Bible dictionary

Rachel’s Tomb

A landmark set up by Jacob at the site of Rachel’s grave (Genesis 35:19–20). It still existed at the time of Samuel (1 Samuel 10:2).

Two persisting traditions make its original location still questionable:

  1. The older tradition locates the tomb near Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem (Genesis 35:19; 48:7; Matthew 2:18). This option has strong support from Josephus, Eusebius, Jerome, Origen, and the Talmudists.

  2. A second site is Ephrath (Genesis 35:19), which was on the northern border of Benjamin, 16.1 kilometers (ten miles) north of Jerusalem (1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15), near ancient Bethel.

Rachel’s tomb is the first recorded instance in the Bible of a "sepulchral monument" (a large statue in memory of the dead). A picture of the tomb is a common decorative piece in Jewish homes throughout the world.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)The classic article on this subject

Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary) from Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. About the sources