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Genesis 35

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Genesis 35 Overview

Genesis 35 records Jacob’s return to Bethel. God tells him to go there and build an altar, and Jacob orders his household to put away strange gods, cleanse themselves, and change garments. God protects the journey, appears again, confirms the name Israel and the Abrahamic promises, and Jacob worships. The chapter also records Deborah’s death, Rachel’s death while giving birth to Benjamin, Reuben’s grave sin with Bilhah, and Isaac’s death.

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Before you read Genesis 35

Coming from

Genesis 34 leaves Jacob’s household morally compromised and politically endangered after the massacre at Shechem.

In this chapter

Jacob’s household is called back to worship and covenant identity at Bethel, even as the chapter also records painful deaths and family sin.

Leads into

Genesis 36 pauses the Jacob narrative to record Esau’s descendants, chiefs, and kings in Edom.

Key understanding

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Return to Bethel includes putting away foreign gods and purification.

Truth 2

God again confirms Jacob’s new name Israel.

Truth 3

The land-and-nation covenant is reaffirmed.

Truth 4

Worship and memorial pillars mark decisive moments.

Truth 5

Blessing does not eliminate grief: Rachel and Isaac die, and Reuben sins seriously.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Genesis 28 first named Bethel during Jacob’s flight.

Connection 2

Genesis 31 included Rachel’s stolen household gods, now fitting the call to put away strange gods.

Connection 3

Genesis 49 later addresses Reuben’s sin and its consequences.

Connection 4

The repeated patriarchal burials and deaths prepare the transition toward Jacob’s sons.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Jacob’s command to remove foreign gods shows that idolatrous objects had remained within the household despite God’s protection.

Keep this clear 2

The “terror of God” on surrounding cities is presented as divine protection, not military intimidation by Jacob.

Keep this clear 3

Rachel’s naming of Ben-oni is changed by Jacob to Benjamin; both names reflect the intense birth scene.

Keep this clear 4

Reuben’s act is stated briefly but is morally serious and later affects his standing.

Read Genesis 35 watching for…Explore deeper

The commands before going to Bethel.

What is buried under the oak.

God’s repeated name change and covenant words.

The cluster of deaths.

The brief but consequential statement about Reuben.

Chapter outline6 sections

1-8Jacob returns to Bethel and puts away strange gods 9-15God appears to Jacob and confirms his name and promises 16-20Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin 21-22Reuben sins 23-26Jacob's twelve sons are named 27-29Isaac dies and is buried

And 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.

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:

And 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.

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.

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.

So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

And 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.

But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

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.

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;

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.

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

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.

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

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.

And 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.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

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:

The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

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.

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Genesis 35:5

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