Jacob Returns to Bethel
Study note
God commands Jacob to go up to Bethel, the place where God appeared to him when he was fleeing from Esau. Jacob tells his household to get rid of their foreign gods and purify themselves. They give Jacob all their foreign gods and earrings, and he buries them under an oak tree at Shechem. As they travel, God puts fear on the surrounding cities so no one attacks them. They arrive at Bethel, and Jacob builds an altar. Deborah, Rebekah's old nurse, dies and is buried there.
1 God told Jacob, "Get up and go to Bethel. Make your home there, and build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were running for your life from Esau." And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
2 Jacob told everyone in his household, "Get rid of any foreign god statues you have. Clean yourselves up and put on fresh clothes." Then 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:
3 "We're going to Bethel. That's where I'll build an altar to the God who answered me when I was in my darkest hour — the God who has stayed with me everywhere I've gone." And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; 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.
4 Everyone handed over their foreign idols and the rings they wore in their ears. Jacob buried all of it under the big oak tree near Shechem. And 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.
5 As they traveled, God put a strong fear into every town along the way. No one dared chase after them. And 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 Jacob and his whole group arrived at Luz (now called Bethel) in Canaan. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him.
7 He built an altar there. He named the place El Bethel. That means 'God of Bethel.' God had shown himself to Jacob at that spot. Jacob had been running from Esau at the time. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 Around this time, Deborah — the woman who had been Rebekah's nurse — passed away. She was buried under the oak tree near Bethel, and people called it Allon Bakuth, meaning 'the oak of crying.' But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth.
God Renews the Covenant
Study note
God appears to Jacob again at Bethel and blesses him. God confirms his new name Israel and repeats the covenant promises: be fruitful and multiply, a nation and a community of nations will come from him, kings will be among his descendants, and the land given to Abraham and Isaac is given to him. Jacob sets up a stone pillar at the place and pours oil and a drink offering on it. He calls the place Bethel, 'house of God.'
9 After Jacob came back from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him once more and gave him a blessing. And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him.
10 God told him, "Your name has been Jacob, but that's changing. From now on, your name is Israel." And from then on, his name was Israel. And 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.
11 God continued, "I am God Almighty. Have lots of children and grow your family. An entire nation — even a whole group of nations — will come from you. Some of your descendants will be kings." And 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;
12 "The same land I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I'm giving to you. And I'll give it to your descendants after you." And 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.
13 Then God went up and away from Jacob at the place where they had been talking. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 Jacob set up a stone pillar right where God had spoken to him. He poured out a drink offering on it and also poured olive oil over it. And 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.
15 Jacob named that spot Bethel — 'house of God' — because God had talked with him there. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.
Rachel Dies and Isaac Dies
Study note
They leave Bethel and travel toward Ephrath (Bethlehem). On the way, Rachel goes into difficult labor. As she is dying, she names her son Ben-Oni, meaning 'son of my sorrow,' but Jacob calls him Benjamin, meaning 'son of my right hand.' Rachel is buried on the road to Bethlehem. Jacob sets up a pillar over her tomb. The text then lists all twelve of Jacob's sons. Reuben, the firstborn, sleeps with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Jacob hears about it — this will cost Reuben his birthright blessing later. Jacob arrives at Mamre (Hebron) where Isaac lives. Isaac dies at 180 years old, and Esau and Jacob bury him together.
16 They continued their journey from Bethel. When they were still a ways from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor. It was extremely difficult. And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17 The birth was so hard that the midwife told Rachel, "Don't be afraid — you're having another boy!" And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 With her last breaths — because she was dying — she named her baby Ben-Oni, meaning 'son of my pain.' But Jacob called him Benjamin, meaning 'son of my right hand.' And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 Rachel died and was buried along the road to Ephrath (now called Bethlehem). And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem.
20 Jacob placed a pillar over her grave, and it still marks Rachel's tomb to this day. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
21 Israel packed up and moved on, setting up camp on the far side of Migdal Eder. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
22 While they were settled in that area, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah, his father's concubine. Israel found out about it. Jacob had twelve sons in total: And 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:
23 Through Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
24 Through Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
25 Through Bilhah (Rachel's servant): Dan and Naphtali. And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
26 Through Zilpah (Leah's servant): Gad and Asher. These twelve boys were all born to Jacob while he was in Paddan Aram. And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.
27 Jacob finally made it home to his father Isaac at Mamre. This was near Kiriath Arba, also called Hebron. Abraham and Isaac had both lived there. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
28 Isaac's total lifespan was 180 years. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
29 Then Isaac took his last breath, died, and joined those who had gone before him — a very old man who had lived a long, full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him together. And 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.