Genesis 35:19 (WEB)
Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Genesis 35:19 (KJV)
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Key words
- בֵּית לָחֶםBeth-lechem · Hebrew
- 'Bethlehem,' literally 'house of bread' — the birthplace of David, of the Messiah, and the site of Rachel's tomb.
Why it matters
Rachel dies and is buried at Bethlehem, and her tomb becomes the fixed point that ties her to the Messiah's birthplace. Pitre notes that this is why Jeremiah pictures Rachel weeping for her children and why Matthew quotes that lament when Herod slaughters the infants of Bethlehem. Mary, the mother who gives birth in Bethlehem, steps into Rachel's place as the sorrowing, interceding mother.