Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 48:7
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.
7. And as for me ] This verse, with its reference to Gen 35:16-19, is introduced very abruptly. The mention of Rachel’s grave is not followed by any further statement, and, standing by itself, it comes in strangely. It hardly admits of explanation as an old man’s wandering soliloquy. Such an explanation is too modern in character. Possibly the passage originally contained the tradition of Jacob’s request, that he might be buried in the same grave with his beloved wife, Rachel. But the entreaty to be buried at Machpelah having already (Gen 47:30) been inserted from J, it was necessary to drop the concluding portion of Jacob’s utterance, i.e. the request to be buried with Rachel, to which the allusion to Rachel’s death and burial at Ephrath was leading up. This theory accounts for the introduction of the touching allusion to Rachel and her burial-place, and for the sudden dropping of the subject.
Paddan ] For “Paddan-aram,” as in LXX. See Gen 25:20.
by me ] R.V. marg. to my sorrow, lit. “upon me,” expresses the full meaning. Compare “against me” in Gen 42:36; see note.
when there was still some way ] See note on Gen 35:16. The Heb. gives a measure of distance; cf. 2Ki 5:19; and the LXX gives the strange rendering , where transliterates the Heb., and , “according to the race-course,” reproduces the tradition that the race-course at Alexandria was the length of this Hebrew measure; cf. Schleusner, s.v. The Vulg. has eratque vernum tempus (!). “On the way to Ephrath,” LXX .
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 7. Rachel died by me, c.] Rachel was the wife of Jacob’s choice, and the object of his unvarying affection he loved her in life – he loves her in death: many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. A match of a man’s own making when guided by reason and religion, will necessarily be a happy one. When fathers and mothers make matches for their children, which are dictated by motives, not of affection, but merely of convenience, worldly gain, c., &c., such matches are generally wretched it is Leah in the place of Rachel to the end of life’s pilgrimage.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Rachel died by me; or, beside me; near me, before mine eyes, I seeing, but not being able to help her in her extremity; which makes the remembrance of it more grievous to me. This story he here mentions, partly because the sight of Joseph and his children brought his beloved Rachel to his remembrance; partly to give the reason of this action of his to the rest of his children, which was not only because Rachel was his first rightful wife by designation and contract, and therefore the right of the first-born was truly Josephs; but because by her early death he was cut off from all hopes of having more children by her, and therefore it was but fit he should supply that defect by adopting Josephs children.
I buried her there, not out of disrespect to her, whose person was, and memory yet is, precious and honourable to me, but either because dying in childbed they could not keep her till they came to the burying-place of the patriarchs at Hebron, Gen 23:19, especially when they were tied to the slow motion of the flocks and herds; or because I would not bury her in the common burying-place with heathens and idolaters, in the city of Ephrath. By which he tacitly implies, that he would not have Joseph joined with the Egyptians in burial.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And as for me, when I came from Padan,…. From Syria, from Laban’s house:
Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan; his beloved wife, the mother of Joseph, on whose account he mentions her, and to show a reason why he took his sons as his own, because his mother dying so soon, he could have no more children by her; and she being his only lawful wife, Joseph was of right to be reckoned as the firstborn; and that as such he might have the double portion, he took his two sons as his own, and put them upon a level with them, even with Reuben and Simeon. By this it appears, as by the preceding account, that Rachel came with him into the land of Canaan, and there died:
in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath; about a mile, or two thousand cubits, as Jarchi observes:
and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; where she died, and dying in childbed, could not be kept so long as to carry her to Machpelah, the burying place of his ancestors; and especially as he had his flocks and herds with him, which could move but slowly; and what might make it more difficult to keep her long, and carry her thither, it might be, as Ben Melech conjectures, summertime; and the Vulgate Latin adds to the text, without any warrant from the original, “and it was springtime”; however, she was buried in the land of Canaan, and which is taken notice of, that Joseph might observe it: it follows,
the same [is] Bethlehem; that is, Ephrath; and so Bethlehem is called Bethlehem Ephratah, Mic 5:2; whether these are the words of Jacob, or of Moses, is not certain, but said with a view to the Messiah, the famous seed of Jacob that should be born there, and was.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. And as for me, when I came from Padan. He mentions the death and burial of his wife Rachel, in order that the name of his mother might prove a stimulus to the mind of Joseph. For since all the sons of Jacob had sprung from Syria, it was not a little to the purpose, that they should be thoroughly acquainted with the history which we have before considered, namely, that their father, returning into the land of Canaan, by the command and under the protection of God, brought his wives with him. For if it was not grievous to women, to leave their father, and to journey into a distant land, their example ought to be no slight inducement to their sons to bid farewell to Egypt; and at the command of the same God, strenuously prepare themselves for taking possession of the land of Canaan.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Rachel died by me.Heb., died upon me, or as we should say, died in my arms. The mention of Rachel is to account for an act so authoritative as the bestowal of the double portion of the firstborn upon Joseph. Jacob grounds the justification of his act, not upon her being the chief wife, but upon her untimely death, which prevented her bearing other sons. Even now Leah, if we count Levi, had six tribes, each handmaid two, and Rachel three.
