Genesis 35:21

21 Jacob went from thence, and setted a tabernacle over the tower of the flock. (And then Jacob went from there, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder/beyond Migdaleder.)

Genesis 35:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 35:21

And Israel journeyed
Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months ^F8; 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 ^F9, 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.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2.
F9 Bunting's Travels, p. 76.

Genesis 35:21 In-Context

19 Therefore Rachel died, and was buried in the way that leadeth to Ephratah, that is Bethlehem. (And so Rachel died, and was buried on the way that leadeth to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.)

20 And Jacob builded a memorial upon the sepulchre of her; this is the memorial of the burial of Rachel unto this present day. (And Jacob put up a sacred pillar on her sepulchre; this is the same pillar that is on Rachel's grave unto this present day.)

21 Jacob went from thence, and setted a tabernacle over the tower of the flock. (And then Jacob went from there, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder/beyond Migdaleder.)

22 And while he dwelled in that country, Reuben went, and slept with Bilhah, the secondary wife of his father, which thing was not hid from him (which was told to Jacob). Forsooth the sons of Jacob were twelve;

23 the sons of Leah were, the first begotten Reuben (Leah's sons were Reuben, the first-born), and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun;