Rachel

RACHEL, Daughter of Laban, and Sister of Leah. The Word Rachel signifies a Sheep. When Jacob fled from his Brother Esau’s Resentment, he arrived in Mesopotamia, near the City of Haran or Charres; and finding some Shepherds there, he inquired if they knew Laban the Son of Nahor. a They answer’d him, We know him well, and there’s his Daughter Rachel coming with the Flock. No sooner was Rachel come, but Jacob open’d the Well for her, water’d her Flock, embrac’d her, and told her he was the Son of Rebecca, Laban’s Sister. Immediately Rachel ran home to her Father, and acquainted him with his Nephew’s coming. Jacob was brought into Laban’s House, and entertain’d there with great Civility; and when he had been there about a Month, Laban told him it was not fit he should serve him for nothing, and desir’d him to propose some Recompence, which he should be willing to give him. Jacob told him he would serve him seven Years, provided he would give him his younger Daughter Rachel in Marriage. Laban agreed to this, and the Day appointed for the Wedding being come, instead of Rachel, Laban put her elder Sister Leah in Bed to Jacob.

Jacob did not perceive the Trick that had been put upon him ‘till the next Morning. Then he made bitter Complaints, and Laban could find no better Excuse for it than to tell him, that it was not the Custom of the Country to marry the younger Daughter before the elder: But if he was willing to serve him another seven Years, he should have Rachel also. This Jacob agreed to, and when the Week of Leah’s Wedding was over, he marry’d Rachel. The Affection he had for Rachel made him have a kind of Indifference for Leah; but the Lord gave Children to Leah, and none to Rachel. This excited in her a great Aversion Gen. xxx. 1,against her Sister; and she said to Jacob, Give me Children or else I die. Jacob 2, 3, &c.

with some Indignation made Answer; Do you take me for a God? Is it I that have made you barren? To which Rachel reply’d; Here is my Maid Bilhah, take her, that I may have Children by her. Jacob therefore taking Bilhah, she conceived and brought forth a Son, whom Rachel call’d Dan; saying, the Lord has judged me, and decided in my Favour. Bilhah had also another Son the Year following, to whom Rachel gave the Name of Naphthali.

One Day as Reuben, Leah’s Son, returning home out of the Field, had brought to his Mother a certain Fruit call’d Dudaim, which is generally render’d by Mandrakes; Rachel said to Leah, Give me some of your See the Ar-Son’s Mandrakes. Leah reply’d, Is it not ticle Man-drakes. enough that you take my Husband from me, but must you also take my Son’s Mandrakes? Rachel tells her, that if she might have some of the Mandrakes, Jacob should be her’s that Night. For it seems that Jacob divided his Favours equally among his Wives, as was the Custom of those Countries where Polygamy obtain’d.¹ At last the Lord remember’d Rachel; she conceived and brought forth a Son, whom she named Joseph,² saying, That the Lord shall still give me another Son. Some Years after³ Jacob taking a Resolution to return into the Land of Canaan, Rachel unknown to Jacob, privately took away the Teraphim, or Domestick Gods, of her Father Laban.

See the Article Teraphim.Jacob went away without acquainting his Father-in-law Laban with his Intention, and Laban knew nothing of it ‘till three Days after his Departure. He then began his Pursuit after him, and overtook him after seven Days, upon the Mountains of Gilead. He reproach’d him very warmly with his clandestine Flight, and even used Threats, telling him, that if God had not warned him in a Dream not to do him any Violence, he should have made him repent of so rash a Resolution. To which he added, Why have you robb’d me of my Gods? Jacob being altogether ignorant that Rachel had done this thing, made him Answer; That whosoever the Gods should be found upon should be put to death, in Presence of all his Brethren. Examine every thing strictly, and take whatever you find belonging to you. Laban then began to search the Tents of Jacob, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah, without finding any thing. Then coming into Rachel’s Tent, she hid the Teraphim under her Camel’s Funiture, and sate down upon it. When her Father had searched every where and found nothing, she said to him; Let not my Lord be angry that I cannot rise in his Presence, for the common Infirmity of Women is now upon me. And thus she evaded her Father’s Inquiry.⁴

When Jacob had pass’d over the Brook Jabok, he divided his Wives and Children into three Companies. He put the two Maids Gen. xxxiii. 1, 2, 3. Gen. xxxv. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.and their Children in the first Place; then Leah and her Children made the second Company; and lastly, Rachel and her Son Joseph. This he did, that if Esau should do any Violence to the first Company, the second and third might escape; or if he should not spare the second, that at least the third might avoid his Fury. After he had pass’d over Jordan, he went first to Salem, then to Shechem, and thence to Bethel, where he was to sacrifice to God, who had appear’d to him at his going into Mesopotamia. Lastly, as he advanced towards Hebron, and was not above a Furlong⁵ from Bethlehem, otherwise call’d Ephrath, Rachel was seized with the Pains of Child-birth. She brought forth a Son, to whom she gave the Name of Ben-oni, or the Son of my Pain; but Jacob gave him the Name of Benjamin, or the Son of my right Hand. Rachel’s Pangs were so violent, that they kill’d her, and Jacob buried her in the same Place, erecting a Monument⁶ for her, which continued for many Ages.

There is still to be seen at this Day a kind of Pyramid or Dome, supported by four square Pillars, which form as many Arches. This Monument is surrounded by a low Wall of three Foot high, with a little Entrance of three Steps. Cotovic says, that the Sepulchre is six Foot above the Ground, seven Foot long, and three and a half broad. The upper Part is round. On the two Sides of Rachel’s Tomb there are two other empty ones. M. le Brun, who made a Draught of it on the Place, says this Tomb is cut in the Cavity of a Rock, and cover’d with a Dome, supported by four Pillars or Fragments of a Wall, which open to the Sepulchre. The Work is rude enough, and without any Ornament. The whole is as entire as if it had been but just made, and it is hard to imagine it has subsisted ever since Jacob’s time. But it may have been renew’d afterwards. Rachel died in the Year of the World 2265, or 2266; before Christ 1734, or 1755; before the vulgar Era 1738, or 1739.

Jer. xxxi. 15. Matth. ii. 18.The Prophet Jeremiah, and after him St. Matthew, have put Rachel for the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, born from Joseph the Son of Rachel. In Rama (or upon the high Places) was there a Voice heard, Lamentation and Weeping, and great Mourning, Rachel weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted because they are not. This Prophecy was compleated when those two Tribes were carried into Captivity beyond the Euphrates. St. Matthew has made an Application of this Prophecy to what happen’d at Bethlehem, when Herod put to death there all the Children of two Years old and under. Then Rachel, who was buried thereabouts, in some manner may be said to make her Cries and Lamentations, for the Death of so many young Innocents, sacrificed to the Jealousy and the Cruelty of a distrustful Prince.

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