Meaning of RACHEL

"sheep".
She was the youngest daughter of Laban. She was so beautiful; Jacob met her at the well where she went to water her flocks, near Haran, in Mesopotamia. Jacob fell in love with her that very moment.

However, Jacob, lacking assets, could not pay the dowry that every suitor gave to the parents of a young girl. For this reason, he served Laban for seven years to obtain Rachel.

At the same time, Jacob, lonely and fugitive, was providentially cared for, being able to join a patriarchal group. He entered into a contract, and Laban gave him a woman from the clan.

From then on, he could not leave or take his own wife and children without requesting authorization to do so, even at the end of his contract.

At the end of the seven years of work, Laban deceived Jacob, who on the morning after their wedding night found that the woman he had was Rachel's older sister, Leah, who appears to be much less attractive.

Isaac's son served seven more years to pay the price of the youngest, the only one he loved. Rachel became his wife (Gen. 29: 1-30), mother of Joseph (Gen. 30: 22-25) and Benjamin; she died in childbirth giving birth to the latter (Gen. 35:16-20; 48:7).

Jacob buried her in a place located somewhat north of Ephrathah, better known as Bethlehem, along the road from the latter place to Bethel.

Jacob erected a monument over the tomb that remained for a long time (Gen. 35:19-20), near Selsa (1 Sam. 10:2). Jerome, and the pilgrim of Bordeaux (4th century AD) mention this famous place, to which Jews, Christians and Muslims alike testify.

There currently stands a small building, called Kubbat Rahil (Rachel's Dome), about 6.5 km south of Jerusalem and 1.5 km north of Bethlehem.

Jeremiah shows Rachel weeping for her children, the descendants of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, deported by the Assyrians (Jer. 31:15; cf. V. 9, 18).

The prophet speaks of Ramah because from the territory of Benjamin, where Ramah was located, there was a height from which the devastated territory of Ephraim could be seen.

The prediction evoked by Rachel's cries was fulfilled in the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, in Judah (Mt. 2:18). Since the division of Israel into two kingdoms, Judah, in whose territory Bethlehem was located, and Benjamin had been closely associated.

Rachel, contemplating the desolation of Ephraim, and crying for his children, dead or deported, testifies that the judgment will not stop. The foreigners will occupy the country and an Edomite will occupy the throne, killing the children of Leah, in order to suppress the legitimate king predestined to save Ephraim, Benjamin, Judah and all Israel.

The image of Rachel awaiting the return of her children to God and their messianic king (Jer. 30:9) is associated with that of Leah imploring the coming of the Son of David, who will liberate Judah and give peace to Israel (Jer. 23:6).

Rachel's cry is a prelude to the lamentations of Jewish mothers throughout the centuries.