Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 7. Rachel died by me, &c.] Rachel was the wife of Jacob's choice, and the object of his unvarying affection; he loved her in life-he loves her in death: many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. A match of a man's own making when guided by reason and religion, will necessarily be a happy one. When fathers and mothers make matches for their children, which are dictated by motives, not of affection, but merely of convenience, worldly gain, &c., &c., such matches are generally wretched; it is Leah in the place of Rachel to the end of life's pilgrimage.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The death-beds of believers, with the prayers and counsels of dyin persons, are suited to make serious impressions upon the young, the gay, and the prosperous: we shall do well to take children on suc occasions, when it can be done properly. If the Lord please, it is very desirable to bear our dying testimony to his truth, to his faithfulness, and the pleasantness of his ways. And one would wish s to live, as to give energy and weight to our dying exhortations. All true believers are blessed at their death, but all do not depar equally full of spiritual consolations. Jacob adopted Joseph's tw sons. Let them not succeed their father, in his power and grandeur i Egypt; but let them succeed in the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham. Thus the aged dying patriarch teaches these young persons to take their lot with the people of God. He appoints each of them to be the head of a tribe. Those are worthy of double honour, who, throug God's grace, break through the temptations of worldly wealth an preferment, to embrace religion in disgrace and poverty. Jacob wil have Ephraim and Manasseh to know, that it is better to be low, and in the church, than high, and out of it.
Original Hebrew ואני589 בבאי935 מפדן6307 מתה4191 עלי5921 רחל7354 בארץ776 כנען3667 בדרך1870 בעוד5750 כברת3530 ארץ776 לבא935 אפרתה672 ואקברה6912 שׁם8033 בדרך1870 אפרת672 הוא1931 בית לחם׃1035
