Why Rochel Was Buried in Beis Lechem: Resolving Rashi's Contradiction

Rabbi Zweig addresses a fundamental contradiction in Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary regarding why Rochel Imeinu was buried in Beis Lechem rather than in Maaras Hamachpelah with the other Avos and Imahos. In Parshas Vayechi, Rashi explains that Yaakov Avinu tells Yosef that even though he is burdening him to transport his body all the way to Eretz Yisrael for burial, Yaakov did not do the same for Rochel. Rashi states that this was "al pi hadibur"—by divine command. Even though Yaakov was very close to Chevron when Rochel died, Hashem (ה׳) instructed him to bury her in Beis Lechem specifically so that she could be "Rochel m'vakah al baneha"—Rochel crying over her children when they would pass by on their way to exile. This suggests that burying Rochel in Beis Lechem was actually a superior arrangement, done for the benefit of the Jewish people. However, in Parshas Vayeitzei, Rashi presents an entirely different explanation. There, Rashi says that Rochel was not zochah (did not merit) to be buried in Maaras Hamachpelah because "she zizah l'biz shechivas Oso Tzaddik"—she spoke disparagingly or cheaply about cohabiting with Yaakov. This occurred when Rochel told Leah, "He's sleeping with you tonight," in a manner that Rashi considers inappropriate given the kedusha of relations with a tzaddik like Yaakov. According to this Rashi, Rochel's burial outside Maaras Hamachpelah was a consequence of this failing—she did not deserve to be buried with Yaakov.