“And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth–lehem.”
As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath — that is, Bethlehem. So I buried her there beside the road. The mention of Rachel's death — to my sorrow — is the explanation behind the double blessing: Joseph's sons are being elevated to honor Rachel's line. The grief Jacob still carries for Rachel shapes this final act of blessing. The application: the loves of a lifetime shape the blessings given at the end of it. Jacob honors Rachel through her son's sons.
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