# Overview Genesis Chapter 35 recounts significant events in the life of #Jacob as he journeys back to #Bethel, a place of profound spiritual encounters and divine revelations. God instructs Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar, reminding him of the vow he made while fleeing from his brother #Esau. In obedience, Jacob commands his household to purify themselves and discard foreign gods, highlighting a renewed commitment to God. As they journey, a divine terror falls upon the surrounding cities, ensuring their safe passage. At Bethel, God reiterates the covenant promises, changing Jacob's name to #Israel, signifying his transformation and the destiny of his descendants. The chapter emphasizes God's faithfulness and the importance of spiritual renewal and commitment. The latter part of the chapter recounts the death of Jacob's beloved wife, #Rachel, during childbirth, where she names her son #Benoni, but Jacob renames him #Benjamin. This section also details the death of #Isaac, Jacob's father, marking the end of an era. The chapter concludes with the listing of Jacob's twelve sons, the progenitors of the tribes of #Israel, underscoring the unfolding of God's promises to Abraham and Isaac through Jacob's lineage. Genesis 35 serves as a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, where past promises are reaffirmed, transitions occur, and the foundation for the future of the Israelite nation is solidified. ## Theological Insights Genesis 35 presents a significant turning point in the life of #Jacob and highlights his ongoing relationship with #God, who reaffirms His covenant promises. The chapter illustrates key themes of divine faithfulness, worship, and transformation. 1. **Divine Renewal and Covenant Affirmation**: In Genesis 35, #God instructs Jacob to return to #Bethel, the place where God originally appeared to him in a dream (see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]). This return signifies a renewal of divine promise and a reaffirmation of Jacob’s role in the divine plan. The renaming of Jacob to #Israel (verse 10) signifies transformation and God's continuing covenant, echoing the promise first made to #Abraham (see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]]). 2. **Purification and Worship**: Before returning to Bethel, Jacob instructs his household to rid themselves of foreign gods and purify themselves (verses 2-4). This act of purification and the building of an altar at Bethel underscore the importance of worship and holiness in maintaining a relationship with God. It reflects a repudiation of idolatry and a commitment to exclusive worship of YHWH, which becomes a recurring theme throughout the #OldTestament. 3. **Divine Protection and Fear of God**: As Jacob travels, the "terror of God" falls upon the surrounding cities, preventing them from pursuing Jacob and his family (verse 5). This divine protection highlights God's sovereignty and the importance of God's presence with His chosen people, a theme that resonates throughout the journey of #Israel. 4. **Death and Mourning**: The chapter also records the deaths of #Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, and #Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. The death of Rachel, especially during childbirth, is a poignant moment that carries both sorrow and hope, as she gives birth to #Benjamin. This event underscores the realities of human life in the biblical narrative, where joy and sorrow often coexist and where God's promises continue amidst personal loss. 5. **Generational Continuity**: Jacob's lineage is emphasized through the birth of Benjamin and the listing of his sons (verses 22-26), pointing to the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham through Jacob's descendants. The establishment of the twelve tribes of Israel, rooted in Jacob's sons, sets the stage for the unfolding story of God's plan for His chosen people. Overall, Genesis 35 encapsulates themes of transformation, worship, divine faithfulness, and the unfolding legacy of the covenant people. The chapter serves as a reminder of God’s constant presence and His unfolding plan of redemption through generations. ## Thematic Connections ### Covenant and Renewal Genesis 35 highlights the theme of covenant and renewal. #God's command to #Jacob to return to #Bethel is a call to reaffirm the covenant established with #Abraham and #Isaac. This renewal is paralleled in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]], where Jacob first encountered God at Bethel and received promises of offspring and land. The renewal of the covenant is a recurring theme, seen also with #Noah in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 9]] and #Moses in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 24]]. ### Divine Protection and Presence The theme of divine protection is evident as God instills fear among the cities around Jacob, ensuring his safe passage (Genesis 35:5). This divine protection echoes the promise of God's presence and safety given to Jacob in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28|Genesis 28:15]] and is reminiscent of God's protection over #Israel during their exodus from #Egypt in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 14]]. ### Transformation and Identity Jacob’s name change to #Israel signifies transformation and a new identity, aligning with the biblical theme of name changes marking significant spiritual milestones. This is similar to the name changes of #Abram to #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]] and #Sarai to #Sarah, reflecting newfound roles in God's plan. ### Death and Legacy The deaths of #Deborah, #Rachel, and #Isaac in Genesis 35 underscore the theme of death and legacy. These events mark transitions in Jacob's life and serve as a reminder of the mortality faced by all, similar to the death of #Sarah in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 23]] and the passing of #Joseph in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50]]. These transitions emphasize the importance of God's promises and the continuation of the covenant through successive generations. ### Purification and Worship Before going to Bethel, Jacob instructs his household to purify themselves and discard foreign gods, highlighting themes of purification and worship. This act mirrors the call for holiness and dedication to God seen in the #Israelites' preparation at #MountSinai in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 19]]. It underscores the necessity of spiritual cleanliness in approaching God, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### Jacob's Name Change to Israel In Genesis 35, #Jacob receives the new name #Israel, fulfilling the promise and covenant that God made with him. This aligns with the divine promise given to his grandfather #Abraham, ensuring the continuation of the covenant through his lineage. The change of Jacob’s name to Israel is a prophetic act, signifying the birth of a nation through which God’s promises would be fulfilled. This event ties into the broader narrative of God’s covenantal relationship with Israel, as seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]] with Abraham and further promises made in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]. ### The Promised Land God reaffirms the promise of the land to Jacob in Genesis 35, echoing the covenantal promise made to both Abraham and Isaac. This continuation of the promise of the land is crucial as it sets the stage for the Israelites' eventual settlement in Canaan, as seen in the future narratives of the Pentateuch and books like [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 1]]. This promise is a foundational element in the prophetic understanding of God's plan for His chosen people. ### The Twelve Tribes of Israel In this chapter, the birth of #Benjamin is recorded, completing the twelve sons of Jacob, who represent the twelve tribes of Israel. This is prophetically significant as these tribes form the foundation of the nation of Israel. The prophecy concerning these tribes is fulfilled in the formation of the nation and later in the division of the land among the tribes, which is detailed in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 13]] and subsequent chapters. ### The Burial at Bethel The return to Bethel and the burial of #Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, ties into the ongoing theme of God's faithfulness to His promises. Bethel, a significant location in Jacob's life where God first appeared to him in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]], becomes a prophetic symbol of God's enduring promise and presence with Israel. This theme of return and remembrance is echoed in later narratives, such as the return from exile, as found in books like [[Ezra/Ezra Chapter 1]]. ### Rachel's Death and Prophetic Mourning Rachel’s death during the birth of Benjamin is a poignant event with prophetic undertones. Her death and the naming of her son foreshadow the sorrow and struggle associated with the tribes of Israel, particularly seen in prophetic texts like [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:15]], which speaks of Rachel weeping for her children. This prophetic imagery is later referenced in the New Testament in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 2]], during the massacre of the innocents, linking the sorrow of Rachel to the greater narrative of Israel's history and redemption. ## Verses - **Genesis 35:1** - "Then God said to #Jacob, 'Get ready and move to #Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother #Esau.'" - See [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]] where Jacob initially encounters God at Bethel. - **Genesis 35:2** - "So Jacob told everyone in his household, 'Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.'" - **Genesis 35:3** - "We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone." - Reference to Jacob's vows and experiences in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]. - **Genesis 35:4** - "So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near #Shechem." - **Genesis 35:5** - "As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family." - Compare with God's protection over Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 20]]. - **Genesis 35:6** - "Eventually, Jacob and his household arrived at Luz (also called Bethel) in #Canaan." - **Genesis 35:7** - "Jacob built an altar there and named the place El-bethel (which means 'God of Bethel'), because God had appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother #Esau." - **Genesis 35:8** - "Soon after this, #Rebekah’s old nurse, #Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means 'oak of weeping')." - **Genesis 35:9** - "Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him," - **Genesis 35:10** - "saying, 'Your name is #Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be #Israel.' So God renamed him Israel." - This is a reaffirmation of the name change first mentioned in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 32]]. - **Genesis 35:11** - "Then God said, 'I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!" - Similar promises were made to #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]]. - **Genesis 35:12** - "And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you." - See [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]] for the initial promise to Abraham. - **Genesis 35:13** - "Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob." - **Genesis 35:14** - "Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil." - **Genesis 35:15** - "And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means 'house of God'), because God had spoken to him there." - **Genesis 35:16** - "Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But #Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away." - **Genesis 35:17** - "After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, 'Don’t be afraid—you have another son!'" - **Genesis 35:18** - "Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means 'son of my sorrow'). The baby’s father, however, called him #Benjamin." - **Genesis 35:19** - "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." - **Genesis 35:20** - "Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day." - **Genesis 35:21** - "Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder." - **Genesis 35:22** - "While he was living there, Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Jacob soon heard about it. These are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob:" - Reuben's actions have significant consequences in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]]. - **Genesis 35:23** - "The sons of Leah were #Reuben (Jacob’s oldest son), #Simeon, #Levi, #Judah, #Issachar, and #Zebulun." - **Genesis 35:24** - "The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin." - See [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 30]] for the birth of Joseph. - **Genesis 35:25** - "The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were #Dan and #Naphtali." - **Genesis 35:26** - "The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant, were #Gad and #Asher. These are the names of the sons who were born to Jacob at Paddan-aram." - **Genesis 35:27** - "So Jacob returned to his father, Isaac, in #Mamre, which is near Kiriath-arba (now called #Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had both lived as foreigners." - **Genesis 35:28** - "Isaac lived for 180 years." - **Genesis 35:29** - "Then he breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, joining his ancestors in death. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him." - Compare with the death of Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 25]].