Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Ewe, “the daughter”, “the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter” of Laban, and one of Jacob’s wives (Gen. 29:6, 28). He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was Jacob’s affection for her. She was the mother of Joseph (Gen. 30:22-24). Afterwards, on Jacob’s departure from Mesopotamia, she took with her her father’s teraphim (31:34, 35). As they journeyed on from Bethel, Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (35:18, 19), and was buried “in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave”.
Her sepulchre is still regarded with great veneration by the Jews. Its traditional site is about half a mile from Jerusalem. This name is used poetically by Jeremiah (31:15-17) to denote God’s people mourning under their calamities. This passage is also quoted by Matthew as fulfilled in the lamentation at Bethlehem on account of the slaughter of the infants there at the command of Herod (Matt. 2:17, 18).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
C. 1753) and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The incidents of her life may be found in Genesis29-33, 35. The story of Jacob and Rachel has always had a peculiar interest. The beauty of Rachel, Jacob’s deep love and long servitude for her, their marriage, and Rachel’s death on giving birth to Benjamin, with Jacob’s grief at her loss, (Genesis 48:7) makes a touching tale. Yet from what is related to us concerning her character there does not seem much to claim any high degree of admiration and esteem. She appears to have shared all the duplicity and falsehood of her family.
See, for instance, Rachel’s stealing her father’s images, and the ready dexterity and presence of mind with which she concealed her theft. (Genesis 31:1) ... “Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. ” (Genesis 35:19,20) The site of Rachel’s tomb, “on the way to Bethlehem,” “a little way to come to Ephrath,” “in the border of Benjamin,” never been questioned. It Is about two miles south of Jerusalem and one mile north of Bethlehem.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
RA'CHEL (a ewe), the daughter of Laban, the wife of the patriarch Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her history is given in Gen 29-35. The incidents of her life - her beauty, the passion with which she was loved, etc. - are of a charming impressiveness, but her character - her theft of Laban's idols, her shrewdness in concealing the fact - does not command our respect. She died after giving birth to Benjamin, and on her grave, near the road from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, Jacob set up a pillar. Gen 35:19. At the time of Samuel and Saul the pillar was still standing. 1 Sam 10:2.
At present a small white mosque, erected by the Mohammedans, indicates the place. Jeremiah, Jer 31:15-17, represents Rachel as weeping in her grave when her children pass by on their way to Babylon, and Matthew, Matt 2:17-18, applies this to the massacre of the innocents.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
sheep