Rachel died by me

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: VaYechi– And he lived
Torah: B’reishit 47:28 – 50:26

** We get a lot of lessons primarily based on “The Power of the Tongue”. Here is an interesting story that culminates in this week’s Torah portion.

** In Bereishit 31 we read about the great escape of Yaakov from his uncle / father in law, Lavan. Lavan was irritated with Yaakov because Yaakov tried to sneak away and make a run for his parents’ home in Canaan. Seven days after beginning the chase, Lavan catches up with Yaakov on the east side of the Jordan. In a heated exchange between the two men, Lavan accuses that one of Yaakov’s family had stolen his “family idols”. When a search doesn’t turn up the idols, Yaakov blurts out,

*** “With whomsoever you find your gods, let him not live: before our brothers discern you what is your with me, and take it to you. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.” (Ge 31:32 AKJV)

** Nobody dropped over dead so Lavan and his posse left for their home in Padan Aram and Yaakov’s band resumed their journey.

** Several weeks later we read,

*** “17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, Fear not; you shall have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.” (Ge 35:17-18 AKJV)

** Yaakov probably had Benjamin raised by Bilka, Rachel’s maid and for the next twenty plus years there is no mention of Rachel’s death.

Yaakov moves his family to Mitzryim and lives another seventeen years under the care of Yosef. As death draws near, Yaakov calls for Yosef. I thought that it is strange the way the Hebrew is translated in the king James version.

*** Bereishit 48:7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

** Could it be that Rachel died because of a “curse” that Yaakov put on her?
I guess that we will have to wait to find out.