Rachel

How Nave’s arranged it

• (Daughter of Laban and the favorite wife of Jacob)
• Meets Jacob at a wellGenesis 29:9–12
• Jacob serves Laban for an additional seven years to obtain her as his wifeGenesis 29:15–30
• Sterility ofGenesis 29:31
• Her grief in consequence of her sterility; gives her maid, to Jacob in order to obtain children in her own nameGenesis 30:1–8Genesis 30:15Genesis 30:22–34
• Later productiveness of; becomes the mother of
• JosephGenesis 30:22–25
• BenjaminGenesis 35:16–18Genesis 35:24
• Steals the household images (teraphim, legal deed) of her fatherGenesis 31:4Genesis 31:14–19Genesis 31:33–35
• Her death and burialGenesis 35:18–20Genesis 48:71 Samuel 10:2

The passages, in Bible order (14)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 14 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 29:9–12

   While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 29:9–121 voice

   “Rachel came with her father’s sheep - So we find that young women were not kept concealed in the house till the time they were married, which is the common gloss put on עלמה almah, a virgin, one concealed. Nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from the well, as in the case of Rebekah; or tend sheep, as in the case of Rachel.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 29:9–12→

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2. Genesis 29:15–30

   Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 29:31

   When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 29:311 voice

   “Leah . . . hated--that is, not loved so much as she ought to have been. Her becoming a mother ensured her rising in the estimation both of her husband and of society.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 29:31→

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4. Genesis 30:1–8

   When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:1–82 voices

   “Give me children, or else I die--either be reckoned as good as dead, or pine away from vexation. The intense anxiety of Hebrew women for children arose from the hope of giving birth to the promised seed. Rachel's conduct was sinful and contrasts unfavorably with that of Rebekah (compare Ge 25:22) and of Hannah (1Sa 1:11).

   “Here Moses begins to relate that Jacob was distracted with domestic strifes. But although the Lord was punishing him, because he had been guilty of no light sin in marrying two wives, and especially sisters; yet the chastisement was paternal; and God himself, seeing that he is wont mercifully to pardon his own people, restrained in some degree his hand.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:1–8→

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5. Genesis 30:15

   But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:152 voices

   “Thou hast taken my husband - It appears probable that Rachel had found means to engross the whole of Jacob’s affection and company, and that she now agreed to let him visit the tent of Leah, on account of receiving some of the fruits or plants which Reuben had found.

   “Note, There may be great sin and folly in the inordinate desire of a small thing. Leah takes this advantage (as Jacob had of Esau's coveting his red pottage) to obtain that which was justly due to her, but to which Rachel would not otherwise have consented. Note, Strong passions often thwart one another, and those cannot but be continually uneasy that are hurried on by them.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:15→

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6. Genesis 30:22–34

   Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:22–341 voice

   “And God hearkened to her - After the severe reproof which Rachel had received from her husband, Gen 30:2, it appears that she sought God by prayer, and that he heard her; so that her prayer and faith obtained what her impatience and unbelief had prevented.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:22–34→

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7. Genesis 31:4

   So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 31:42 voices

   “Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah - He had probably been at some considerable distance with the flocks; and for the greater secrecy, he rather sends for them to the field, to consult them on this most momentous affair, than visit them in their tents, where probably some of the family of Laban might overhear their conversation, though Laban himself was at the time three days’ journey off.

   “He was but a churl at the best, but now he was more churlish than formerly. Note, Envy is a sin that often appears in the countenance; hence we read of an evil eye, Prov. xxiii.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 31:4→

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8. Genesis 31:14–19

   And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

   ›Commentary on Genesis 31:14–191 voice

   “And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him,.... One after another, and their answers agreeing, are put together; it may be Rachel answered in the name of Leah, and for herself, since she is mentioned first, and the verb is singular.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 31:14–19→

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9. Genesis 31:33–35

   So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Genesis 35:16–18

    Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 35:16–181 voice

    “There was but a little way to come to Ephrath - The word כברת kibrath, translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Gen 48:7, and 2Ki 5:19; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its meaning Mat 2:6 (note).

    Everything gathered on Genesis 35:16–18→

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11. Genesis 35:18–20

    And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 35:18–202 voices

    “As her soul was in departing - Is not this a proof that there is an immortal spirit in man, which can exist separate from and independent of the body? Of Rachel’s death it is said, בצאת נפשה betseth naphshah, in the going away of her soul; her body did not go away, therefore her soul and body must have been distinct. If her breath only had been in tended, נשמה neshamah or רוח ruach would have rather been used, as the first means breath, the latter breath or spirit indifferently.

    “She called his name Ben-oni--The dying mother gave this name to her child, significant of her circumstances; but Jacob changed his name into Benjamin. This is thought by some to have been originally Benjamin, "a son of days," that is, of old age. But with its present ending it means "son of the right hand," that is, particularly dear and precious.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 35:18–20→

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12. Genesis 35:24

    The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Genesis 48:7

    Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Samuel 10:2

    When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:22 voices

    “Rachel’s sepulcher - This was nigh to Bethlehem. See Gen 35:19. At Zelzah - If this be the name of a place, nothing is known of it. The Hebrew בצלצח betseltsach is translated by the Septuagint ἁλλομενους μεγαλα, dancing greatly: now this may refer to the joy they felt and expressed on finding the asses, or it may refer to those religious exultations, or playing on instruments of music, mentioned in the succeeding verses.

    “When thou art departed from me to-day--The design of these specific predictions of what should be met with on the way, and the number and minuteness of which would arrest attention, was to confirm Saul's reliance on the prophetic character of Samuel, and lead him to give full credence to what had been revealed to him as the word of God.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 10:2→

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