Gen. 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Gen. 35:2 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:
Gen. 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; 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.
Gen. 35:4 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.
Gen. 35:5 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.
God speaks to Jacob and tells him to settle at Bethel and build an altar to God there. This was where the LORD had appeared to him at the top of the ladder to heaven in his dream when he was fleeing from Esau. Jacob tells his whole household to get rid of their foreign gods, purify themselves and change their clothes. He then tells them that they are going to Bethel to build an altar to God, the source of Jacob’s blessings. So the people gave Jacob their foreign gods and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out for Bethel. God filled the towns all around with terror so that no one pursued them.
Thoughts – Why did they still have foreign gods? I guess it is like when we say we are giving God our lives, but we really mean He can have it all except for certain parts. We really don’t want to give Him complete control. Was getting rid of the rings in the ears part of purifying themselves? It is sort of like they were leaving behind all identifiable association with sin at Shechem and making a fresh start.
Verse 5 is just another example of a sovereign God. He chose Jacob to be his vessel for a certain purpose; and in spite of some bad choices by Jacob and his family along the way, God’s plan was not thwarted.
Gen. 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
Gen. 35:7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
Gen. 35:8 But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
When Jacob and his entourage arrived at Bethel, he built an altar in obedience to God. He named the place of the altar “Elbethel,” (God of the house of God) in memory of God’s appearance to him there in a dream when he was fleeing from Esau.
It’s interesting that we are told that Deborah, nurse of Jacob’s mom Rebekah, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. It was named “Allonbachuth,” oak of weeping.
Thoughts – When did his mother’s nurse join his household? It is interesting that Deborah’s death is given special mention and Rebekah’s is given no mention at all.
In Genesis 49:31 we are told where Rebekah is buried when Jacob gives instruction for his sons to bury him with his grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, his father and mother, Isaac and Rebekah, and his wife Leah in the Cave of Machpelah.
Matthew Henry posits that Deborah’s presence is likely proof that Jacob had visited his father and encouraged her to come live with him.
Gen. 35:9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
Gen. 35:10 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.
Gen. 35:11 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;
Gen. 35:12 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.
Gen. 35:13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
Gen. 35:14 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.
Gen. 35:15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
God appeared to Jacob again and blessed him. He again tells him that his name is no longer Jacob, but Israel. He affirms that He is God Almighty, El Shaddai, able to meet our every need. He commands Israel to be fruitful and increase in number. Jacob is told that nations and kings will come from him. The land He gave to Abraham and Isaac was also Israel’s and his descendants’. God basically confirmed that Jacob was heir to the covenant He had made with Abraham. Then God “went up” from him. Jacob set a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him and poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. Again, he called it Bethel, “house of God.”
Thought - We know that all the descendants of Jacob comprise the whole of the Hebrew nation. So, how was he a father of a “company of nations”? The Hebrew word for nation is often used in reference to the Gentile nations. Maybe “nation” references the people of Israel and “company of nations” is a reference to spiritual Israel that includes the church, a primarily Gentile entity.
More thoughts – I often wonder why God repeats Himself so many times to the patriarchs. It came to my mind that it is because of His love and desire for them to grow in faith. If I were never to hear “I love you” but one time from my husband and children, I’m not sure I would feel loved no matter how much they showed it. What God was telling these men was huge and must have been really hard to hold onto as true from their limited perspective and day-to-day “normal” living. I know I’m very much a creature of the “present” in my actions and attitudes. I respond to what is happening in my life at any given time. These guys were being asked to hold on to a promise and stay obedient to the Lord regarding a fulfillment that would take many turns in the road before final future fulfillment far beyond their lifetimes. I guess all I’m thinking is that I’m sure a few reminders along the way were welcomed.
Gen. 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
Gen. 35:17 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.
Gen. 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen. 35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Gen. 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Jacob and his entourage left Bethel. When they came to Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel went into labor and gave birth to another son. This was a very difficult delivery that cost Rachel her life. Right before she died, she named her son Benoni, “son of my trouble.” Jacob changed his name to Benjamin, “son of my right hand.” Rachel was buried near Bethlehem, and Jacob erected a pillar to mark her tomb.
