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The Wise Men - Appendix 1 |
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It is likely that the Scripture is not specifically referring to a place called Ramah, and in any case there were at least four places having that name according to Young's concordance. It may be thought that as there was a place with that name in the territory of Benjamin it is the one spoken of, because Benjamin was a son of Rachel. However, there is no proof that this was the place and if it was it is difficult to see how the passage in Jeremiah (chapter 31:15) could be prophetic of what happened at Bethlehem. |
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It seems more likely that the meaning of Ramah is what is referred to, that is, 'the height' or something similar. At the end of chapter 2 we have the Nazaraean spoken of and here it is clear that the intention is to draw attention to the meaning of the word which is 'Branch' rather than the place - see Appendix 2. We have a somewhat parallel statement to that in Jeremiah 31:15 in Jeremiah 3:21. Here the heights are specifically spoken of so that we have: "A voice is heard upon the heights, the weeping supplications of the children of Israel". The point appears to be where the voice is heard rather than where the voice spoke. In Isaiah 15:4 we again have the thought, not only of places crying, but also how far away their voices were heard: "Heshbon crieth, and Elealeh: their voice is heard unto Jahaz". Again in Isaiah 58:4 we have: "Ye do not at present fast, to cause your voice to be heard on high". Lastly in 2 Chronicles 30:27 we have it said: "And the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, to the heavens." |
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The question arises also as to why Rachel is spoken of apart from the fact that she had a connection with Bethlehem. It appears to be the only place where a woman is spoken of in this way. Usually, as in Jeremiah 3:21 quoted above, the reference is to Israel, Jacob or their children. Probably Rachel is spoken of because it was maternal feelings that would have been particularly affected by the slaughter. A city, incidentally, is particularly connected with the feminine thought. Thus we have: "Jerusalem above... which is our mother" (Galatians 4:25/26) and also as to the earthly cities of Samaria and Jerusalem we have it said: "Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah." - both feminine characters (Ezekiel 23:1-4). Elsewhere we have the daughter of Tyre spoken of (Psalm 45:12) and the daughters of Zion (Song of Songs 3:11). It is not therefore surprising that we have Rachel spoken of rather than, say, David. |
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February 2001 |
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