The same is Beth-lehem.A note added subsequently, when the place was famous as the birthplace of David. It would not be called Beth-lehem until corn was cultivated there.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Rachel died by me “Jacob honours his beloved Rachel by giving her eldest son the right of the firstborn . The reminiscence of the sudden and afflictive death of Jacob’s only real wife thus rises up amid these words of blessing . ” Newhall . The expression died by me has well been thought to contain emotional tenderness. According to Lange, “she died for him, since, while living, she shared with him and for him the toils of his pilgrimage life, and through this, perhaps, brought on her deadly travail.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when there was still some way to come to Ephrath. And I buried her there in the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem).”
His thoughts turn momentarily to himself. He is about to die but he has no regrets, for long before he had lost the one who possessed his whole heart, his beloved Rachel, Joseph’s mother, and now he will go to her. The description demonstrates how he ever kept the scene in his heart and the tenderness with which he remembered her. It is because of his great love for her, the great passion of his life, that he is now intending to adopt her two grandchildren.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 48:7. And as for me, when I came As much as to say, “the favour I shew to your two sons is a new tribute which I pay to the memory of my beloved Rachel. The sudden death which deprived me of her, in circumstances which permitted me not to convey her body to the cave of Machpelah, robbed me at once of a most beloved wife, and of the pleasure of seeing any more children from her. However, in some measure to repair that loss, I know not how to do it in any manner more conformable to the sentiments of my heart, than by adopting your sons for my own, as if you were three brothers of the same much-valued mother.” Note; True lovers never forget: it is Jacob’s comfort now, that he shall meet her in glory whom he lost in Canaan.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 35:19 ; 1Sa 10:2 .
Though the natural eyes of the Patriarch were grown dim; yet how quick sighted was the eye of faith?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 48:7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.
Ver. 7. And I buried her there. ] He could not carry her to the cave of Machpelah; and he would not bury her at Bethdehem among infidels. This he tells Joseph, to teach him and the rest not to set up their rest anywhere but in the land of Canaan.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rachel died. Compare Gen 35:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Padan: Gen 25:20
Rachel: Gen 35:9, Gen 35:16-19, 1Sa 10:2, Mat 2:18, to Ephrath, Rth 1:2, 1Sa 1:1, 1Sa 17:12, Mic 5:2
Reciprocal: Gen 29:17 – Rachel Gen 35:19 – Rachel died Luk 2:4 – unto
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 48:7. Rachel died by me This circumstance he here mentions, partly because the sight of Joseph and his children brought his beloved Rachel, Josephs mother, to his remembrance; and partly that he might assign a reason for transferring the right of the firstborn to Joseph, which was not only because Rachel was his first rightful wife by designation and contract, but because by her early death he was cut off from all hopes of having more children by her, and therefore it was but fit that he should supply that defect by adopting Josephs children. The removal of dear relations from us is an affliction the remembrance of which cannot but abide with us a great while. Strong affections in the enjoyment of any blessing cause long afflictions in the loss of it.