Just south of Jerusalem, overlooking Bethlehem and the grave of the Matriarch Rachel, is Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. Founded on high ground in 1926, Ramat Rachel is named after one of the more gut-wrenching passages in the Hebrew prophets. It’s in Jeremiah 31 of new-covenant fame (Read the chapter now if you can).

¹⁵ This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

קול ברמה נשׁמע נהי בכי תמרורים רחל מבכה על־בניה

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be repaid,”
declares the Lord.
“They will return from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ So there is hope for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
“And the sons shall return to their border.”

These words are referenced in Matthew 2:16-18 as prophetic of King Herod killing all the baby boys...

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