Rachel

Who was Rachel? Jacob's beloved wife, for whom he worked 14 years, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin; she died giving birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem.

Burial place
On the road to Ephrath, Bethlehem (The Bible: Genesis 35:19-20, Genesis 48:7, 1 Samuel 10:2)
Manner of death
While giving birth to Benjamin (The Bible: Genesis 35:16-19, Genesis 48:7)
Age at death
Not stated in the Bible (Not stated in the Bible: Genesis 29:20, Genesis 29:30, Genesis 35:16-19)

Rachel was Laban's younger daughter and the wife Jacob loved most. Jacob met her at a well and worked seven years for her, but Laban first gave him her older sister Leah, so Jacob served seven more years for Rachel. Long unable to have children, she first had sons through her servant Bilhah; then God heard her and she gave birth to Joseph. On the journey back to Canaan she died giving birth to Benjamin and was buried beside the road to Bethlehem. Jeremiah and Matthew picture Rachel as a mother weeping for her children, and Rachel's Tomb at Bethlehem is still visited today.

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Where is Rachel's tomb?

According to the Bible, Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, that is Bethlehem, and Jacob set up a pillar over her grave (Genesis 35:19-20; 48:7). The domed shrine known today as Rachel's Tomb stands at the northern entrance of Bethlehem on the old Jerusalem–Hebron road and is an important place of pilgrimage, especially for Jews. Because 1 Samuel 10:2 places her tomb on the border of Benjamin, some scholars suggest a site north of Jerusalem.

How did Rachel die?

Rachel died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-19). Jacob's family had set out from Bethel, and with some distance still to go to Ephrath, Rachel went into labour and had a very hard delivery. As she was dying she named the boy Ben-Oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin. This happened on Jacob's journey back from Paddan to Canaan (Genesis 48:7).

How old was Rachel when she died?

The Bible does not say how old Rachel was when she died; it gives no age for her at all. Only relative times are known: Jacob worked seven years for Laban to marry her, and seven more after the wedding (Genesis 29:20, 30). Rachel died on the way back to Canaan while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-19).

Who were Rachel's children?

Rachel's own sons were Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 35:24). Because she was childless for a long time, she gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob, and Bilhah's sons Dan and Naphtali were counted as hers (Genesis 30:3-8).

What does Rachel weeping for her children mean?

Jeremiah 31:15 portrays the grief of the people's loss through the image of Rachel weeping for her children in Ramah, refusing to be comforted. Matthew quotes these words as fulfilled when Herod had the young boys of Bethlehem and its surroundings killed (Matthew 2:16-18).