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RACHEL (Rahel in Jer_31:15 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , ‘ewe’).—The younger daughter of Laban, and favourite wife of Jacob (Gen_29:28-30), who married her after her sister Leah. In the quarrel between Jacob and Laban, she, as well as Leah, took the part of Jacob (Gen_31:14-16). When leaving her father, she stole his household divinities, the teraphim (Gen_31:19)—an incident which suggests the laxity in worship and in ideas of property characteristic of the times. Her sons were Joseph and Benjamin: she died in giving birth to Benjamin.
Rachel’s grave.—The location of this is disputed. It was near Ephrath. Gen_35:16; Gen_35:19-20, 1Sa_10:2, Jer_31:15 indicate that it was on the N. border of Benjamin towards Ephraim, about ten miles N. of Jerusalem. In other places, however (Rth_1:2; Rth_4:11, Mic_5:2), Ephrath is another name for Bethlehem, as it is also explained in Gen_35:19; Gen_48:7. In accordance with this latter group of passages, tradition from at least the 4th cent. has fixed the spot 4 miles S. of Jerusalem and 1 mile N. of Bethlehem. Either the northern location is correct, or there are here two variant accounts. The former view is probably to be preferred, since Rachel has no connexion with Judah. In that case ‘that is Bethlehem’ is an incorrect gloss. Cf. also Ramah, 3.
George R. Berry.