Rachel’s Tomb
(Genesis 35:19) (Matthew 2:16-18)
Holy tomb at northern entrance to Bethlehem. Ancient tradition designates the site as the burial place of the matriarch Rachel:
“So Rachel died and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem)” (Genesis 35:19).
Other sources locate the tomb north of Jerusalem (I Samuel 10:2 and Jeremiah 31:14). Perhaps the place called by the Arabs Qubat Rahil (the dome of Rachel), near Bethlehem, is the actual burial site. It is also mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 2:16-18). Descriptions of Rachel’s tomb have been recorded by pious travelers since the 4th century.
The structure changed over the generations. It has been described as a pyramid of stones, according to Bishop Arculfus at end of 7th century; as a structure of 12 stones (laid by 11 sons of Jacob, with the 12th stone laid by Jacob himself) covered with a dome, according to el Adrisi in 1154; and as a dome supported by 4 columns according to Rabbi Moses Basola in 1522. In 1623 Muhammad Pasha, Governor of Jerusalem, built a new structure over the tomb and gave the site to the Jewish community. Since then Jews have made pilgrimages to the grave, particularly on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, traditional anniversary of Rachel’s death; during intermediate festival days of Passover; on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer; and during the month of Elul.
In 1841 the tomb structure was renovated with the funding of Sir Moses Montefiore.
