Genesis 35:16

14 So Jacob ^aset up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.

15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, ^aBethel.

Death of Rachel

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.

17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; ^ayou will have this son also.”

18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name¹ Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

19 So ^aRachel died and was buried on the way to ^bEphrath (that is, Bethlehem).

20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave ^ato this day.

21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond ^athe tower of Eder.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Genesis 35:16 Mean?

Genesis 35:16-19

Rachel, whose entire married life had been spent desiring to bear sons for Jacob, gave birth to a second boy. Realizing that she was dying from the birth, she named the baby Ben-Oni meaning "son of my sorrow." However, Jacob changed the name of the boy to Benjamin meaning "son of my right hand." Matthew Henry explains:

But Jacob, because he would not renew the sorrowful remembrance of the mother's death every time he called his son by his name, changed his name, and called him Benjamin, the son of my right hand; that is, "very dear to me, set on my right hand for a blessing, the support of my age, like the staff in my right hand."

Not long thereafter, Jacob thought he had lost a son whom he loved dearly. Bringing Joseph's goat's blood-smeared tunic to him, his sons had caused him to believe that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. With Joseph gone, Jacob placed all his affections on his youngest son, Benjamin, the son of his right hand. Already, Jacob viewed the young Benjamin as the staff in his right hand.

Staff
Benjamin: Son of the Right Hand

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Death of Rachel

What Does Genesis 35:16 Mean?

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