Rachel’s Tomb – image via, Illustrated History of the Bible, Creative Commons
TORAH: Genesis 32:3-36:43 *
HAFTARAH: Hosea 11:7-12:12, Obadiah 1:1-21
GOSPEL: Matthew 2:13-23
Portion Summary
The eighth reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayishlach, which means “and he sent.” The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom” (Genesis 32:3 [verse 4 in Jewish-published Bibles]). Jacob prepares to meet Esau as he returns to the Promised Land, but first he has a mysterious encounter with an angel in the darkness, who changes his name to Israel. The portion follows Jacob’s adventures in the land of Canaan, including the loss of his beloved wife, Rachel.
Portion Outline:
Torah
Genesis 32:3 | Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau
Genesis 32:22 | Jacob Wrestles at Peniel
Genesis 33:1 | Jacob and Esau Meet
Genesis 33:18 | Jacob Reaches Shechem
Genesis 34:1 | The Rape of Dinah
Genesis 34:25 | Dinah’s Brothers Avenge Their Sister
Genesis 35:1 | Jacob Returns to Bethel
Genesis 35:16 | The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel
Genesis 35:27 | The Death of Isaac
Genesis 36:1 | Esau’s Descendants
Genesis 36:15 | Clans and Kings of Edom
Prophets
Hos 11:1 | God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude
Hos 12:2 | The Long History of Rebellion
Oba 1:5 | Pillage and Slaughter Will Repay Edom’s Cruelty
Oba 1:10 | Edom Mistreated His Brother
Oba 1:17 | Israel’s Final Triumph
Portion Commentary:
The Power of the Tongue
Did Jacob’s rash words kill his beloved wife? The story of Rachel’s death teaches us an important lesson about the power of the tongue.
The Proverbs say that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). In Rachel’s case, that appears to have been especially true.
Jacob and his family were making their way south through the land of Canaan, toward Hebron where his father Isaac still lived. While the family traveled, Rachel went into labor with her second child. She had named her previous son Joseph, meaning “May He add [another son].” God had answered her prayer, and she gave birth to a second son. Rachel suffered a severe labor. As the child was born, the midwife tried to cheer her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” Rachel knew she was dying.
Rachel died some distance from Ephrath, an older name for Bethlehem. Jacob entombed her there, beside the road and set up a sacred stone over her tomb. The story provides the etiology behind a landmark. The Torah remarks, “Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day” (Genesis 35:20).
Read complete commentary at First Fruits of Zion.
Other Torah Portion Commentaries:
