HOMILETICS. Vers. 16-29. -From Bethel to Mamre. I. THE DEATH OF RACHEL. 1. Thd travailing woman. Raebel, overtaken by the pains of childbirth, had hard labour. In every instance an inheritance derived from mother Eve (eh. iii. 16) the eorrow of maternity was in her case providentially intensified; perhaps by b~r advanced age,. or by t~1e discomforts of travel, or by feeb\e~ess ?f health, or posoibly by special appomtment of God as a rebuke for her rnordmate desire for children (eh. xxx. 1), or as_ a means of shortening her I_ife. 2. '!'lie comforting midwife. Though her name 1s not recorded, wherever tlus pathetic story is recited there shall her kindly offices to the dying Rachel be remembered. Chosen to' assist Rachel in her bodily struggle, she was likewise helpful to Rachel in her soul's conflict. Sympathising with the sufferer in her pain, she sought to minister com- fort to the droop~ng h~art in_ its despondency .. The.y who tend the sick and dying should be tender m then feelings and hopeful m their words, as well aa skilful and gentle in their acts. 3. The departing mother. Though Rnchel's child was born, Rachel herself died; in which were some circumstances of sadness, as (1) that it happened on a journey,-" in the way to Ephrath,"-and near its end-" there was but a little way to come to Ephrath," where it is likely Jacob bad intended to rest a while for Rachel's convenience; (2) that it occurred on the occasion of her confine- ment, death in child-bed being a comparatively rare experience in the history of mothers, though, considering the severity of the ordeal, it is o. special mercy that any mothers survive; and (3) that it removed her from her newly-born son, than which no greater grief can agitate a dying mother'a henrt, and the thought of which per- haps gave added poignancy to the bitter anguish with which she named her child Ben-oni-the son of my sorrow. Yet in Rachel'e death were certain elements of gladness, as (1) that she died in the presence of her husband, Jacob being by her couch to catch her latest breath ; (2) that she died not before she gave him another son, to be to him whom she loved a Benjamin, though to herself Ben-oni ; and (3) that she died in the hope of a glorious immortality, her soul departing to.the better country, even an heavenly. 4. The bereaved liusband. (1) Cheering the drooping heart of bis dying wife. This is probably tho correct view to be taken of what otherwise interpreted cannot fail to seem strangely inconsistent-Jacob's naming Rachel's child Benjamin, the son of my right band, the son of my aJfection, of my prosperity, a token of good hope and happy fortune, while Rachel called him Ben- oni. " In vain the broken-hearted father-refusing to take in the terrible fact pass- ing under bis eye-determined to be sanguine to the last, and let no evil omen touch either mother or child-whispers hope in the dull ear of death, and welcomes the last pledge of an undying love as no "son of sorrow," but "the son of the right hand" (Candlish). (2) Burying the lifeless body of his beloved spouse, which doubtless he would do with reverent affection and with heart-felt mourning. (3) Erecting a pillar above her lonely grave-to demonstrate bis affection for her who slept beneath, to show that though she lay not in the family tomb, she was not for- gotten, and to mark the last resting-place of an ancestress of Israel, II. THE SIN OF REUllEN. 1. The enormity of Reuben's wickedness. The act which be committed was that of incest, since Bilhah had been the wife of Jacob. It was a sin punishable by death under Moses' law (Levit. xviii. 8), .and such a sin as should not be named among Christians (1 Cor. v. 1). It is not likely that Bilhah was innocent in this matter, but it is certain that Reuben was guilty of heinous transgres- sion. 2. The impresswn i~ pr?duced 07!- Jaco~. "Is~ael heard." We m~y suppl_y the hiatus by saymg, (1) W1th mexpress1ble gnef-gl'lef that a son and wife of his ~hould have committed such a horrible iniquity; (2) with bitter shame-was this to be the end of all God's mercies to hie house, and of all hie efforts to piously direct hie household? (3) with silent submission, ns recognising God's ho.nd in the dis- pensation. More bitter and crushing was this last stroke than tho death of Rnchel or even the ravishment of Dinah; and Jacob's silence under it may be interproted as the sil1Jnce of devottt resignation:-" I was dumb, because thou didst it;" Ill. THE DEATH OF Isuc, 1. He waa spared to see liis son's i·etum. "Jaco!> en. xxx:v1. 1-xxxvu. l.J THE BOOK O}' GENESIS.
ea.me unto leaac hie father unto Mamre" at leaet a consiclerable period before liifl death. According to calculations (mile Exposition), Isaac eurv1ved tl,e sale of Joeeph thirteen yea.re. Hence Jacob'e coming home must have taken place while 11111.nc had yet many years to live. It is a mercy 'which Goel does not grant to all, to see their children and their children's children around them before they die. 2. He was privileged to reach a good old age. "The days of Isaac were an Ii untlrect and fourscore yea.re." Piety hne a special tendency to prolong life (Ps. xxxiv. 12), while the wicked live not half their days (Pe. Iv. 23). 3. lie was favoured witlt a peaceful and a blessed end. "Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people." See Homily on the death of Abraham (eh. xxv. 8). 4. Jle was honoured with a decent and respectful funeral. "Esau and Jacob buried him." They laid him beside his ancestral dust in the family burying-place of Machpelah, where already slept the lifeless bodies of Abraham and Sarah, awaiting the resnrrec~ tion, while his spirit went to company with theirs in the better country, even an heavenly. Lea.m-1. That bereavements, like the rest of life's afflictions, 11ro of God's ordering, both as to time, place, and manner, 2. That in human families they who are most beloved are frequently removed first. 3. That the sick and dying shoulcl be ministered to with sympathy and tender· attention. 4. That good men shoulrl love their wives when living, and remember them when dead. 5. That faith should always try to see the bright light of blessing in the cloud of earth's afliictions. 6. That worse calamities may overtake a saint than bereavements. 7. That pious children do not cast off their parents in old oge.