Ch 35 / 50~3 min
Bereshit

Chapter 35

Return to Bethel, House of Elohim

Elohim appearing to Jacob at Bethel to confirm the covenant foreshadows Yeshua as the sure foundation of every promise, the one in whom all of Elohim's yes is spoken.

  1. Jacob Returns to Bethel

    Elohim calls Jacob back to the place where He first appeared. Before going, the family buries their idols — return to Elohim always starts with letting go.

  2. 1Elohim said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to Elohim, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
  3. 2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are amongst you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
  4. 3Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to Elohim, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”
  5. 4They 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.
  6. 5They travelled, and a terror of Elohim was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
  7. 6So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
  8. 7He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there Elohim was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
  9. 8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
  10. Elohim Confirms the Name Israel

    Elohim appears again and confirms the covenant promises — land, nations, and kings will come from you. The Father loves to remind you who you are.

  11. 9Elohim appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
  12. 10Elohim 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.
  13. 11Elohim said to him, “I am Elohim El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.
  14. 12The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land.”
  15. 13Elohim went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
  16. 14Jacob 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.
  17. 15Jacob called the name of the place where Elohim spoke with him “Bethel”.
  18. Rachel Dies — Benjamin Is Born

    Rachel names her last son 'son of my sorrow,' but Jacob calls him Benjamin — 'son of my right hand.' Even in grief, the Father speaks hope.

  19. 16They travelled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labour.
  20. 17When she was in hard labour, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
  21. 18As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
  22. 19Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).
  23. 20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
  24. 21Israel travelled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
  25. 22While 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.
  26. 23The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
  27. 24The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
  28. 25The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.
  29. 26The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
  30. The Death of Isaac

    Isaac is gathered to his people at 180 years. Both sons bury him together — the reconciliation holds. A life lived under Elohim's promise comes to peaceful rest.

  31. 27Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
  32. 28The days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
  33. 29Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.
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