The stony hilltop of Bethel at sunrise, a new altar of rough stones on the summit with a thin column of smoke rising straight up, a camp of black tents and flocks on the slope below.

The Book of

Genesis 35

Years after a frightened young man slept on a stone at Bethel, God calls him back to the same hill.

29 verses≈ 4 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed onChapter 35
37–50JosephGod meant it for good

Jacob Returns to Bethel

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

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Jacob

God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.

Genesis 35:3

As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons. So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed Himself to Jacob as he fled from his brother.

Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bacuth.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Shechem to Hebron

From Shechem, where the foreign gods lay buried under the oak, the household climbs south to Bethel. Later they set out again toward Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), where Rachel dies on the road, and at last Jacob reaches his father “at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron).” The whole journey is about 50 miles of hill country.

After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel.

Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.

So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil. Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

One promise, passed on

Whiteboard

God first promised Abraham land, offspring and blessing for every family on earth. He swore the same to Isaac, and gave it to Jacob at Bethel as he fled. Now, back at the same place, He says it again and adds more: “A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.”

Reflect

Back to Bethel

Before Jacob’s household could go up to worship, they had to put something down: “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.” They handed over their idols and their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak. Is there anything in your life that competes with God for your trust? What would it look like to bury it and go up to meet Him? Write it down.

Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies

Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

A single upright stone pillar over a fresh grave beside a hill road toward Bethlehem at dusk, a man seen from behind standing by it holding a swaddled baby.

And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

The Sons of Jacob

Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.

Family line

The twelve sons of Jacob

- 12 in all
Jacob had twelve sons:
Leah
- Reuben
- Simeon
- Levi
- Judah
- Issachar
- Zebulun
Reuben the firstborn
The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- Joseph
- Benjamin
The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
Bilhah
- Dan
- Naphtali
Rachel’s maidservant
The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
Zilpah
- Gad
- Asher
Leah’s maidservant
And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher.
Born in Paddan-aram
These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Pray

Sorrow and the right hand

In a few verses Jacob buries his mother’s old nurse and then his beloved wife. Rachel named her son out of her pain, but “his father called him Benjamin”: not the son of sorrow but the son of the right hand. Bring God the losses you carry, by name. Ask Him for the hope that lets you name what comes after them differently, and thank Him that He keeps His promises through every grave.

The Death of Isaac

Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

And Isaac lived 180 years.

Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Question

Quick question

Rachel and Jacob gave the same baby two different names.

What name did Rachel give her son “with her last breath”?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 35

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A verse to carry with you

I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.

Genesis 35:3

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