THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Recognize that your mother Rachel passed away when I approached Bethlehem, and I laid her to rest there along the path to Ephrathah.
Genesis 48:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.
וַאֲנִ֣י ׀ בְּבֹאִ֣י מִפַּדָּ֗ן מֵ֩תָה֩ עָלַ֨י רָחֵ֜ל בְּאֶ֤רֶץ כְּנַ֙עַן֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בְּע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־אֶ֖רֶץ לָבֹ֣א אֶפְרָ֑תָה וָאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָ שָּׁם֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔ת הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
James mentions that Rachel rests in Bethlehem, and it is essential to consider Rachel as a representation of the Gentile Church. It would not be incorrect to assert that the Church has transitioned into a life beyond this one, a life far superior and more glorious than the earthly existence. The Church, having renounced worldly desires in favor of spiritual devotion to God, embodies a life lived in Christ through the Gospel. Although she exists in the realm of the flesh, her essence is concealed, devoid of earthly brilliance, almost as if buried with Christ. This notion echoes the wise words of Paul: “For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).
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While Rachel lay buried in Bethlehem, she remained unseen, just as Emmanuel was almost obscured before his birth from the Holy Virgin. Thus, we ought to honor this death of the Church, which elevates us to the beginnings of a holy existence in Christ.
It is also worth noting that, having embraced Joseph's children as his own due to their mother's passing, the father instructed them to remember her. By designating her burial site, he encouraged them to care for her. In a similar manner, God the Father directed the Son to care for the Church, which had been defeated by death as a result of the ancient curse. Hence, the psalmist David cried out to God, “Thy God hath ordained strength for thee. Establish, O God, what thou hast done for us!” (Psalm 67:29). In the face of death, even when merely presenting a body afflicted by mortality, he implored that, through the divine power, the Son would redeem us from decay and restore us to our original state—a state of blessedness and purity in Christ.
Ephraem the Syrian
In pronouncing a blessing over the child born to Rachel, Jacob mournfully recalls Rachel's passing, which resulted from giving birth to a son.
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
After returning from Podan, Rachel passed away in my residence. The reason James references Rachel's death here remains unclear. It is speculated that he might be indicating the location of Rachel's grave, allowing Joseph to know where her remains could be found should he choose to bring them to Hebron. However, aside from Benjamin, which of the brothers would not already be aware of this? Additionally, this interpretation ties Jacob's remarks to his burial wishes, which were expressed at a completely different time from Joseph's encounter (Genesis 48:1). Jacob appears to be reminding Joseph of Rachel's premature demise, possibly to illustrate one of the reasons for adopting Ephraim and Manasseh.
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Though Rachel was no longer alive, she was Leah's younger sister who, despite being barren for a time, might have had children. Ultimately, she had borne only two sons, whereas Leah had six, and thus she could not claim a greater legacy than Jacob's maidservants. Therefore, Jacob seeks to enhance her heritage by transforming her two sons into three through the adoption of her grandsons.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 35:16And going forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail,
- Gen 35:19So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.
- Matt 2:18A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
- Gen 35:9And God appeared again to Jacob, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria, and he blessed him,
- 1 Sam 10:2When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men by the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Benjamin to the south, and they shall say to thee: The asses are found which thou wentest to seek: and thy father, thinking no more of the asses, is concerned for you, and saith: What shall I do for my son?
- Gen 25:20Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.
- 1 Sam 1:1There was a man of Ramathaimsophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliu, the son of Thohu, the son of Suph, an Ephraimite:
- Mic 5:2And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.