Catholic Commentary on Genesis 35

"Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." (Genesis 35:10)

Return to Bethel

God tells Jacob to go up to Bethel and settle there and build an altar to the God who appeared to him when he was fleeing from Esau. Jacob tells his household to put away the foreign gods they have brought with them, to purify themselves, and to change their clothes. They give him all the foreign gods and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buries them under the oak at Shechem. They journey, and the terror of God falls on the towns around them so that no one pursues them. At Bethel Jacob builds an altar and calls the place El Bethel, God of Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself when he was fleeing from his brother.

God appears to Jacob again and blesses him: Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. The new name given at the Jabbok is now confirmed formally. God repeats the promises given to Abraham and Isaac: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a community of nations will come from you and kings will be among your descendants; the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you. Jacob sets up a stone pillar and pours oil on it. Rachel dies in childbirth on the road south of Bethlehem, naming her son Benoni, son of my trouble; Jacob names him Benjamin, son of the right hand. Isaac dies at 180 years. Esau and Jacob bury him.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, before returning to Bethel Jacob required his household to put away their foreign gods. The renewal of the encounter with the living God requires the clearing away of the competing loyalties. What foreign gods have you carried from one season of your life to the next? What rings in whose ears? Bury them under the oak before you go up to Bethel.

Prayer

Lord God of Bethel, call us back to the place where we first met you. We put away our foreign gods and come to you purified, ready to hear the covenant promises renewed. Confirm in us the name you have given us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

35
Jacob Returns to Bethel
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 * 35:4 Or terebinth or great tree 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,† 35:7 El-bethel means God of 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 ‡ 35:8 Or great tree below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bachuth.§ 35:8 Allon-bacuth means oak of weeping.
 
9 After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram,* 35:9 That is, northwest Mesopotamia; also in verse 26 God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob,† 35:10 Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives. you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.‡ 35:10 Israel means he struggles with God.” So God named him Israel.
 
11 And God told him, “I am God Almighty.§ 35:11 Hebrew El-Shaddai 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.* 35:15 Bethel means house of God.
Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies
 
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.† 35:18 Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow or son of my strength. But his father called him Benjamin.‡ 35:18 Benjamin means son of my right hand.
 
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.
The Sons of Jacob
(1 Chronicles 2:1–2)
 
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.
The Death of Isaac
 
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.

*35:4 35:4 Or terebinth or great tree

†35:7 35:7 El-bethel means God of Bethel.

‡35:8 35:8 Or great tree

§35:8 35:8 Allon-bacuth means oak of weeping.

*35:9 35:9 That is, northwest Mesopotamia; also in verse 26

†35:10 35:10 Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

‡35:10 35:10 Israel means he struggles with God.

§35:11 35:11 Hebrew El-Shaddai

*35:15 35:15 Bethel means house of God.

†35:18 35:18 Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow or son of my strength.

‡35:18 35:18 Benjamin means son of my right hand.

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