וַתָּ֖מָת רָחֵ֑ל וַתִּקָּבֵר֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔תָה הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Efrat — that is Beit-Lechem.
Bereshit Rabbah 82:10 (and related).
Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 82:10
ותמת רחל ותקבר בדרך אפרתה — כדי שתהא לעזר לבניה כשיגלו.
“And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Efrat” — so that she would be of help to her children when they go into exile.
The Midrash explains the roadside burial as providential for future intercession.
Derash on the place of burial (Bereshit Rabbah).
Rachel’s burial on the road is understood as enabling her to plead for her descendants in exile.