Genesis 35:21

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) The tower of Edar.—Heb., Eder. Micah (Genesis 4:8) calls it “the hill of the daughter of Zion;” but the word used often means a beacon-hill, a hill on which a tower for observation is erected, wrongly translated in the Authorised Version a stronghold. The tower may, therefore, have been a few miles south of Jerusalem; and as the word “beyond” includes the idea of up to, as far as, the meaning is that Jacob now occupied this region permanently with his cattle. Until Esau, with his possessions, withdrew to Seir, there would be no room for Jacob and his flocks and herds at Hebron, but he would at Eder be so near his father as to be able often to visit him. And thus his exile was now over, and he was at last at home.

Benson Commentary

Genesis 35:21. Israel journeyed, and spread his tent — Though a prince with God, yet he dwells in tents; the city is reserved for him in the other world.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

35:21-29 What a sore affliction Reuben's sin was, is shown, and Israel heard it. No more is said, but that is enough. Reuben thought that his father would never hear of it; but those that promise themselves secrecy in sin, are generally disappointed. The age and death of Isaac are recorded, though he died not till after Joseph was sold into Egypt. Isaac lived about forty years after he had made his will, chap. 27:2. We shall not die an hour the sooner, but much the better, for timely setting our hearts and houses in order. Particular notice is taken of the agreement of Esau and Jacob at their father's funeral, to show how God had wonderfully changed Esau's mind. It is awful to behold relations, sometimes for a little of this world's goods, disputing over the graves of their friends, while they are near going to the grave themselves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Eder - The tower of the flock was probably a watch-tower where shepherds guarded their flocks by night. It was a mile (Jerome) or more south of Bethlehem. Here Reuben was guilty of the shameful deed which came to the knowledge of his father, and occasions the allusion in Genesis 49:4. He was by this act degraded from his position in the holy family. The division of the open parashah in the text here is more in accordance with the sense than that of the verse.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. and Jacob set a pillar on her grave … unto this day—The spot still marked out as the grave of Rachel exactly agrees with the Scriptural record, being about a mile from Beth-lehem. Anciently it was surmounted by a pyramid of stones, but the present tomb is a Mohammedan erection.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Or, the tower of the flock; a place where were excellent pastures. See Micah 4:8.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Israel journeyed,.... Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months (h); this is the first time Jacob is by Moses called Israel, after this name, was given him; the reason of which the Jews say is, because he bore the death of Rachel with so much patience:

and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder; which was a place of pasturage, and fit for his flocks, see Micah 4:8; it was about a mile from Bethlehem to the south (i), and is supposed to be the place where the shepherds were watching their flocks, when the angel reported to them the birth of Christ, Luke 2:8; pretty remarkable are the words added here in the Targum of Jonathan,"the place from whence the King Messiah will be revealed in the end of days.''

(h) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2.((i) Bunting's Travels, p. 76.

Geneva Study Bible

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. Israel] Observe the employment of the new name as an alternative for Jacob, with especial frequency in the J narrative.

the tower of Eder] i.e. “the tower of the flock.” It is uncertain whether “Eder” is a proper name or not. For a similar uncertainty, cf. Genesis 33:18. The place is evidently situated between Ephrath (Genesis 35:19) and Hebron (Genesis 37:14). The identification of Eder with Jerusalem on the strength of Micah 4:8 (“O tower of the flock [or, “Eder”], the hill of the daughter of Sion”) is improbable.

22a. Reuben] The incest of Reuben is alluded to in Genesis 49:3-4. The Compiler abbreviates what must have been a repulsive tradition. But, as in ch. 34, the tradition may possibly contain, in figurative language, some reminiscence of early tribal relations. Very little is known of the tribe of Reuben; but in Numbers 16 the tribe of Reuben endeavours to displace Moses on the strength of its primogeniture: and in Joshua 15:6, “the stone of Bohan son of Reuben,” in the heart of Canaan, may contain the reminiscence of some early unrecorded tribal encroachment.

Israel heard of it] As in Genesis 34:30-31, the tradition breaks off abruptly.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - And Israel (or Jacob) journeyed (from Ephrath, after the funeral of Rachel), and spread - i.e. unfolded (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 26:25) - his tent beyond the tower of Edar - literally, to, i.e. not trans (Vulgate), ultra (Dathe), but ad, usque (Rosenmüller), as far as Migdol Edar, the Tower of the Flock - probably a turret, or watch-tower, erected for the convenience of shepherds in guarding their flocks (2 Kings 18:8; 2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 27:4), - the site of which is uncertain, but which is commonly supposed to have Been a mile (Jerome) or more south of Bethlehem." The LXX. omit this verse. Genesis 35:21

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Genesis 35:21-22

Reuben's Incest. - As they travelled onward, Jacob pitched his tent on the other side of Migdal Eder, where Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, his father's concubine. It is merely alluded to her in the passing remark that Israel heard it, by way of preparation for Genesis 49:4. Migdal Eder (flock-tower) was a watch-tower built for the protection of flocks against robbers (cf. 2 Kings 18:8; 2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 27:4) on the other side of Bethlehem, but hardly within 1000 paces of the town, where it has been placed by tradition since the time of Jerome. The piska in the middle of Genesis 35:22 does not indicate a gap in the text, but the conclusion of a parashah, a division of the text of greater antiquity and greater correctness than the Masoretic division.