Genesis 35:1-6

1 God said to Ya`akov, "Arise, go up to Beit-El, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esav your brother."

2 Then Ya`akov 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 Beit-El. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went."

4 They gave to Ya`akov all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Ya`akov hid them under the oak which was by Shekhem.

5 They journeyed: and a terror of God was on the cities that were round about them, and they didn't pursue the sons of Ya`akov.

6 So Ya`akov came to Luz, which is in the land of Kana`an (the same is Beit-El), he and all the people who were with him.

Genesis 35:1-6 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.