E06499: Jerome refers to the tomb of *Rachel (wife of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob, S00701) in Bethlehem on three occasions; writing in Latin, in 404, in Bethlehem.

Jerome of Stridon, Letter 108,10 ('Epitaphium Sanctae Paulae')

Deinde pro facultatula sua pauperibus atque conseruis pecunia distributa perrexit Bethlem et in dextra parte itineris stetit ad sepulchrum Rachel, in quo Beniamin non, ut mater uocauerat moriens, Benoni, hoc est filium doloris mei, sed, ut pater prophetavit in spiritu, filium dexterae procreavit.

'Then, after having distributed to the poor and to her fellow monastics as much money as her meager means allowed, she proceeded to Bethlehem. On the right side of the road she stood before Rachel's tomb, where she gave birth to Benjamin – "son of the right hand", as his father named him under prophetic inspiration, and not Benoni, "son of my sorrow", the name by which his mother called him as she lay dying.'

Text: Hilberg 1996 (1912). Translation: Cain 2013.


Jerome of Stridon, Tractates on the Psalms 7.70

Eo enim tempore quando mortua est Rachel in Efrata - oculis nostris sepulcrum uidemus.

'At about that time Rachel died in Efrata, indeed I have seen the grave with my own eyes.'

Text: Morin 1958. Translation: P. Polcar.


Jerome of Stridon, Commentary on Jeremiah 6.390.2

Quia igitur Rachel in Ephratha, hoc est in Bethleem, condita est – sicut et scriptura sancta et titulus sepulchri eius hodieque testantur ...

'Because Rachel was buried in Ephrata, that is Bethlehem – the holy scripture and the inscribed plaque on her tomb give testimony to that even today ...'

Text: Reiter 1960. Translation: P. Polcar.