The Importance Of ‘re’

20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

The loss of Rachel is a deep blow and when she is buried he sets up a memorial stone In Bethel Jacob at first placed a stone of remembrance just for him in experiencing God’s presence. Later, our Holy Lord God showed up personally and conversed with him. Jacob then built an altar to remind all future generations of the spot where this theophany occurred. Now, sadly Jacob is back placing a stone for his own personal reminder of the exact spot where he buried his love Rachael.

21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

What is significant here is that we see Jacob’s new name applied to him for the first time. He has come home as a new man. It is not Jacob who is coming home, but Israel. The contrast with ‘Jacob’ in the previous verse may well deliberately indicate that the death of Rachel brings in a new era.

The homecoming is marred. Israel (Jacob) may be coming home a new man but there is still sin in the camp. His children have been shaped by his past. His son Reuben commits a great sin, and the news reaches him. It is a sin that Israel never forgets even on his deathbed (49.4) for it would bring great shame on him. It would seem that Reuben takes advantage of Bilhah’s new insecurity, for now that her mistress is dead she may well have lost status and be vulnerable and in no position to deal with the advances of her husband’s eldest son.

Please notice the short reference statement ‘Israel heard of it.’ The total lack of comment or of any indication of Israel’s reaction speaks volumes. Israel ponders it and bides his time. He is weak with regard to his sons. It had to be mentioned because of the appalling nature of the sin, for it would color the whole of Reuben’s future. But it was passed over without comment because of deep sensitivity for the ancient leader Israel.

23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; 25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

The record finishes with a genealogy of Jacob’s sons, followed by the final homecoming and the death of Isaac.

Jacob’s sons are listed indicating first his six sons directly by Leah, then his two sons directly by Rachel, and these are followed by the names of the sons of the concubines.

27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.

At last Jacob is home. He has come to take up his now rightful place as heir to the family tribe and the covenant promises, something confirmed at Beth-el. He is now in the line of Abraham and Isaac.