Rachel And The Children

Tunc adimpletum est quod dictum est per Jeremiam prophetam, dicentem: Vox in Rama audita est, ploratus et ululatus multus, Rachel plorans filios suos, noluit consolari, quia non sunt. De Rachel natus est Benjamin, in cujus tribu non est Bethleem. Quaeritur ergo quomodo Rachel filios Judae, id est, Bethleem, quasi suos ploret? Respondebimus breviter, quia septula sit juxta Bethleem in Ephrata, et ex materno corpusculi hospitio matris nomen acceperit. Sive quoniam Juda, et Benjamin duae tribus junctae erant, et Herodes praeceperat non solum in Bethleem interfici pueros, sed et in omnibus finibus ejus. Per occisionem Bethleem intelligimus multos etiam de Benjamin fuisse caesos. Plorat autem filios suos, et non recipit consolationem, secundum duplicem intelligentiam. Sive quod eos in aeternum mortuos aestimaret, sive quod consolari se nollet de his quos sciret esse victuros. Quod aptem dicitur in Rama, non putemus loci nomen esse, juxta Gabaa, sed rama excelsum, רמה, interpretatur, ut sit sensus: Vox in excelso audita est, id est, longe lateque dispersa. Sanctus Hieronymus, In Matthaei Evangelium Expositio, Liber I, Cap II Source: Migne PL 26.27c-28b

Then was fulfilled what was spoken through Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Rama, weeping and much wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she was unwilling to be consoled, because they are not. 1 Benjamin was born of Rachel, but in his tribe there is no Bethlehem. Therefore it is asked how Rachel could weep for the children of Judah, that is, of Bethlehem, as if they were her own? We shall briefly answer that she was buried near Bethlehem in Ephrata, and it received the name of the mother from the burial there of her dear body, or because the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin bordered each other, and Herod commanded that the boys be killed not only in Bethlehem but in all its surrounding regions. By the killing at Bethlehem we understand that many also from Benjamin were slain. 'She weeps for her sons and does not receive consolation' has a twofold understanding: either that she thought them to be dead forever, or that she did not want to console herself concerning those she knew would live. As for the word 'in Rama' we should not think that this is the name of the place near Gabaa, but rather 'Rama' is translated 'on high' so that the meaning is: 'A voice has been heard on high,' that is, it has gone forth far and wide. Saint Jerome, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Book 1 Chap 2 1 Mt 2.17, Jer 31.15