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Genesis35

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel, where Jacob purifies his household of idols and builds an altar. God reappears, renames Jacob "Israel," and reiterates the covenant promises of land and numerous descendants. During their journey, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, and later, Jacob's father Isaac dies and is buried by his sons.

Jacob Returns to Bethel and Purifies His Household

1
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” ​
2
Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments. ​
3
Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”
4
They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. ​
5
They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob. ​
6
So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
7
He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. ​
8
Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth. ​

God Renews the Covenant and Renames Israel

9
God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. ​
10
God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.
11
God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. ​
12
The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land.”
13
God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
14
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.
15
Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.

The Death of Rachel

16
They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
17
When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
18
As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. ​
19
Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem). ​
20
Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

Reuben's Sin and the Twelve Sons of Jacob

21
Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22
While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. ​
23
The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24
The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25
The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid): Dan and Naphtali.
26
The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

The Death and Burial of Isaac

27
Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners. ​
28
The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
29
Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 35

Verse 1

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel, the site of his original covenant dream (Gen 28:10-22), to fulfill the vow he made there. This move is necessary to establish the sanctity of his household after the violence at Shechem.

Verse 2

Jacob demands religious purification, indicating that his household, including those acquired in Padan-aram or Shechem, still harbored idols (likely including Rachel's stolen teraphim). This act of cleansing is required before approaching the holy ground of Bethel.

Verse 4

By burying the idols and the pagan earrings (often used as amulets) under the oak, Jacob performs a decisive act of separation, symbolically abandoning foreign worship before receiving renewed covenant blessings.

Verse 5

The 'terror of God' refers to a divinely instilled fear that prevented the neighboring Canaanite tribes from pursuing Jacob's family in retaliation for the massacre of the Shechemites (Gen 34).

Verse 7

Jacob names the altar Elbethel ('God of Bethel'), commemorating the specific manifestation of God at this location, emphasizing that the God who appeared to him in distress is sovereign and present.

Verse 8

The death of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, is noted to mark the passing of the older generation and to reinforce the historical reality of the journey. Allonbachuth means 'Oak of Weeping,' highlighting the mourning period.

Verse 9

This appearance solidifies the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac. God formally confirms the name Israel, which Jacob had received during his wrestling match at Penuel (Gen 32:28).

Verse 11

God identifies himself as El Shaddai ('God Almighty'), the title associated with the covenant promise of fertility and multiplication. The promise includes descendants forming 'a nation and a company of nations' (referencing the twelve tribes and future kings).

Verse 18

Rachel names her son Benoni ('Son of my sorrow') reflecting her dying pain, but Jacob immediately renames him Benjamin ('Son of the right hand'), suggesting blessing, strength, and favor.

Verse 19

Rachel's death near Ephrath (later identified as Bethlehem) is a tragic climax to Jacob's journey, marking the end of the matriarchal line. Her burial site became a significant landmark in Israelite tradition.

Verse 22

Reuben’s act of sleeping with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, was an act of usurpation, challenging Jacob’s authority and claiming the rights of the firstborn. This sin later cost Reuben his birthright (Gen 49:3-4).

Verse 27

Jacob finally returns to Mamre/Hebron, where his parents resided. This reunion is the last recorded moment of the patriarchs together before Isaac’s death.

Verse 29

Isaac dies at 180 years old, having lived the longest of the three patriarchs. The joint burial by Esau and Jacob indicates a final, peaceful reconciliation between the brothers, fulfilling the promise that he would be 'gathered unto his people.'

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