Book & Chapter
Version

Summary

Genesis 35:1–4 – Back to Bethel and purging idols

What happens: God tells Jacob to go to Bethel and make an altar. Jacob commands his household to put away foreign gods, purify themselves, and change garments. They bury the idols under the oak.

What it means: Renewal with God begins by throwing out rivals. Holiness includes visible steps of repentance. God is worthy of undivided worship.


Genesis 35:5–8 – Safe journey and Deborah’s death

What happens: A terror from God falls on nearby cities, so none pursue Jacob. They reach Bethel. Rebekah’s nurse, Deborah, dies, and they bury her under the oak of weeping.

What it means: God protects those who pursue Him. Grief and grace can travel together. God’s presence steadies His people through losses.


Genesis 35:9–15 – Name reaffirmed and promises

What happens: God appears to Jacob, reaffirms his name Israel, and repeats the promises of fruitfulness, nations, kings, and the land. Jacob sets up a pillar and pours a drink offering.

What it means: God’s covenant is sure and personal. He renews identity and mission. Worship seals the word God speaks.


Genesis 35:16–21 – Benjamin’s birth and Rachel’s death

What happens: On the way to Ephrath, Rachel bears a son, names him Ben-oni, and dies. Jacob names him Benjamin. He sets a pillar over her grave.

What it means: Great gifts can come through deep sorrow. God’s purposes continue even in grief. Memorials help faith remember God in pain.


Genesis 35:22–29 – Sin, sons, and Isaac’s death

What happens: Reuben lies with Bilhah, and Israel hears. The names of Jacob’s twelve sons are listed. Isaac dies, and Esau and Jacob bury him.

What it means: God’s people are not free from scandal, yet God’s plan stands. The twelve sons signal God’s growing nation. Reconciliation can endure to the end.


Application

  • Remove idols and habits that compete with worship.
  • Mark God’s faithfulness with tangible acts of remembrance.
  • Let God define your identity and mission again and again.
  • Hold hope in grief, trusting God’s purposes to stand.

Bible

1And 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.

6So 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.

16And 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.

21And 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.

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