Jacob Returns to Bethel
This chapter highlights God’s promises, Jacob’s vow, and...
- This chapter highlights God’s promises, Jacob’s vow, and the transition to Jacob’s sons’ carrying on the covenant. Deborah, Rachel, and Isaac all died, marking the end of an era and of the account of Isaac’s family (25:19–35:29).
- Idols were removed (35:1–4) and pure worship was established (35:6–7). During this transition, the faith had to be revitalized so that the covenant could be carried forward by Jacob’s sons.
Jacob returned to Bethel, about fifteen miles south...
Jacob returned to Bethel, about fifteen miles south of Shechem, to complete the vows he had made there (28:20–22).
1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
Jacob had vowed wholehearted devotion to the Lord...
Jacob had vowed wholehearted devotion to the Lord (28:20–22); establishing this required that his family remove all pagan idols and cease their devotion to other gods. God permits no rivals; only the Lord was to be their God (cp. Josh 5:1–9).
2So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. 3Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”
4So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak† near Shechem.
5As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
Jacob built an altar at Bethel as God...
Jacob built an altar at Bethel as God had instructed (35:1; cp. 12:8).
6So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel,† because it was there that God had revealed Himself to Jacob as he fled from his brother.
8Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak† below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bachuth.†
At Bethel, God confirmed the promise he had...
At Bethel, God confirmed the promise he had made there earlier; he reiterated Jacob’s change of name from Jacob to Israel as proof that the blessing had been given.
9After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram,† God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob,† you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.”† So God named him Israel.
God’s reference to himself as God Almighty assured...
God’s reference to himself as God Almighty assured Jacob that his promise could and would be fulfilled. At Bethel, God had promised that Jacob would have descendants in the land (cp. 28:13–14); here he added that his descendants would include kings (see 17:6).
11And God told him, “I am God Almighty.† Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. 12The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”
13Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.
In fulfilling his vow (28:20–22), Jacob’s actions were...
In fulfilling his vow (28:20–22), Jacob’s actions were almost identical to his actions in the earlier experience at Bethel (cp. 28:16–19).
14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil. 15Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.†
Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies
Benjamin’s birth completed the family, but it was...
Benjamin’s birth completed the family, but it was a sorrowful event because Rachel died in childbirth (see study note on 31:32).
16Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. 17During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”
18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni.† But his father called him Benjamin.†
19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
The Sons of Jacob
21Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder. 22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
The twelve sons became leaders of the twelve...
The twelve sons became leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their names are the firstfruits of the nation.
23The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
25The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
26And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher.
These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
The Death of Isaac
Esau and Jacob (listed here in ordinary birth...
Esau and Jacob (listed here in ordinary birth order) came together—probably for the first time since they had reconciled (33:16–17)—to bury Isaac in Hebron (see 13:18; 23:1–2, 17–19).
27Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.
28And Isaac lived 180 years. 29Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.