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Allon Bachuth

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In the Hebrew Bible, Allon Bachuth (Hebrew: אלון בכות; "Oak of Weeping") is an oak near Bethel, at the foot of which Deborah, the wet nurse of Rebecca, was buried (Genesis 35:8).[1]

Additionally, in Judges 4:5, a tree is referred to as the "palm-tree of Deborah," which has been identified by some[who?] with the "Oak of Weeping."[1]

In Rabbinical literature

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According to the Aggadah,[2] the word "allon" is the Greek ἄλλον (another); and it explains the designation of the burial-place of Deborah as "another weeping," by stating that before Jacob had completed his mourning for Deborah, he received the news of the death of his mother, Rebecca. Scripture does not mention the place of Rebecca's interment, because her burial took place privately. Isaac was blind; Jacob was away from home; and Esau would have been the only one to mourn; and his public appearance as sole mourner would not have been to Rebecca's honor.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainGerson B. Levi and Louis Ginzberg (1901–1906). "ALLON BACHUTH ("Oak of Weeping")". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
  2. ^ Pesikta de-Rav Kahana, Zakor, pp. 23b et seq.; Genesis Rabbah 81:5; Midrash Tanhuma, Vayishlach, 26.