Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"God tells Jacob to return to his hometown of Bethel, settle there, and build an altar to God. Jacob tells his family to get rid of their idols, turn back to God, and that they are going to return home. God keeps Jacob and his family safe on their return trip home by inflicting a terror on the cities from Shechem to Bethel. No one pursued after Jacob and his family. They return to Bethel safely and Jacob builds an alter to God called El-bethel. God appears to Jacob in Bethel and blesses him saying, "Your name is Jacob; you will no longer be named Jacob, but Israel will be your name." Therefore, the land of Israel is named after Jacob. Jacob's family leaves Bethel to go to Ephrath. On the way, Rachel begins to give birth, and she dies during childbirth. With her dying breath she names her son Ben-oni or Son of My Sorrow. Jacob renames him Benjamin or Son of the Right hand. Rachel is buried on the way to Ephrath. From there, they continue on to Eder and then later on to his father Isaac at Mamre in Hebron. Isaac dies in the land of Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac lived, at 180 years old. Jacob and Esau bury him. Jacob now has twelve sons, later to become the twelve tribes of Israel:
- Leah's sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- Rachel's sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
- The sons of Rachel's slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
- The sons of Leah's slave Zilpah were Gad and Asher."
Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled [years ago] from Esau your brother.” Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the [idols and images of] foreign gods that are among you, and ceremonially purify yourselves and change [into fresh] clothes; then let us get up and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” v.1-3
- "As they journeyed, there was a great [supernatural] terror [sent from God] on the cities around them, and [for that reason] the Canaanites did not pursue the sons of Jacob." v.5
- "There he built an altar [to worship the Lord], and called the place El-bethel (God of the House of God), because there God had revealed Himself to him when he escaped from his brother." v.7
- "Then God [in a visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Paddan-aram, and declared a blessing on him. Again God said to him,
- “Your name is Jacob;
But Israel shall be your name.”
So he was called Israel. And God said to him,
“I am God Almighty.
Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
And kings shall be born of your loins.
“The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac
I will give to you,
and to your descendants after you I will give the land.” v.9-12
- "And as her soul was departing, (for she died), she named him Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." v.18-19
- "While Israel was living in that land, Reuben [his eldest son] went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it." v.22
- "Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived temporarily. Now the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years. Isaac’s spirit departed and he died and was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death], an old man full of days (satisfied, fulfilled); his sons Esau and Jacob buried him [in the cave of Machpelah with his parents Abraham and Sarah]." v.27-29
My personal observations and reflections...
- GOD'S INTERVENTIONS. Bad news to good news. After the horrific incidents that happened, God spoke again to Jacob, and He commanded him to go up and live at Bethel. There, Jacob build an altar for God, to acknowledge that God has been faithful to him. Whenever we fail and sin in our lives, God is there to help us come back to the righteousness we have in His Son Jesus; He is faithful to finish the good work that He has started in us (Philippians 1:6).
Shechem was a low place, while Bethel was a high place, not only in the natural, but also is the spiritual. Jacob had to go to Bethel, because God wanted to meet with him there.God invites Jacob to dwell there, in a high place, close to Him, instead of in the middle of the Canaanite people." http://divineseasons.blogspot.com/2014/08/genesis-351-4-from-shechem-to-bethel.html
* Bible Footnotes: Genesis 35:1-29 "Jacob moves by stages from Shechem to Bethel, eventually coming to Hebron (Mamre of Kiriath-arba), where his father Isaac is still alive. Transformed by the experiences of Bethel and Peniel, Jacob is now ready to assume his role as the one through whom God's promises to Abraham will be continued." --ESV Global Study Bible
- PURIFY YOURSELVES BEFORE GOD. Jacob urgently acted according to God's commands, and he ordered his household to cleanse themselves and get rid of idols and images of foreign/pagan gods. As early as Genesis 35, we can see how God is against of these things. It is foolishness to depend on mere idols, statues, images or charms to protect us from evil. It is only God who can rescue and help us in times of troubles.
* "It is surprising to find out that Jacob’s family had pagan idols in their possession. Those were practices they had acquired both in Haran and Shechem. Jacob had allowed it.
