Genesis 35:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.

NIV: There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

NASB: Then he built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother.

CSB: Jacob built an altar there and called the place El-bethel because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

NLT: 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.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

This fulfills both God's command given recently to Jacob (Genesis 35:1), as well as Jacob's own vow made more than 20 years earlier. At that time, he was fleeing (Genesis 27:42) through Luz on the way out of the land of Canaan (Genesis 28:18–22). After a vision and special blessing, he built an altar to the Lord.

In describing the earlier encounter, Scripture noted that Jacob had called the place Bethel. It's possible he thought of that title at the time but did not seek to "rename" the location. Or, that he did and what's described here is a re-dedication. In either case, El Bethel, which means something like "God in Bethel" fits well. This is the place God showed Himself to Jacob in a powerful dream as he slept with a rock for a pillow. Jacob's immediate response upon waking was, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." And, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God" (Genesis 28:16–17). Given that reaction, Jacob's promise to recognize the place as God's house is understandable.

Genesis 35:1–15 describes the fulfillment of Jacob's vows made to the Lord some twenty years earlier. Then, Jacob encountered God after fleeing from Esau (Genesis 27:42). Now that Jacob has returned safely to Canaan and resolved the conflict with Esau, God commands him to build an altar at the place of their earlier meeting. Jacob rids his family of all of their false idols and builds the altar. God appears to him, confirming the covenant promises once more. Jacob responds to God's appearance and blessing by building a stone pillar and pouring a drink offering and oil over it. This location is named Bethel, meaning "House of God."

God commands Jacob to build an altar to Him at Bethel. This will fulfill vows Jacob made after encountering the Lord for the first time, as he was fleeing for his life from Esau. Jacob rids his family of all their false idols and travels to Bethel. God appears to him again, reaffirming all the covenant promises. As they travel away, Rachel dies giving birth to Jacob's twelfth son. His first son, Reuben, sleeps with Jacob's servant-wife Bilhah, losing his birthright as a result. Finally, Jacob's father Isaac dies at 180 years old.

Recent events have left Jacob fearful of the people of the land. His sons slaughtered an entire town to avenge their sister's rape. However, God apparently uses this bloodshed to inspire fear. Nobody attacks Jacob's family as they travel to Bethel, setting up an altar and renewing their covenant with God. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. Jacob's eldest son sleeps with one of his servant-wives, losing his birthright. Isaac dies, and Jacob and Esau bury him in the family burial cave in Mamre. The story then focuses on Jacob's sons, primarily Joseph, as the family finds themselves drawn into Egypt.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 4/29/2024 12:00:28 AM