Genesis 35:16-29 -- The death of Rachel and Isaac

Genesis 35:16 They set out from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. 17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” 18 With her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a marker on her grave; it is the marker at Rachel’s grave to this day.

So Rachel died with the birth of her last son, Benjamin.  It was a sad day, for Jacob lost his beloved wife, but a joyous day for the birth of his 12th son.  

Genesis 35:21 Israel set out again and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.

Now this seems just thrown in here.  Not sure why.  Here is what it says later in Genesis about the incident:

Genesis 49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my strength and the firstfruits of my virility,
excelling in prominence, excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as water, you will no longer excel,
because you got into your father’s bed
and you defiled it—he got into my bed.

Reuben, though the first born,  excelling in prominence and power was now no longer able to excel because of what he had done.

Jacob had 12 sons:
23 Leah’s sons were Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn),
Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 Rachel’s sons were
Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Rachel’s slave Bilhah
were Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Leah’s slave Zilpah
were Gad and Asher.
These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

We know that Benjamin was not born in Paddan-aram, but later after they returned to the land of Canaan.

27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived 180 years. 29 He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Now we are suddenly sent back to Isaac.  He has not been mentioned (as far as the narrative goes) since Jacob fled from Esau.  I wondered what happened in all that time?  It is obvious that Isaac died after Jacob returned to Canaan, since he and Esau buried him.