But before we judge Jacob too harshly, we should recognize that many of us have also allowed worldly idols to creep into our homes. Maybe this idol is the love of money, or idolatry towards sports, or any of many other idols that may seem “normal” to the world, but are not normal in the Kingdom of God." http://divineseasons.blogspot.com/2014/08/genesis-351-4-from-shechem-to-bethel.html
* Some verses about purifying ourselves before God:
"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
Jacob's act of burying the idols is like burying the past life and sins that they have committed while in Shechem.
- GOD'S COVERING. Nothing is indeed impossible with God.. In this case, God protected Jacob's family so that they will safely arrive in Bethel. They were never pursued because God did something to prevent their enemies from attacking them.
"the terror of God was upon the cities—There was every reason to apprehend that a storm of indignation would burst from all quarters upon Jacob's family, and that the Canaanite tribes would have formed one united plan of revenge. But a supernatural panic seized them; and thus, for the sake of the "heir of the promise," the protecting shield of Providence was specially held over his family." --Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
"The inhabitants were under the influence of a mysterious dread or panic, inspired by God." --Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- DEBORAH, REBEKAH'S NURSE. According to ESV Global Study Bible, she was mentioned in Genesis 24:59 (So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse [Deborah, as her attendant] and Abraham’s servant [Eliezer] and his men.) "Deborah's presence with Jacob may suggest that Rebekah had sent her to him in connection with her promise to bring Jacob back home (Genesis 27:45)."
- GOD'S COVENANT PROMISE. God was repeating and re-affirming again His covenant promises to Abraham-Isaac-Jacob. For me, this shows who really GOD is, rather than who Jacob is. Jacob did well in obeying God's commandments here, but it is God who deserves all the glory and praises! God is faithful, mighty, and full of mercies and love.
"Jacob set up a pillar (memorial, monument) in the place where he had talked with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering [of wine] on it; he also poured oil on it [to declare it sacred for God’s purpose]." Genesis 35:14
- RACHEL'S FATE. I didn't know from the texts that Rachel was pregnant, until the time that it is written that she was giving birth while they were journeying on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem). Back in Genesis 30, God had opened her womb and she was able to give birth to Joseph, (She named him Joseph (may He add) and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.” v.24) God was faithful and He answered Rachel's prayer to have another son. However, this time she had difficulty and suffered severely. I wonder if there is some connection to Rachel's previous sins of stealing his father Laban's household idols/gods and lying about it. Sin has consequences, but then again, I can never really tell because it is only God who knows about all these things.
*Bible Footnotes: "This had a positive meaning, like a “right-hand man,” a son in a position of importance and honor."
Though it is not mentioned how Jacob felt about it, it must have been sad and heartbreaking for him considering how much he loved Rachel.
* "The right side was associated with greater strength and honor, because most people are right handed. Benjamin therefore has the idea of “son of my strength” or “son of my honor.”
The idea is expressed in passages like Exodus 15:6: Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
The Lord is our strength and honor, as in Psalm 16:8: I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
God’s strength and honor are for us: My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me (Psalm 138:7).
Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, the position of strength and honor, and we sit there with Him! If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1)."–David Guzik
https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/1426-genesis-35/
"Rachel’s Tomb, photograph from the 1860’s" Dwelling in the Word
"Rachel’s Tomb, current photo." Dwelling in the Word
- ADULTERY IN THE HOUSE. This is crazy! Rachel had recently died-- and then Reuben, Jacob's eldest son through Leah, lay with Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant and his father's concubine. This is so wrong! Why would Reuben do that is beyond me..
- REUNITED WITH FATHER ISAAC. It's good that Jacob was able to see and be with his father Isaac, before Isaac died at age 180. Jacob never got to see his mother Rebekah though. We read that Esau came to be with Jacob as well when they buried their father at the cave of Machpelah (with Isaac's parents Abraham and Sarah). Just like Ishmael and Isaac did when they buried their father Abraham. I wonder if Esau asked Jacob why he did not follow him in Edom/Seir?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+35&version=AMP#en-AMP-1032
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