GET UP
35 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 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 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 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.
vs 1 After the events in Shechem, God tells Jacob to move to Bethel. Bethel is where Jacob saw the stairway with angels ascending and descending, and God above it. Then he was fleeing Essau, now he is fleeing the inhabitants of the land. Bethel will become the second most holy site for the Israelites, only Jerusalem is seen as more holy. As Jacob returns to Canaan, he is a different person than the one that was fleeing Essau. God has fulfilled what was promised, He had protected him and returned him to the land. God instructs Jacob to set up and altar, last time Jacob had left a marker, this time he will build something more permanent to worship God.
vs 2 The culture in which Jacob and his family lives and had lived was polytheistic. Jacob is moving his family to a monotheistic culture. God is holy and it is time to clean house and clean up. Some of the idols may have come from Haran, and some from the plundering of Shechem.
vs 3 Jacob announces to his family that it is time to move. The reason they are moving is because of the God that delivered him from Essau and brought him back into the land. Jacobs future could be bad, once again, but if God's instructions are followed, he believes that God will protect them. God is with him everywhere he goes. This is one of the easiest aspects of God to forget. The altar will be a physical reminder.
vs 4 False God's when placed above God corrupt us. Satan uses counterfeit's that look like God but will always be in opposition to God's nature. His goal is to make us think that the false god is God. Our job is to recognize that the nature of the counterfeit is contrary to the real God. Jesus came that we would have a glimpse of the true nature of God, and thus be able to see through the lie.
vs 2 The culture in which Jacob and his family lives and had lived was polytheistic. Jacob is moving his family to a monotheistic culture. God is holy and it is time to clean house and clean up. Some of the idols may have come from Haran, and some from the plundering of Shechem.
vs 3 Jacob announces to his family that it is time to move. The reason they are moving is because of the God that delivered him from Essau and brought him back into the land. Jacobs future could be bad, once again, but if God's instructions are followed, he believes that God will protect them. God is with him everywhere he goes. This is one of the easiest aspects of God to forget. The altar will be a physical reminder.
vs 4 False God's when placed above God corrupt us. Satan uses counterfeit's that look like God but will always be in opposition to God's nature. His goal is to make us think that the false god is God. Our job is to recognize that the nature of the counterfeit is contrary to the real God. Jesus came that we would have a glimpse of the true nature of God, and thus be able to see through the lie.
BUILD
5 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 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 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 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.
6 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 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 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.
vs 5 The Canaanites could have easily overtaken Jacob's group. God supernaturally sent them a message not to do so. We don't know what He did, perhaps as they were getting a raiding party ready to go after Jacob, an earthquake happened, or a powerful storm. The difference between a city and a town was the presence of a city wall for defense.
vs 6 It if possible that there was another Bethel in the region. The author wants to ensure that the readers are aware that this Bethel "house of God", is near Luz "almond tree". Canaan is the greater region in which Bethel exists and is the promised land. Although small in size compared to other countries, it has a large role to play on the world stage. God's future plans will center world events on this ancient region.
vs 7 El-beth-el "God of the house of God". To Jacob this particular spot is holy because God had made is so. Access to God was here. In Jesus we have the ultimate holy place. He dwells within our hearts.
vs 8 Jacob's mother's nurse had become part of Jacob's household. She died and was buried under an oak tree "tree of weeping".
vs 6 It if possible that there was another Bethel in the region. The author wants to ensure that the readers are aware that this Bethel "house of God", is near Luz "almond tree". Canaan is the greater region in which Bethel exists and is the promised land. Although small in size compared to other countries, it has a large role to play on the world stage. God's future plans will center world events on this ancient region.
vs 7 El-beth-el "God of the house of God". To Jacob this particular spot is holy because God had made is so. Access to God was here. In Jesus we have the ultimate holy place. He dwells within our hearts.
vs 8 Jacob's mother's nurse had become part of Jacob's household. She died and was buried under an oak tree "tree of weeping".
RENEWED
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 10 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 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 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 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 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 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.
vs 9 God bookends the journey of Jacob to faith in his father's God. He met him on the way to Haran, and now as he begins his new life in the promised land. God has delivered on his promises in ways that Jacob cannot deny that were supernatural.
vs 10 God restates the name change. This time the focus is on God's authority over Jacob. The previous encounter Jacob wrestled with God, now Jacob's will, will be to follow God. Israel receives all the promises of his fathers. Jacob's character has changed, and now he will become a nation of God.
vs 11 God Almighty "El Shaddai". This title emphasizes His power and sufficiency.
vs 10 God restates the name change. This time the focus is on God's authority over Jacob. The previous encounter Jacob wrestled with God, now Jacob's will, will be to follow God. Israel receives all the promises of his fathers. Jacob's character has changed, and now he will become a nation of God.
vs 11 God Almighty "El Shaddai". This title emphasizes His power and sufficiency.
RACHEL AND BENJAMIN
16 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 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 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 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
RUEBEN AND BILHAH
21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 22 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 the sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 the sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 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.
ISAAC IS BURIED
27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 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.