance attached to such a pillar would vary between tribes as with so many customs and we are given no hint here what is in Jacob’s mind. It may well have been just because he did not want her burial place to be forgotten. Later Israel was certainly decidedly against any funerary cult. Possibly he felt that in some way it kept her alive. Consider how even today the loss of a very dear loved one results in people praying at the grave. They cannot believe the loved one has gone.
“The same is the pillar of Rachel” s grave to this day.’ ‘To this day’ may signify a long or a short time. It merely says that the writer is aware of the pillar and declares it is still there. We may therefore see it as the comment of the recorder of this covenant record within a relatively short time of the occurrence or as an added comment made later by the compiler.
This is the second death of someone important to him preparatory to his being restored to his family (compare Gen 35:8). If only he had returned earlier what might have been avoided. Now he returns surrounded by grief. We must always beware of delay when dealing with God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 35:20. Set a pillar, &c. The learned Bochart is of opinion, that this monument of Rachel’s (which is the first that we read of in Scripture) was a pyramid, curiously wrought, and raised upon a basis of twelve large stones, whereby Jacob intended to intimate the number of his sons. It was certainly standing at the time when Moses wrote, Gen 35:20 and just before Saul was anointed king there is some mention made of it, 1Sa 10:2. But that the present monument cannot be the same which Jacob erected, is very manifest, from its being a modern and Turkish structure. Mr. Le Brun, who was at the place, and took a draught of it, says, that the tomb is cut into the cavity of a rock, and covered with a dome, supported by four pillars, on fragments of a wall, which open to the sepulchre. The work is rude enough, and without any ornament; but the whole is as entire as if it had been but just erected; which makes it hard to imagine that it has subsisted ever since Jacob’s time. Maundrell’s Travels and Calmet’s Dictionary.
REFLECTIONS.We have here Rachel’s death in child-bed. One death had made a breach in Jacob’s family; another still more afflicting succeeds. Death often thus repeats his strokes. The midwife would comfort her with a son born; but now, feeling her burden so heavy that she cannot rejoice in him, she calls him Ben-oni, the son of her sorrow. Note; When we are dying, nothing in this world can any longer comfort us. Jacob however changes his name: his love for Rachel lives in Benjamin, the son of his right hand; the last of our children is usually the fondling. Rachel scarcely names her son, but she departs. Note; (1.) The soul must return to God that gave it. (2.) As child-bearing in sorrow is the effect of sin, frequent death in child-bearing more strongly marks the wages due to it. But there is a child born, who can save the dying mother. Jacob buries her on the spot, and in memory of her erects a mournful pillar. Note; A grave-stone may be made an useful remembrancer, and a continual sermon.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Ver. 21. Beyond the tower of Edar. ] Or, Of the flock. This tower was built, it seems, for the safety and service of shepherds. There it was, probably, that those shepherds, Luk 2:8 , watched their flocks. There also, Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, did afterwards build a temple, for a memorial of the angels that there appeared to those shepherds, carolling Christ into the world.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
grave. Hebrew. keber, first Occurance. Gen 23:4. = A sepulchre, from kabar to bury. Not sheol, which = THE grave. Compare App-35.
unto this day. Wellknown in the days of Samuel. See 1Sa 10:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the pillar: Gen 35:9, Gen 35:14, 1Sa 10:2, 2Sa 18:17, 2Sa 18:18
Reciprocal: Gen 28:18 – set it Gen 29:17 – Rachel
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 35:20. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave As a monument, or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection. That is the pillar of Rachels grave unto this day Unto the time when Moses wrote this book. But it was known to be Rachels sepulchre long after, 1Sa 10:2, and Providence so ordered it that this place afterward fell into the lot of Benjamin. Jacob set up a pillar in remembrance of his joys, (Gen 35:14,) and here he sets up one in remembrance of his sorrows. Such is human life with the generality of mankind, a checkered scene! sorrows and joys follow one another in rapid succession. Happy they who, through that faith which is the evidence of things not seen, rise superior to them both, and have their conversation in heaven, where such changes have no place!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
35:20 And Jacob set a {g} pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
(g) The ancient fathers used this ceremony to testify their hope of the resurrection to come, which was not generally revealed.