Genesis 35: Return to Bethel and Loss
God calls Jacob back to Bethel, renews his covenant promises, and Jacob walks through both worship and grief.
Genesis 35 (WEB)
1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments.
3 Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”
4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
7 He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.
11 God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.
12 The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land.”
13 God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.
15 Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.
16 They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
19 Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
21 Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid): Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
27 Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
29 Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.
Genesis 35 (KJV)
1 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Genesis 35 (ASV)
1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who 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 foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, 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 foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed: and a 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 (the same 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 was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 And Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth.
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-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 unto 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 spake with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spake with him, a pillar of stone: and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.
16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; for now thou shalt have another son.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was 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 (the same is Beth-lehem).
20 And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
23 the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, 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, that were born to him in Paddan-aram.
27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
28 And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.
29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days: and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
Summary
God calls Jacob to go up to Bethel and build an altar where he first appeared. Jacob purges his household of foreign gods, and they purify themselves and set out, protected by a terror that falls on the surrounding cities. At Bethel he builds the altar El Beth El. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies and is buried there. God appears again, confirms Jacob's new name, Israel, and renews the promises of fruitfulness, nations, kings, and the land given to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob sets up a pillar and pours offerings on it. As they travel on, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and is buried near Bethlehem. Reuben sins with his father's concubine. The twelve sons of Jacob are listed, and Jacob comes home to Isaac at Hebron, where Isaac dies and is buried by Esau and Jacob.
Main Characters
- Jacob (Israel) — The patriarch who obeys God's call to Bethel, removes foreign gods, worships, and receives renewed covenant promises.
- God Almighty — The Lord who reappears at Bethel, reaffirms the name Israel, and renews the promises of nations, kings, and land.
- Rachel — Jacob's beloved wife, who dies bearing Benjamin and is buried on the way to Bethlehem.
- Isaac — Jacob's father, who lives to one hundred eighty years and is buried by his sons Esau and Jacob at Hebron.
Key Verse
Genesis 35:1 (WEB)
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
Lessons Learned
- True worship begins with putting away the idols and impurities we have tolerated.
- God renews and confirms his promises to his people across the seasons of their lives.
- Obedience and faithfulness do not exempt us from real sorrow and loss.
- Returning to the place of an earlier encounter with God can renew our walk with him.
- Drawing near to God means putting away idols. Jacob commands, 'Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments' (Genesis 35:2, WEB), making worship inseparable from cleansing.
- God answers us in our days of distress. Jacob builds an altar to God, 'who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went' (Genesis 35:3, WEB), remembering his faithfulness.
- God renews his covenant promises. God says, 'I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you' (Genesis 35:11, WEB), confirming his word to Jacob again.
- God reaffirms our God-given identity. God declares, 'Your name will be Israel' (Genesis 35:10, WEB), sealing the new name first given at Peniel.
- Faithfulness and grief can walk together. Even as God blesses Jacob, 'Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath' (Genesis 35:19, WEB), showing that obedience does not spare us sorrow.
- What does Jacob require of his household before they go up to Bethel, and why?
- How does God describe himself and his promises when he appears to Jacob again?
- How are worship and grief woven together throughout this chapter?
- What 'foreign gods' might God be calling you to put away as you draw near to him?
- How have you experienced God renewing his promises to you in a fresh season?
- He tells his household to put away the foreign gods among them, purify themselves, and change their garments (35:2), preparing to worship the God who answered him in distress; cleansing must precede approaching the Lord at Bethel.
- He reveals himself as God Almighty, reaffirms the name Israel, and renews the promises of fruitfulness, a nation and company of nations, kings from his body, and the land once given to Abraham and Isaac (35:10-12).
- Worship and grief intertwine: Jacob builds altars and receives renewed promises, yet Deborah dies, Rachel dies in childbirth, Reuben sins, and Isaac is buried, showing covenant blessing amid real loss.
- A personal question; invite reflection on modern idols such as security, status, or possessions, encouraging members to name what God may be asking them to set aside.
- A personal question; allow members to share testimonies of God reaffirming his promises in a new chapter of life, as he did for Jacob at Bethel.