Gen 35:16-19 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 16. There was but a little way to come to Ephrath ] The word kibrath , translated here a little way , has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in , and ; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile , an acre , a rood , a perch ; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath , called also Bethlehem , and Bethlehem Ephrata , was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its meaning .

‏ Genesis 35:16-19

Verse 16. There was but a little way to come to Ephrath] The word kibrath, translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Ge 48:7, and 2Ki 5:19; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its meaning Mt 2:6.

Verse 18. As her soul was in departing] Is not this a proof that there is an immortal spirit in man, which can exist separate from and independent of the body? Of Rachel's death it is said, betseth naphshah, in the going away of her soul; her body did not go away, therefore her soul and body must have been distinct. If her breath only had been in tended, neshamah or ruach would have rather been used, as the first means breath, the latter breath or spirit indifferently.

She called his name Ben-oni] the Son of my sorrow or affliction, because of the hard labour she had in bringing him into the world; but his father called him Benjamin, the son of my right hand, i.e., the son peculiarly dear to me. So man of the right hand, Ps 80:17, signifies one much loved and regarded of God. The Samaritan has Benyamin, the son of days; i.e., the son of his old age, as Judah calls him, Ge 44:20; and Houbigant contends that this is the true reading, and that the Chaldee termination in for im is a corruption. If it be a corruption, it is as old as the days of St. Jerome, who translated the place Benjamin, id est, filius dextrae; Benjamin, that is, the son of the right hand.