“her soul was in departing” – The soul departs the body at death and the body turns back to dust. The soul is the life force of the body. The health of the body and the health of the soul are independent of one another. The soul is eternal, but it is either spiritually alive or spiritually dead through faith in or rejection of God’s provision for our salvation through his Son.
Historical notes from Constable: “Benjamin was born on land that later became part of his tribe"s allotment. His birth there gave him title to it.” and “The tower of Eder ("Migdal-eder") was simply a watchtower built to help shepherds protect their flocks from robbers.”
Gen. 35:21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
Gen. 35:22 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:
They continued their journey, and at one point Jacob heard that Reuben, his firstborn had slept with Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, Jacob’s concubine, and the mother of two of his half brothers. This revelation establishes the reason that Reuben loses the blessing of the first-born.
Gen. 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Gen. 35:24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
Gen. 35:25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Gen. 35:26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
Next, we are given a listing of all of Jacob’s 12 sons:
By Leah – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
By Rachel – Joseph and Benjamin
By Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid) – Dan and Napthali
By Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid) – Gad and Asher
Gen. 35:27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
Gen. 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
Gen. 35:29 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.
Jacob finally came to Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had lived. It is recorded that Isaac lived 180 years and then died and was buried by both his sons—Esau and Jacob.
Gen. 36:1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
At this point we are given a listing of the descendants of Esau. It’s also interesting to note that both Jacob and Esau are known by other names: Jacob = Israel and Esau = Edom. Observations are at the end of the scripture.
Gen. 36:2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
Gen. 36:3 And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
Gen. 36:4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
Gen. 36:5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
Gen. 36:6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
Gen. 36:7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
Gen. 36:8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
Gen. 36:9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
Gen. 36:10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
Gen. 36:11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Gen. 36:12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
Gen. 36:13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
Gen. 36:14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
Gen. 36:15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
Gen. 36:16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.
Gen. 36:17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
Gen. 36:18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
Gen. 36:19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
Gen. 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
Gen. 36:21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
Gen. 36:22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.
Gen. 36:23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Gen. 36:24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
Gen. 36:25 And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
Gen. 36:26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
Gen. 36:27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
Gen. 36:28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
Gen. 36:29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
Gen. 36:30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
Gen. 36:31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
Gen. 36:32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
Gen. 36:33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
Gen. 36:34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.
Gen. 36:35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
Gen. 36:36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
Gen. 36:37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
Gen. 36:38 And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
Gen. 36:39 And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
Gen. 36:40 And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
Gen. 36:41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Gen. 36:42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
Gen. 36:43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
Observations:
Verse 6 – Esau took all his wives and children and possessions and moved away from Jacob since there was not enough room in the land for both sets of families. I guess this was in recognition of the birthright he had sold and the blessing pronounced by Isaac. His bitterness had disappeared in light of his wealth.
Verses 8 & 9 identify Esau and his descendants as Edomites who lived in the area of Mt. Seir, southeast of the Dead Sea.
The sons of Ishmael and Esau (Edom) have long been enemies of Israel—despite the fact that the two brothers made peace with each other. Evidence indicates the families intermarried and became part of the Arab race. This began with Esau’s marriage to one of Ishmael’s daughters. Maybe Esau himself was at peace with things since he became wealthy in his own right, but his descendants must have come to resent the obvious position of blessing that Israel enjoyed before God.
Verse 24 - The Hebrew for the word “mule” makes reference to warm springs.
Verse 31 – Makes a point of stating that there were kings that reigned in the land of Edom long before there were any kings in Israel. The chapter closes with a listing of those kings.
Verse 33 - Clarke: “Many have supposed that Jobab is the same as Job, so remarkable for his afflictions and patience; and that Eliphaz, mentioned Genesis 36:10 etc., was the same who in the book of Job is called one of his friends: but there is no proper proof of this, and there are many reasons against it.”
Historical note from Guzik: “In the days of Saul, Edom was made subject to Israel (1 Samuel 14:47), and David established garrisons there (2 Samuel 8:14). But later, in the days of Joram, the son of Ahab, the Edomites became independent of Israel (2 Kings 8:16-22).”
Great thought from Boice as quoted by Guzik: “If God blesses so abundantly those who are not chosen, what is the magnitude of His blessings for those who are chosen? If nonspiritual people experience such outpourings of merely common grace, how great must the special grace of the regenerate be!”