Why did Yakov bury Rachel on the way? Why did he not bury her in Me'aras ha'Machpeilah, or at least in nearby Efrat?
Rashi and Rashbam: Refer to 35:16:1:1*.
Rashi (48:7, based on Bereishis Rabah 82:10): He did so by Divine decree 1 , so that when Bnei Yisrael would pass her grave as they were being led to Bavel into exile, she would weep 2 and beseech Hashem for mercy on their behalf. 3
Ramban (16): Because he wanted to bury her in the territory of her son Binyamin, and he foresaw that Efrat would be given to Yehudah. Malbim
Chazal say that Ru'ach ha'Kodesh/prophecy dwell only amidst Simchah. Was Yakov b'Simchah after she died?! Perhaps indeed, he was (refer to 35:21:151:1)! Or perhaps Hashem told him just before she died. (PF)
Rashi: As the Navi Yirmiyah (31:14) tells us. And Hashem did indeed hear her weeping, and promised her "the children will return to their borders". This is what Yakov himself informed Yosef, to allay Yosef's grievances at his having done so (Rashi). And this is hinted in the word "ba'Derech" here (Ramban, 48:7).
Moshav Zekenim: She has great power of Tefilah. She bore the pain of a rival who entered her house, lest Leah be shamed, so she can ask Hashem to bear a rival (idolatry) brought into His house. (Perhaps the text of the Rosh should say so, just there is a printing mistake
Why did Rachel die so young?
Rashi (31:32): Because Yakov unwittingly cursed her when he declared to Lavan 'the one with whom you will find your gods, he will not live"
Why does it say that she died? The previous verse says so!
Ha'Emek Davar: During a difficult birth, it often looks like the mother died, but really, she merely fainted amidst weakness. They tried reviving her, but she died (Zohar).
