Genesis 35

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 35

1¶ And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.

5And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that [were] round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

6¶ So Jacob came to Luz, which [is] in the land of Canaan, that [is], Bethel, he and all the people that [were] with him.

7And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

8But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

9And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

10And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

11And God said unto him, I [am] God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, [even] a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

16¶ And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

19And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which [is] Bethlehem.

20And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

21¶ And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard [it]. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

23The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

24The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

25And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

26And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

27And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

29And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, [being] old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

God instructs Jacob to return to Bethel, where He had previously appeared. Jacob commands his household to remove their foreign gods and purify themselves, which they do, and he buries the idols. Upon arriving at Bethel, Jacob builds an altar, and God appears again, confirming Jacob's new name, Israel, and reiterating the covenant promises of numerous descendants and the land. During their subsequent journey, Rachel tragically dies while giving birth to Benjamin near Ephrath, and Jacob erects a pillar on her grave. The chapter also records Reuben's transgression with Bilhah and lists Jacob's twelve sons. Finally, Jacob travels to his father Isaac in Hebron, where Isaac dies at 180 years old and is buried by Esau and Jacob.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with God commanding Jacob to return to Bethel, the site of his earlier vision, and to build an altar there. In response, Jacob instructs his entire household to put away their foreign gods, cleanse themselves, and change their garments, signifying a spiritual purification. They comply, surrendering their idols and earrings, which Jacob buries under an oak near Shechem. As they journey, a divine terror falls upon the surrounding cities, preventing any pursuit of Jacob's family. Upon reaching Luz, which is Bethel, Jacob constructs an altar, naming it Elbethel, commemorating God's appearance to him. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies and is buried beneath an oak at Bethel. God appears to Jacob once more, confirming his name change from Jacob to Israel, a name previously given. God reiterates the covenant promises of fruitfulness, the formation of a nation and company of nations, the lineage of kings, and the inheritance of the land given to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob then sets up a stone pillar, pouring a drink offering and oil upon it, and renames the place Bethel. Continuing their journey from Bethel towards Ephrath, Rachel experiences difficult labor and dies while giving birth to Benjamin, whom she initially names Benoni. Jacob buries her on the way to Bethlehem and erects a pillar on her grave. The narrative then notes Israel's encampment beyond the tower of Edar and records Reuben's transgression with Bilhah, his father's concubine. A comprehensive list of Jacob's twelve sons, born in Padanaram, is provided, categorized by their mothers. The chapter concludes with Jacob arriving at Mamre, near Hebron, where his father Isaac resides. Isaac dies at the age of 180, "old and full of days," and is buried by his sons, Esau and Jacob.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Command and ObedienceGod directs Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar, a command Jacob promptly obeys by purifying his household and journeying to the designated place. This highlights the theme of divine instruction and human response.
  • Purification from IdolatryJacob's instruction to his household to put away "strange gods" and their subsequent compliance demonstrates a communal act of renouncing pagan practices. This act of purification prepares them for renewed worship and covenant relationship with God.
  • Renaming of Jacob to IsraelGod formally confirms Jacob's new name, Israel, signifying a transformed identity and a foundational moment in the history of the covenant people. This renaming is accompanied by a reaffirmation of the Abrahamic promises.
  • Covenant Promises ReiteratedGod reaffirms the promises of fruitfulness, the emergence of a nation and company of nations, the lineage of kings, and the inheritance of the land to Israel and his descendants. This reinforces the continuity of the divine covenant through generations.
  • Birth and Death in TransitionThe chapter marks significant life events, including the tragic death of Rachel during Benjamin's birth and the peaceful death of Isaac. These events underscore the cycles of life and death within the unfolding family narrative.
  • Pillars as MemorialsJacob erects pillars at Bethel to commemorate God's appearance and at Rachel's grave. These stone pillars serve as enduring physical markers of significant spiritual encounters and personal loss.
  • Family Lineage and TransgressionThe chapter lists Jacob's twelve sons, establishing the foundational tribes of Israel, but also records Reuben's morally significant transgression with Bilhah. This foreshadows future challenges within the nascent family structure.