Toward the end of this parsha we witness the death of our matriarch, Rachel, while giving birth to Binyamin. She was buried by the road in Beit Lechem. Why wasn’t she buried in the Cave of Machpelah, with the other patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people? And what did she do that she had to die younger than all of the other wives of Yaakov?
To answer the second question, we must backtrack to last week’s parsha, Vayeitzei. In that parsha, when Yaakov and his family left Lavan’s house, Rachel (unbeknownst to Yaakov) stole her father’s idols so that Lavan could not consult them using magic to discern their whereabouts. When Lavan came chasing after them, he accused Yaakov of stealing the idols, and since Yaakov did not know Rachel had stolen the idols, he said to Lavan, “With whomever you shall find your gods, he shall not live….” The curse of a tzaddik (righteous person) is very potent, even when uttered unintentionally. Although it did not take immediate effect, it came back to haunt Rachel.
When a woman gives birth, her personal record of mitzvot and misdeeds is examined in Heaven. If she is found lacking in one of the special mitzvot that are given specifically to women, she may lose her life in childbirth.
Although Rachel was scrupulous in keeping these mitzvot, when her record was checked it was noted in the Heavenly court that this curse was a mark against her. This was why it then it took effect, causing her to die giving birth to Binyamin.
Now we’ve answered why Rachel died at a younger age. But why wasn’t she buried in the Cave of Machpelah?
Yaakov foresaw through nevuah (prophecy) that in the future the Jews would be exiled from Israel, and they would pass by Beit Lechem (where Rachel was buried) as they were leaving the Land. When they passed Rachel’s grave, they could pray for her to intercede for mercy on their behalf. On account of those prayers and Rachel’s subsequent pleading on behalf of the Jews, Hashem would eventually have mercy on the Jews and return them from exile.
We should all hope and pray that soon the day will come when Hashem in His mercy will redeem us from our current exile, and peace will reign in all the world.