Genesis 35:21 Commentary: Rashbam, Radak, Rabbeinu Bahya & Rav Hirsch

וַיִּסַּ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֣ט אָֽהֳלֹ֔ה מֵהָ֖לְאָה לְמִגְדַּל־עֵֽדֶר׃

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond Migdal-eder.

Rashbam on Genesis

למגדל העדר, close to Bethlehem as mentioned in Michah 5,1 as well as in chapter 4,8 there.
Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy

Radak on Genesis

ויסע, on his way to his father’s house.
Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy

Rabbeinu Bahya

ויט אהלו ההלאה למגדל עדר, “and he pitched his tent to beyond Migdal Eder.” The meaning of the word מהלאה is “close to.” The same word occurs in the same sense in Genesis 19,9 where it means “come closer.” We also find the word having this meaning when Jonathan told his lad in Samuel I 20,22 החצים ממך והלאה, “the arrows are closer to you.” So here too the meaning of the word is that Yaakov pitched his tent opposite the place called Migdal Eder. This was the place where the number of the twelve tribes had become complete with the birth of Binyamin. In commemoration of that event we read in Micah 4,8: “and you O Migdal-Eder, outpost of Fair Zion.”
Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy