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Genesis 35

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob's household puts away their foreign gods, and God reaffirms the name Israel and the covenant promises. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem, and Isaac dies at age 180.

GenesisChapter 35 of 5029 versesBerean Standard Bible

In this passage: IsraelRachelIsaacBethelPaddan-aram

Read Genesis 35 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.

1

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.”

2

So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.

3

Then let us arise and go to Bethel. 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.”

4

So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.

5

As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.

6

So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.

7

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.

8

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

9

After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.

10

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.

11

And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.

12

The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

13

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

14

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.

15

Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

16

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.

17

During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

18

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

19

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

20

Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

21

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

22

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

23

The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24

The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25

The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

26

And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

27

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

28

And Isaac lived 180 years.

29

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.

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 47: What did God mean by a ripe old age?

How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.

Cross-references for Genesis 35

  • Genesis 35:1Genesis 31:13

    “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’””

  • Genesis 35:2Exodus 19:14

    “When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.”

  • Genesis 35:5Exodus 23:27

    “I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.”

  • Genesis 35:10Genesis 17:5

    “No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”

  • Genesis 35:29Genesis 15:15

    “You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.”

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.

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