Genesis 35:1–3

The Return to Bethel

35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once1 to Bethel2 and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”3 35:2 So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you.4 Purify yourselves and change your clothes.5 35:3 Let us go up at once6 to Bethel. Then I will make7 an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress8 and has been with me wherever I went.”9

1	tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.
2	map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
3	sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from … Esau (see Gen 28:20–22).
4	tn Heb “which are in your midst.”
5	sn The actions of removing false gods, becoming ritually clean, and changing garments would become necessary steps in Israel when approaching the Lord in worship.
6	tn Heb “let us arise and let us go up.” The first cohortative gives the statement a sense of urgency.
7	tn The cohortative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose or consequence.
8	tn Heb “day of distress.” See Ps 20:1 which utilizes similar language.
9	tn Heb “in the way in which I went.” Jacob alludes here to God’s promise to be with him (see Gen 28:20).