Genesis 35:9-19

9 God appeared to Ya`akov again, when he came from Paddan-Aram, and blessed him.

10 God said to him, "Your name is Ya`akov. Your name shall not be Ya`akov any more, but your name will be Yisra'el." He named him Yisra'el.

11 God said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your loins.

12 The land which I gave to Avraham and Yitzchak, 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 Ya`akov 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 Ya`akov called the name of the place where God spoke with him "Beit-El."

16 They journeyed from Beit-El. There was still some distance to come to Efrat, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.

17 It happened that, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."

18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni, but his father named him Binyamin.

19 Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Efrat (the same is Beit-Lechem).

Genesis 35:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 35

This chapter gives an account of Jacob's going to Bethel, and building an altar there by the order and direction of God, Ge 35:1-7, where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried, Ge 35:8, and where God appeared to Jacob, confirmed the new name of Israel he had given him, and renewed to him the promises of the multiplication of his seed, and of their inheriting the land of Canaan, Ge 35:9-13; all which is gratefully acknowledged by Jacob, who erected a pillar in the place, and called it Bethel, in memory of God's gracious appearance to him there, Ge 35:14,15; from hence he journeyed towards his father's house, and on the way Rachel his wife fell in travail, and bore him a son, and died, and was buried near Ephrath, Ge 35:16-21; near this place Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, Ge 35:22, and the names of the twelve sons of Jacob are given, Ge 35:23-26; and the chapter is closed with an account of Jacob's arrival at his father's house, of the death of Isaac, and of his burial at the direction of his two sons, Ge 35:27-29.