Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 2:18

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The Text quoted, is Ier. 31.15. this Prophecy was literally fulfilled when Iudah was carried into Captivity: There was then a great mourning in the Tribes of Benjamin and Iudah, for their Children that were slain and carried into Captivity: It was now fulfilled, that is, verified a second time. There is no need that Rama here should be taken Appellatively, as it signifieth an High place, from whence a noise is most loudly, and dolefully heard. There were several places so named, one near Bethlehem (formerly called Ephran) Gen. 35.16.19 Iud. 4.5. a City in the lot of Benjamin, Ios. 18.22. The slaughter was in Bethlehem and the Coasts thereof, the noise reached to Rama which was close by, both Benjamin, and Iudah made up the one Kingdom of Iudah. Rachel was the Mother of Benjamin, a Woman pa[illegible: 3 letters]onately desirous of Children, therefore the fittest Person to have her name used, to express the sorrow of all those Mothers, who had lost their Children in this slaughter. The slaughter of these Children caused a lamentable Mourning by tender Mothers throughout Benjamin and Iudah, such as the former Captivity caused to be mentioned, Ier. 31.15.