25 Ramah is a town in Benjamin approximately five miles (8 km) north of Jerusalem. It was on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem. Traditionally, Rachel’s tomb was located near there at a place called Zelzah (1 Sam 10:2). Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin and was very concerned about having children because she was barren (Gen 30:1–2) and went to great lengths to have them (Gen 30:3, 14–15, 22–24). She was the grandmother of Ephraim and Manasseh which were two of the major tribes in northern Israel. Here Rachel is viewed metaphorically as weeping for her “children,” the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, who had been carried away into captivity in 722 b.c.
26 Or “gone into exile” (cf. v. 16), though some English versions take this as meaning “dead” (e.g., , , ), presumably in light of Matt 2:18.

In other versions

Thus says the Lord:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

lamentation and bitter weeping.

Rachel is weeping for her children;

she refuses to be comforted for her children,

because they are no more.”

This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

mourning and great weeping,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.”

This is what the Lord says:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

a lament with bitter weeping—

Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted for her children

because they are no more.

This is what the Lord says:

“A cry is heard in Ramah—

deep anguish and bitter weeping.

Rachel weeps for her children,

refusing to be comforted—

for her children are gone.”

Thus says Yahweh,

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

lamentation, the weeping of bitterness.

Rachel is weeping for her children;

she refuses to be comforted because of her children,

for they are no more.”

Thus saith the Lord;

A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, and bitter weeping;

Rahel weeping for her children

Refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

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