Genesis 35:21

_AND ISRAEL JOURNEYED, AND SPREAD HIS TENT BEYOND THE TOWER OF EDAR._ Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. This was not, as has been strangely alleged, the tower Edar, on one of the gates of Jerusalem, which had not an existence for centuries after Jacob's time; but х_ MIGDAL_ (H4026) _ `EEDER_ (H5740)], tower of the flock, for watching them-a village about a mile distant (according to Jerome's 'Quaest. in Genesin') from Beth-lehem (Micah 4:8); and the place of the shepherds (Luke 2:8); whence it is called Pastora....

21-29 What a sore affliction Reuben's sin was, is shown, " and Israel heard it." No more is said, but that is enough. Reuben thought that his father would never hear of it; but those that promise themselves secrecy in sin, are generally disappointed. The age and death of Isaac are recorded, though he died not till after Joseph was sold into Egypt. Isaac lived about forty years after he had made his will, chap. Genesis 27:2. We shall not die an hour the sooner, but much the better, for timely setting our hearts and houses in order. Particular notice is taken of the agreement of Esau and Jacob at their father's funeral, to show how God had wonderfully changed Esau's mind. It is awful to behold relations, sometimes for a little of this world's goods, disputing over the graves of their friends, while they are near going to the grave themselves....

Verse Genesis 35:21. _TOWER OF EDAR._] Literally, _the tower of the flock_, and so translated Micah 4:8. It is supposed that this tower was about a mile from Bethlehem, and to have been the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds. The Targum of Jonathan expressly says: "It is the place in which the King Messiah shall be manifested in the end of days." By the _tower of the flock_ we may understand a place built by the shepherds near to some _well_, for the convenience of watering their flocks, and keeping watch over them by night....

- The Death of Isaac 8. דברה _d__e__borâh_, Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון _'alôn_-_bākût_, Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.” 16. כברה _kı̂brâh_, “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת _'ephrâth_, Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.” 18. בן־אוני _ben_-_'ônı̂y_, Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין _bı̂nyāmı̂yn_, Binjamin, “

EXPOSITION GENESIS 35:16 AND THEY JOURNEYED—not in opposition to the Divine commandment (Genesis 35:1), which did not enjoin a permanent settlement at Bethel, but in accordance probably with his own desire, if not also Heaven's counsel, to proceed to Mamre to visit Isaac—FROM BETHEL (southwards in the direction of Hebron); AND THERE WAS BUT A LITTLE WAY (literally, _there was yet a space of land; _probably a few furlongs (Murphy), about four English miles (Gerlach). The Vulgate translates, "in the spring-time," and the LXX. render, ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤγγισεν εἰς χαβραθὰ_, _both of which are misunderstandings of the original—TO COME TO EPHRATH:—Fruitful; the ancient

AND ISRAEL JOURNEYED,.... Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months h; this is the first time Jacob is by Moses called Israel, after this name, was given him; the reason of which the Jews say is, because he bore the death of Rachel with so much patience: AND SPREAD HIS TENT BEYOND THE TOWER OF EDER; which was a place of pasturage, and fit for his flocks, see Micah 4:8; it was about a mile from Bethlehem to the south i, and is supposed to be the place where the shepherds were watching their flocks, when the angel reported to them the birth of Christ, Luke 2:8; pretty remarkable are the words added here in the Targum of Jonathan, "the place from whence the King Messiah will be revealed in the end of days.'' h Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. i Bunting's Travels,

CHAPTER 35 JACOB AT BETHEL AND THREE DEATHS _ 1. The divine commandment (Genesis 35:1)_ 2. The defilement put away (Genesis 35:2) 3. The journey to Bethel and the altar (Genesis 35:5) 4. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies (Genesis 35:8) 5. God appears to Jacob (Genesis 35:9) 6. Benoni-Benjamin and Rachel's death (Genesis 35:16) 7. The twelve sons of Jacob ...

GENESIS 35:16 A. RACHEL DIES AT THE BIRTH OF BENJAMIN. Genesis 35:16 is assigned by some to J and by some to E. There is no decisive reason for either. Genesis 35:21_ a_ is from J. The use of Israel as Jacob's name is characteristic of J. The pathetic story of Rachel's death is often explained to mean that, when the tribe of Benjamin was formed in Palestine after the Conquest, the earlier tribe of Rachel was broken up. This may be correct, but is very uncertain. Ephrath is identified in Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7 with Bethlehem. Th

(J). Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel "The meaning of the statement that Rachel died when Benjamin was born is that the formation of the new tribe Benjamin broke up the old tribe Rachel" (Bennett). But it would be a mistake to attempt to distinguish too closely the personal and tribal elements in the narrative. Events in personal life may be recorded for their symbolical significance. The story of Jacob, as distinct from that of Joseph, closes with Rachel's death....

THE TOWER OF EDAR— i.e.. Of the flock. It appears from Micah 4:8 that there was a tower of that name near Jerusalem. Some say, that it was a thousand paces from Bethlehem, and was at the place where the angels brought the news of the birth of Christ to the shepherds....