Komentaryo sa Jeremias 31:14: Rashi & Tze'enah Ure'enah

fat Heb. דָשֶן.

“Thus says the Lord, a voice, etc.” [31:14]. God said: a voice is heard from a high place that can be heard at a great distance, that someone is crying. It is Rachel crying for her children. She does not allow herself to be comforted. She thinks that her children will never come. Therefore, Rachel says that she is the grandmother of Ephraim. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Ephraim was the son of Joseph. The kingdom of Ephraim was expelled with ten tribes behind the Sambatyon. That is why she cried. The other two tribes were expelled to Babylon and they came back after seventy years. However, behind the Sambatyon they remain hidden.⁵Radak, Jeremiah, 31:14.

The Midrash writes why Rachel cries more than the other mothers. It is because her descendant Manasseh placed an idolatrous image in the Temple. All the patriarchs, and Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah went before the Holy One and asked Him that He should forgive the sin, and the Holy One did not want to forgive. Then Rachel went before the Holy One and said: Lord of the Universe, I was compassionate toward my sister Leah when she was led to sleep with Jacob and I was silent when Jacob worked and served for my sake. How can you not be compassionate toward my children? You are more compassionate than a person. The Holy One said to Rachel. You speak appropriately; I will forgive them for your sake.⁶Rashi, Jeremiah, 31:14.