Rachel's Tomb and the Riddle of Tzeltzach at Saul's Anointing

Midrash Shmuel 14:6

"When you depart from me today, etc." (1 Samuel 10:2). Rabbi Yannai and Rabbi Yonatan were sitting, and a certain man came and asked them: What is the meaning of that which is written, "When you depart from me today, etc., by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin, at Tzeltzach" (ibid.)? But is not Rachel's tomb in the territory of Judah, while Tzeltzach is in the territory of Benjamin? Rabbi Yannai said to Rabbi Yonatan: Yonatan, my brother, gather up my disgrace. Tomorrow, when they come from Rachel's tomb, you will be going, and they will be coming, and you will find them in the territory of Benjamin at Tzeltzach. He said to him: What is the meaning of that which is written, "And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel" (2 Samuel 19:44)? He said to him: These were sending letters to David, and these were receiving letters. What does David say to them? "You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh" (ibid.). "Tzeltzach": Rabbi Yose HaGelili says, the clear shade [tzel tzach] of the day, like its brightness. Rabbi Akiva says, the clear shade [tzel tzach] that the elder spoke of: "and kings shall come out of your loins" (Genesis 35:11).

Themes

Biblical References