Genesis 35:20

Gen 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Ver. 21. Beyond the tower of Edar.] Or, Of the flock. This tower was built, it seems, for the safety and service of shepherds. There it was, probably, that those shepherds, Luk 2:8, watched their flocks. There also, Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, did afterwards build a temple, for a memorial of the angels that there appeared to those shepherds, carolling Christ into the world.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen 35:20. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave — As a monument, or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection. That is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day — Unto the time when Moses wrote this book. But it was known to be Rachel’s sepulchre long after, 1Sa 10:2, and Providence so ordered it that this place afterward fell into the lot of Benjamin. Jacob set up a pillar in remembrance of his joys, (Gen 35:14,) and here he sets up one in remembrance of his sorrows. Such is human life with the generality of mankind, a checkered scene! sorrows and joys follow one another in rapid succession. Happy they who, through that faith which is the evidence of things not seen, rise superior to them both, and have their conversation in heaven, where such changes have no place!

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

35:20 it can be seen there to this day: This seems to be a later editorial comment by someone who was living in the land after the conquest and giving directions to the tomb (see Genesis Book Introduction, “Composition”).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The ancient fathers used this ceremony to testify their hope of the resurrection to come, which was not generally revealed.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

and Jacob set a pillar on her grave . . . unto this day--The spot still marked out as the grave of Rachel exactly agrees with the Scriptural record, being about a mile from Beth-lehem. Anciently it was surmounted by a pyramid of stones, but the present tomb is a Mohammedan erection.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 20. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave] Was not this the origin of funeral monuments? In ancient times, and among rude nations, a heap of stones designated the burial place of the chief; many of these still remain in different countries. Afterwards a rude stone, with a simple inscription, was used, containing only the name of the deceased, and that of his father. But where arts and sciences flourished, superb monuments were erected highly decorated, and pompously inscribed. It is very likely from the circumstances of Jacob that a single stone constituted the pillar in this case, on which, if writing did then exist, the name, or rather some hieroglyphical device, was probably inscribed. That which is now called Rachel's pillar is allowed, by those who have examined it, to be a comparatively modern structure.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(20) That is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.—This is a later addition, but whether inserted by Moses or Ezra we cannot tell. Its site was known in the days of Samuel (1Sa_10:2); and as the pillar would be a mass of unwrought stone, with which the natives would have no object in interfering, its identification upon the conquest of Canaan would not be difficult.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Israel journeyed,.... Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months (h); this is the first time Jacob is by Moses called Israel, after this name, was given him; the reason of which the Jews say is, because he bore the death of Rachel with so much patience:

and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder; which was a place of pasturage, and fit for his flocks, see Mic 4:8; it was about a mile from Bethlehem to the south (i), and is supposed to be the place where the shepherds were watching their flocks, when the angel reported to them the birth of Christ, Luk 2:8; pretty remarkable are the words added here in the Targum of Jonathan,"the place from whence the King Messiah will be revealed in the end of days.''

(h) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. (i) Bunting's Travels, p. 76.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A pillar; or sepulchral monument, about 500 paces north of Bethlehem, (Haydock) which was called Ephrata afterwards, from Caleb’s wife. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Jacob set a pillar, as a monument or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection.

Unto this day, i.e. unto the time wherein Moses writ this book, and long after. See 1Sa 10:2; Jer 31:15.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

20. A pillar… unto this day — An oak marked Deborah’s tomb, (Gen_35:8,) a pillar Rachel’s. The place was known in Samuel’s time, (1Sa_10:2,) and there appears no sufficient reason to doubt that the modern Moslem tomb a little northwest of Bethlehem, known as Kubbet Rahil, occupies the spot of Jacob’s memorial tablet of his beloved wife.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave (vide on ver. 14): that is the pillar of Rachel"s grave unto this day i.e. unto the times of Moses; but the site of Rachel"s sepulcher was known so late as the age of Samuel; (1Sa_10:2) and there seems no reason to question the tradition which from the fourth century has placed it within the Turkish chapel Kubbet Rachil, about half-an-hour"s journey north of Bethlehem (Robinson, vol. L p. 322; Tristram, "Land of Israel," p. 404; Thomson, "Land and Book," p. 644; Stanley, "Sinai and Palestine," p. 149).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave - So that it was known long after to be Rachel's sepulchre, 1 Sam. x, 2, and Providence so ordered it, that this place afterwards fell in the lot of Benjamin. Jacob set up a pillar in remembrance of his joys ver. 14, and here he set up one in remembrance of his sorrows; for as it may be of use to ourselves to keep both in mind, so it may be of use to others to transmit the memorials of both.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.