Genesis 35:3

3 rise ye, and go we up into Bethel, that we make there an altar to the Lord, which heard me in the day of my tribulation, and was fellow of my way. (rise ye, and go we up to Bethel, to make there an altar to the Lord, who answered me on the day of my trouble, and who gave me fellowship on the way.)

Genesis 35:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 35:3

And let us arise and go up to Bethel
Thus prepared and purged, their tents clear of idols, their bodies washed with pure water, and their garments new, neat, and clean; all symbolical of inward purity, and of freedom from idolatry and evil works, as became those who go to the house of God, and are his worshippers, see ( Hebrews 10:22 ) .

I will make there an altar unto God;
as he has directed, and sacrifice to him, and worship him, and give the tenth unto him, and so make it a Bethel, an house of God indeed, as he had vowed, ( Genesis 28:22 ) ;

who answered me in the day of my distress;
on account of his brother Esau, from whose wrath he fled:

and was with me in the way which I went;
from his father's house to Padanaram; in which journey he was alone and destitute, and exposed to many difficulties and dangers, but God was with him, and preserved him, and directed and brought him to Laban's house in safety.

Genesis 35:3 In-Context

1 In the meantime the Lord spake to Jacob, (and said), Rise thou (up), and go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make thou (there) an altar to the Lord, that appeared to thee when thou fleddest Esau, thy brother (who appeared to thee when thou fleddest from thy brother Esau).

2 Soothly Jacob said, when all his house was called together, Cast ye away alien gods, that be in the midst of you, and be ye cleansed, and change ye your clothes; (And Jacob said, when all his household, or all his family, was called together, Throw ye away the foreign gods, that be in the midst of you, and purify yourselves, and change ye your clothes;)

3 rise ye, and go we up into Bethel, that we make there an altar to the Lord, which heard me in the day of my tribulation, and was fellow of my way. (rise ye, and go we up to Bethel, to make there an altar to the Lord, who answered me on the day of my trouble, and who gave me fellowship on the way.)

4 Therefore they gave to Jacob all the alien gods which they had, and [the] earrings, that were in their ears; and Jacob delved them under a terebinth tree, which is behind the city of Shechem. (And so they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which they had, and the earrings that they were wearing; and Jacob buried them under the terebinth tree, which is behind the city of Shechem.)

5 And when they went (forth), dread assailed all men by compass of the city, and they were not hardy to pursue them going away. (And when they went forth, the fear of God assailed all the men of the cities about, and they were not hardy to pursue after them.)