Vayishlach

Genesis 35

This week’s Torah portion contains the sad event of the passing of Rachel. Rachel dies after giving birth to her 2^nd son. Verse 17, contains a curious Hebrew structure, “for this one, also, is a son for you.” Also? What does this mean?

The sages explain in midrash Rabbah, then it must mean that the sun also had a twin. Since the twin is not mentioned as one of the children of Israel, it must be a twin sister. The labor was difficult and ultimately ended with Rachel passing.

Because of the pain and difficulty of Rachel’s labor, Rachel wanted to name the sun Ben-Oni, that is, the son of my pain. But Jacob overrules her and names the child Ben-Yamin, or Benjamin.

There are several meanings to the name Benjamin, as the directions South is connected with the ocean, Yamin can mean South or southward. So Benjamin can mean son of the South. Yamin can also mean right or right hand. Benjamin can then mean son of the right hand.Yamin is also a defective spelling of the term Yamim, which means days. Benjamin then means son of days, referring to Jacob and Rachel’s old age.

Rachel passes away on the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. She does not make it to Machpelah, and so is buried beside the road. Jacob erects a tool for her, which can be seen even until today. Shabbat shalom.